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Indonesia News Digest 48 – December 22-31, 2017

Aceh Women's rights & gender Sexual & domestic violence Labour & migrant workers Political parties & elections Blasphemy & shariah law Surveys & opinion polls Internet & social media Environment & natural disasters Corruption & abuse of power Terrorism & religious extremism Freedom of religion & worship Religion & politics Poverty & social inequity Land & agrarian conflicts Jakarta & urban life Criminal justice & legal system Foreign affairs & trade Tourism & hospitality Mining & energy Economy & investment Analysis & opinion

Aceh

Banda Aceh bans New Year's celebration

Tempo - December 29, 2017

Banda Aceh – The Banda Aceh City Government prohibits its citizens from celebrating the New Year. Leaflets announcing the ban are posted in public places and markets.

The Banda Aceh Sharia Police head Evendi A. Latif told Tempo on Friday that they are also announcing the ban by patrolling in cars with loudspeakers.

He said that the sharia police will be patrolling during New Year's Eve to prevent any form of celebrations in crowded places such as Blang Padang Field, Simpang Lima and several other points.

"The security measure will be assisted by the national police force," Evendi explained.

The ban issued by Banda Aceh City Government every year, claiming that it is what the public demands. "The celebration of New Year is against the Islamic principles enacted in Aceh," Banda Aceh Mayor Aminullah Usman said.

The mayor added that all residents of Banda Aceh must obey the ban, which the government stipulates in circular No. 451/01209/2017 signed by all elements of the Banda Aceh Leadership Communication Forum.

Some of the things included in the circular are the prohibition to play with fireworks, trumpets, car and motorcycle convoys, and other games and activities considered "useless" by Islamic principles and the customs of Aceh.

– Adi Warsidi

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/news/2017/12/29/055914442/Banda-Aceh-Bans-New-Years-Celebration

13 years Aceh tsunami, journalists send prayers for fallen colleagues

Tempo - December 26, 2017

Adi Warsidi (Contributor), Banda Aceh – Dozens of journalists in Banda Aceh from numerous organizations and media held a prayer on Monday, December 25, to commemorate fellow journalists who lost their lives in the Aceh tsunami that took place 13 years ago.

According to the event leader Yayan, there were 22 journalists of Aceh who died when the tsunami hit the region. Most of them were carrying out their journalistic duties.

"We gather tonight to send our prayers to our friends. Their spirit will always live in our memories," he said.

Journalists who died caused by the tsunami were Muharram, Nazamuddin Umar, Muhammad Rokan, Erwiyan Safri, Ridwan Ishak, Erismawati, Sayed Alwi, Aswin Choki, Taufan Nugraha, and Safwan.

Islamic Ustad Akmal Abzal who led the prayers highlighted the noble profession of a journalist. "Imagine, when the tsunami hit, without the journalists who reported, recorded, took pictures, Aceh would have a long time to heal," he said.

He reasons that Aceh journalists were also commendable in reporting the post-tsunami rehabilitation and reconstruction process. "Their work rallied the solidarity from everyone in the world to help Aceh," said Ustad Akmal.

The tsunami hit Aceh on the early morning of December 26, 2004, which killed nearly 200,000 people and caused hundreds of thousands of homes were destroyed by the strong tsunami waves that went up to 2 kilometers inland.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/news/2017/12/26/055914371/13-Years-Aceh-tsunami-Journalists-send-Prayers-for-Fallen-Colleagues

The post-tsunami paradox of female empowerment in Aceh

The Conversation - December 22, 2017

Balawyn Jones – On December 26, 2004, a tsunami struck Aceh Province in Indonesia, resulting in unprecedented destruction and loss of life.

In the aftermath of the tsunami, gender relations in Aceh have fundamentally changed. Thirteen years since the Indian Ocean tsunami, the position of women in Acehnese society has arguably worsened.

After the tsunami, hundreds of international NGOs promoted gender mainstreaming in Aceh. However, the Western lens with which aid was provided tended to stereotype Acehnese women as "oppressed Muslim women" in need of saving by foreigners.

The contemporary discourse primarily portrays Acehnese women as victims, while historically Acehnese women have been represented as powerful agents – queens, warriors and leaders.

Women as leaders in Aceh

Women in Aceh historically were involved in trade, defence and leadership. In the 17th century, Aceh was ruled by four female sultanahs. The sultanahs reigned for 60 years.

After the rule of the sultanahs, the Acehnese fought a 40-year struggle against Dutch colonialism. Women were active combatants and leaders of guerrilla operations against the Dutch. The most famous heroines are Cut Nyak Dhien and Cut Meutia.

The Dutch imported a patriarchal gender ideology and criticised Indonesian women for working outside the home. However, the application of colonial policies towards women was largely limited to the wealthy and elite. Most Indonesian women continued to work outside the home as economic circumstances had made a tradition of female labour.

The majority of Acehnese people continued to live free from Dutch influence according to local traditions (known as adat). A well-known Acehnese tradition is the matrilocal residence system, whereby a bride's parents gift her a house upon marriage. Ownership of the house provides women stability and power within the marital relationship.

The position of Acehnese women at the centre of the family and village is further established by the tradition of rantau (when men move away from the village to work). Although this is not an obligatory practice, if a husband cannot find work in his village he is expected to rantau. As their wives already own a house and work outside the home, they are not financially dependent on their husbands. These traditions place women in a strong social position with cultural authority at the local level.

The Acehnese expression for wife is njang po rumoh meaning "the one who owns the house".

State Ibuism

In 1945, when Aceh became part of Indonesia, gender norms were significantly influenced by the new Indonesian state. Strong gender policies were implemented by the Indonesian Soeharto government. These gender policies, infamously known as "State Ibuism", were implemented through programs such as Dharma Wanita and the Family Welfare Program. These policies categorised "men as primary income-earners and women as child-rearers and housewives".

State Ibuism had real consequences in limiting the operation of matrifocal values in Aceh. By prioritising women's roles as wives and mothers, these policies de-emphasised women's roles as sisters and daughters, also known as matrilineal kinship structures. State Ibuism also placed greater importance on the role of the father as head of the household.

In modern day Aceh, a husband and wife are more likely to form a new nuclear family separate from matrilineal kinship structures. While matrifocal traditions continue to be strong in rural areas, urban and middle-class families are more likely to distance themselves from matriarchal practices in preference of patriarchal family structures.

Historically, matrilocal associations between women and the home empowered women by positioning them at the centre of the family and village. However, these associations, when interpreted in the context of restrictive gender norms under State Ibuism, may re-inforce the view that the home is the only "proper" or "acceptable" space for women.

30-year conflict

Before the tsunami, Aceh was involved in a 30-year civil war between the Free Aceh Movement (known as GAM) and the Indonesian central government. The tsunami, that killed more than 100,000 people in Aceh, was a catalyst for peace, with the Helsinki Peace Agreement finalised in 2005.

During the civil war, GAM also drew on the Acehnese tradition of women combatants. The women's army, called Inong Balee, was emphasised in GAM propaganda. However, the leadership of the movement was male-dominated.

Violence perpetrated by the Indonesian state army (TNI) against the Acehnese was distinctly gendered. Rapes of women occurred regularly and women were abused to intimidate and emasculate Acehnese men.

Even for women who were not combatants, gender roles were effectively reversed during the civil war. When men were forced to flee, were imprisoned or killed, women became the heads of household and the community leaders. When men returned home post-conflict, women's new-found identities clashed with and threatened men's status in the family. This lead to a "significant increase in physical and sexual abuse in the home".

Acehnese women were further marginalised in both the reconstruction and reconciliation processes. The negotiation process for the Helsinski Peace Agreement was "densely gendered" and excluded women's interests. During the post-conflict period, ex-GAM leaders attempted to minimise women's contributions to the civil war. There was initially not a single woman among the 3000 ex-combatants listed for post-conflict compensation despite the fact that the Inong Balee were frequently promoted by GAM.

Reflecting on the shift in gender relations

Aceh's gender history is defined by this paradox of female (dis-)empowerment, with gender relations becoming increasingly patriarchal over time. The long-term trend appears to be the diminishing of women's social position through the shift in family structure away from matrifocal traditions. Although matrifocal traditions are still practiced in rural areas, there has been a decline in women's cultural authority, particularly in urban contexts.

The thirteenth anniversary of the tsunami presents an opportunity to reflect on the changes in Acehnese gender relations. It is important to reflect broadly, not only on physical reconstruction efforts but also (re-)construction of Acehnese identity.

It is timely to reflect on matrifocal traditions as a unique part of Acehnese culture which should be cherished and preserved for future generations.

[Balawyn Jones is a PhD Candidate and Research Fellow, University of Melbourne.]

Source: http://theconversation.com/the-post-tsunami-paradox-of-female-empowerment-in-aceh-88864

Women's rights & gender

Widodo pays homage to Indonesia's 9 female ministers on Mother's Day

Coconuts Jakarta - December 22, 2017

In Indonesia, we are told never to underestimate the power of "emak-emak", referring to mothers, or more generally any strong-willed middle-aged ladies, who just don't give a shit and won't put up with any shit either.

While the phrase is often used jokingly, it's quite fitting that today, on Indonesia's Mother's Day, we should recognize the emak-emak who are, arguably, running our country better than the blokes.

Today, during an official trip to tourism hotspot Raja Ampat in Papua, President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo dedicated a speech to praise the country's nine female cabinet ministers – all of whom are mothers – in celebration of Mother's Day, while expressing his pride at the number of women working in his government.

"In Russia, they only have one female minister (Editor's note: They actually have three). Indonesia has nine great female ministers," Jokowi said today, as quoted by FaktaNews.

Indonesia has among the highest number of female representation in top government jobs in the world. Only the likes of Canada (15), Sweden (12) and France (11) – countries that are considered to be more socially and politically progressive than most – can boast having more female ministers in their current cabinets.

Percentage-wise, however, Indonesia's number of female ministers is comparatively much lower than the aforementioned countries above considering that there are 34 ministers in Jokowi's government (Canada has 31 while Sweden and France have 22 each).

However, it's important to note that none of Indonesia's female ministers have been replaced during Jokowi's cabinet reshuffles – eight of them have held their posts ever since Jokowi appointed them in 2014, whereas one of them, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani (who ranked 36th in Forbes' world's most powerful women list last year and named Asia's best finmin this year), came in to the cabinet to replace her predecessor Bambang Brodjonegoro in 2016.

Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti is also revered in Indonesia. Not only is Susi the minister with the highest approval rating in Jokowi's cabinet, she is also almost universally beloved by supporters across the political spectrum, from right-wing nationalists (who love the way she protects the country's maritime borders from illegal fishing vessels – often in explosive fashion) and environmentalists such as Leonardo DiCaprio (for her ceaseless push for sustainability and innovations).

Selamat Hari Ibu to these awesome ministerial mothers and all mothers in Indonesia.

[The original title of this article was "President Joko Widodo pays homage to Indonesia's 9 female ministers on Mother's Day".]

Source: https://coconuts.co/jakarta/news/president-joko-widodo-pays-homage-indonesias-9-female-ministers-mothers-day/

Sexual & domestic violence

Violence against women, children still rampant in Yogyakarta

Jakarta Post - December 24, 2017

Bambang Muryanto, Yogyakarta – A women's rights group has said that the number of cases of violence against women and children in Yogyakarta remains alarming.

The Rifka Annisa Women's Crisis Center recorded at least 287 cases of violence against women and children in Yogyakarta throughout 2017.

The group stressed that the figure was just the tip of the iceberg. "There are numerous other cases that we did not handle," its spokesperson, Diferentia One Muharomah, said.

Among the most common cases were domestic violence (209), sexual violence (29) and sexual harassment and violence in dating relationships (13). At least 80 cases occurred in Sleman regency, 49 in Yogyakarta municipality and 39 in Bantul regency.

More husbands have threatened to kill their wives this year, One said, adding that in many cases the victims were also criminalized.

At least 24 cases of sexual violence involved children, the group said, noting that in some cases the victims got pregnant and were expelled from school.

From 2009 to 2016, the group handled 2,481 cases, or about 300 cases in a year, according to tribunnews.com. "Punishment for the perpetrators should be harsher to create a deterrent effect," One said.

Sukiratnasari from the Yogyakarta Women's Network (JPY) called on the government to take action to eradicate violence against women and children by teaching the younger generation to develop non-violent behavior. (vla/ahw)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/12/24/violence-against-women-children-still-rampant-in-yogyakarta.html

Labour & migrant workers

Almost 10,000 workers sacked in 2017: Department of Labour

CNN Indonesia - December 29, 2017

Yuli Yanna Fauzie, Jakarta – According to the Ministry of Labour (Kemenaker) a total of 9,822 workers were dismissed (PHK) between January and November 2017 involving 2,345 cases throughout Indonesia.

"The sackings were because of retirement, temporary employment contracts (PKWT) [ending], outsourcing, re-designation and work contracts [ending]", said Kemenaker Director General for Industrial Relations and Social Security (PHI and Jamsos) Haiyani Rumondang on Friday December 29.

Unfortunately, the Kemenaker does not have detailed information on dismissals based on industrial sector. Rumondang however said that there were mass dismissals in several sectors this year, mostly caused by a surge in digitalisation.

"There were several sectors. We don't see it as being because of that (purchasing power), but more because of digitalisation. Banks, yes (one of the industrial sectors experiencing dismissals), but not the most", he said.

According to Kemenaker's data, dismissals that occurred because workers had reached retirement age amounted to 178 cases. This was followed by 583 cases resulting from PKWT ending, outsourcing or temporary work contracts 550 cases and re-designation 88 cases.

Based on region, the largest number of dismissals took place in East Kalimantan at 3,088 workers. This was followed by Jakarta with 1,929, Banten (West Java) with 1,663, East Java with 742 and Central Kalimantan with 537 dismissals.

This was followed by Aceh with 425 dismissals, West Papua province with 324, Riau with 262, Central Sulawesi with 169, West Sumatra with 157, South Sumatra with 140 and North Sulawesi with 108 dismissals.

Next was South Kalimantan with 87 dismissals, Jambi with 70, South Sulawesi with 25, Bali with 25, Central Sulawesi with 24, Bangka Belitung with 22 and Bengkulu with 15 dismissals.

Meanwhile there were several provinces where no dismissals occurred such as North Sumatra, Riau Islands, Lampung, West Java, Central Java, Yogyakarta (Central Java), West Kalimantan, Gorontalo, West Sulawesi, West Nusa Tenggara, East Nusa Tenggara, Maluku, North Maluku and Papua province.

Nevertheless, Rumondang explained that the total number of dismissals recorded by the ministry is probably less than the actual number because dismissals were widespread this year.

"The total number of PHK is perhaps so many, but how could there have only been nine thousand or so dismissals? This is because there were parties [employers] who didn't fulfill the obligations, didn't report them, but perhaps also because of win-win solutions [sic] so they weren't reported and the like", he explained.

Meanwhile the latest data from Kemenaker that can be accessed notes that the total number of dismissals for Semester I 2016 was 7,954 workers covering 1,494 cases. (bir)

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the article was "Nyaris 10 Ribu Pekerja Kena PHK di Sepanjang Tahun Ini".]

Source: https://www.cnnindonesia.com/ekonomi/20171229141558-532-265488/nyaris-10-ribu-pekerja-kena-phk-di-sepanjang-tahun-ini#

Freeport employees reject MoU

Tempo - December 28, 2017

Jakarta – At least 14 Freeport Indonesia workers went to the Manpower Ministry's office on December 27.

They submitted a letter rejecting the memorandum of understanding between the union and Freeport regarding the termination of employment.

The employees' lawyer Harris Azhar said the employees believe that Freeport was being deceitful by putting pro-company workers into unions before making the deal.

The truth is, according to Harris, Freeport's union leader position is empty because the commissioner had been fired.

"People who are friendly with the company were the ones who made the deal. They suddenly sat down with Freeport," he said yesterday.

In February, Freeport laid off hundreds of employees while in negotiations with the government over the miner's contract. Thousands of employees held strikes in May, resulting in them getting sacked as well.

Freeport Indonesia spokesman Riza Pratama said the company tried to ask the protesters to go back to work, but they refused, and thus "we considered them to have voluntarily resigned," he said, referring to the contract between the miner and its workers.

Riza said Freeport will still help employees financially, based on the length of their service for the company. In addition, employees are allowed to return to work at Freeport Indonesia, provided they enter through contractors and go through selection stages.

– Indri Maulidar, Maya Ayu, Danang Firmanto

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/news/2017/12/28/056914403/freeport-employees-reject-mou

Abused Indonesian: Hong Kong needs more safeguards for maids

Associated Press - December 22, 2017

Josie Wong, Hong Kong – An Indonesian maid who won a civil case this week against her former Hong Kong employer for shocking physical abuse said Friday she's happy with the result but urged the city to do more to help foreign maids.

Erwiana Sulistyaningsih said authorities aren't doing enough to protect the southern Chinese financial center's army of foreign domestic workers, most of whom are women from either Indonesia or the Philippines.

A Hong Kong court ordered Sulistyaningsih's former employer to pay her nearly 810,000 Hong Kong dollars ($103,500) in damages for the abuse, which occurred over eight months starting in 2013.

The employer, mother of two Law Wan-tung, was earlier convicted on assault and other charges, fined and given a six-year prison term.

The case came to light when graphic pictures of Sulistyaningsih's injuries started circulating among Hong Kong's Indonesian community showing her face, hands and legs covered with scabs and lacerations and blackened, peeling skin around her feet.

Sulistyaningsih said that since her case she had met with many other foreign maids who were mistreated by the families they work for.

"Still the employers give long working hours," she said at a news conference. "Other victim also tell me their stories. Like they weren't given enough food, they didn't have holiday."

She urged the Hong Kong authorities to review current policies and practices, saying not enough is being done to protect workers. Since her case came to light, she said, "I think nothing changed."

Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/abused-indonesian-hong-kong-needs-more-safeguards-for-maids/2017/12/22/0436970c-e6fc-11e7-927a-e72eac1e73b6_story.html

Political parties & elections

Parties still choosing candidates for W. Java election

Jakarta Globe - December 31, 2017

Adinda Putri – Jakarta. Political parties are still deciding which candidates to support in the 2018 West Java gubernatorial election.

"A lot can happen before candidate registration in January. All names and options are still available for all parties," Ahmad Hanafi Rais, lawmaker and PAN central board deputy head, said after a discussion in Jakarta on Friday (29/12).

Earlier this week, PAN agreed to join forces with the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) for the 2018 gubernatorial elections in five provinces, including West Java.

However, so far Gerindra and PKS, which claim 23 seats in the West Java Legislative Council, have officially endorsed Maj. Gen. (ret.) Sudrajat and Deputy Bekasi Mayor Ahmad Syaikhu for West Java's governor an deputy governor, while PAN, which has only four seats, still wants to support the province's current Deputy Governor Deddy Mizwar.

"PAN unconditionally endorses Deddy as the governor candidate for West Java, because of his commitment to developing the province. On the other hand, we must cooperate with other parties," PAN chairman Zulkifl Hasan said on Friday, as quoted by Beritasatu.com.

Golkar, Indonesia's second largest political party, is looking for a running mate for its recently announced candidate, Banyuwangi district head Dedi Mulyadi, after it recently withdrew support for Bandung Mayor Ridwan Kamil.

"There are still many options, it can be Dedi's own choice – Deddy Mizwar – or PDIP's [the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle] candidate, or our previous [governor candidate] Ridwan Kamil," said Happy Bone Zulkarnaen, head of Golkar's central board.

The West Java boards of Golkar and the Democratic Party on Tuesday agreed to endorse Dedi and Deddy, but their central boards still have not approved the choice.

Meanwhile, Ridwan has recently been endorsed by the People's Conscience Party (Hanura), which adds to the political support he has from the United Development Party (PPP), the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the National Democratic Party (NasDem).

Ridwan is in talks with the parties with regard to his running mate. Until now, the country's largest party PDI-P, has not selected its candidate.

Whoever wins the 2018 West Java election will have a significant influence on the following year's presidential vote, as the province is home to about 18 percent of registered voters, the largest chunk among the country's 34 provinces.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.id/news/parties-still-choosing-candidates-w-java-election/

Indonesian parties scramble to find candidates for regional elections

Straits Times - December 29, 2017

Jakarta – Less than two weeks before the registration for simultaneous regional elections in Indonesia opens, political parties are scrambling to select candidates and to strengthen their power bases by forming coalitions with other parties.

The five biggest and most highlighted provinces that will hold gubernatorial elections next year – West Java, Central Java, East Java, North Sumatra and Papua – however have yet to see firm candidate selections, or solid political alliances, which, in certain cases, are required to allow the parties to field candidates.

In West Java, widely regarded as a religiously conservative region and the nation's most populous province, the upcoming election has already seen heated rivalries, with some party alliances that have begun to form, appearing likely to break apart.

In particular, the coalition of two Islam-based parties – the United Development Party (PPP) and National Mandate Party (PKB) – whose alliance with the NasDem Party had initially included the Golkar party, has now become wobbly.

Golkar – the province's second largest party – recently left the alliance, which has agreed to endorse frontrunner Ridwan Kamil, the popular mayor of Bandung.

Golkar has instead thrown its support behind one of its members, Purwakarta Regent Dedi Mulyadi, after it became exasperated with Ridwan's inability to decide on his running mate, an issue that continues to be a subject of dispute among the coalition members.

The PPP and PKB have both insisted on their members running as Ridwan's running mate.

The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and National Mandate Party (PAN) – two parties that may represent the votes of conservative Muslims – and the Democratic Party had previously declared they would team up in support of incumbent deputy governor and Democrat politician Deddy Mizwar's bid.

On Wednesday (Dec 27), the PKS and PAN, however, announced that they had formed a coalition in West Java with their past ally in the 2014 presidential election, the Gerindra Party.

"Today we [PKS, PAN and Gerindra] have agreed to endorse Sudrajat-Syaikhu," PKS chairman Sohibul Iman said, referring to retired military man Sudrajat and the deputy mayor of Bekasi, Ahmad Syaikhu, as running mate.

The fate of Deddy, along with his party, which was once also a member of the 2014 alliance, is now hanging in the balance. "We are still having intense talks with the Democratic Party to invite them to join us," said Sodik Mudjahid from Gerindra.

The General Election Commission (KPU) is set to open the registration for the candidates on Jan 8 to run in the regional elections, better known as Pilkada, in 17 provinces and 154 regencies.

In Central Java, the PKS has appeared to follow in the steps of Gerindra and PAN in endorsing former energy minister Sudirman Said, who once signalled he would run in the election on a Democratic, PPP and Golkar ticket.

But Democrat lawmaker Agus Hermanto said his party was still "scrutinising the electability and popularity (of various hopefuls) before deciding."

Many believe that the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) will support the reelection of Governor Ganjar Pranowo in the province, known as a PDI-P stronghold. However, the country's largest political party has yet to make a decision.

Among the five big provinces, the PDI-P has only formalised its support in East Java, naming Deputy Governor Saifullah "Gus Ipul" Yusuf as a candidate in collaboration with the PKB.

Gus Ipul is likely to challenge Social Affairs Minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa who is backed by Golkar, the Dems, the PPP, Nasdem and the Hanura Party.

Gerindra, PAN and the PKS are considering endorsing Gerindra politician Moreno Soeprapto, a former racing driver, but are yet to officially make an announcement.

In North Sumatra and Papua, most political parties have yet to decide either on coalitions or candidates.

– The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network

Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/indonesian-parties-scramble-to-find-candidates-for-regional-elections

Gerindra, PKS, PAN endorse Army general in North Sumatra election

Jakarta Post - December 27, 2017

Jakarta – The Gerindra Party, the Islam-based Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the National Mandate Party (PAN) have agreed to throw their support behind Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) chief Lt. Gen. Edy Rahmayadi in his bid for the post of North Sumatra governor next year.

The three parties have also endorsed Musa Rajekshah, a figure famous among the youth in the province, as Edy's running mate, kompas.com reported.

PAN secretary-general Eddy Soeparno said that the decision was made during a meeting between Gerindra chairman Prabowo Subianto, PAN chairman Zulkifli Hasan and PKS chairman Sohibul Iman on Sunday.

The three-party alliance controls a total of 32 councillor seats in North Sumatra, which is enough to field a gubernatorial ticket.

PKS and Gerindra are among the opposition parties in national politics; while PAN is a pro-government party.

The three-star general, according to Soeparno, will resign from his military post after he officially registers his candidacy at the General Elections Commission (KPU) in January. "Upon submitting [his application with the KPU], [he] will resign," Soeparno said.

Edy was previously set to be assigned to another post at the Army headquarters ahead of his planned early retirement, in a decision made under former TNI commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo. However, Gatot's successor, TNI commander Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto, canceled the rotation. (afr/ipa)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/12/27/gerindra-pks-pan-endorse-army-general-in-north-sumatra-election.html

Hate speech and SARA threatens 2018 regional elections

Tempo - December 27, 2017

Jakarta – Issues regarding SARA (ethnicity, religion, and race) is expected to damage the political atmosphere of the upcoming 2018 simultaneous regional head elections (Pilkada 2018).

SARA issues are predicted to rise again since it is an effective tool used by several groups in certain political affiliations to attack and sway voters away from rival candidates.

"It can be confirmed that it will increase," said Adrianus Meliala, Professor of Criminology Science at Universitas Indonesia's Social and Political Sciences Faculty on Tuesday, December 26.

"Many people are astonished by its effectiveness to attack a political rival," Adrianus added. These types of people choose not to focus on the negative effects that can emerge within the society.

Another problem worth highlighting is the sluggish reaction from state authorities in dealing with criminal cases related to SARA. "The perpetrators consider it an insignificant act since they are not aware that they have violated the law," said Adrianus.

Adrianus urges authorities to assert the punishments for hate speech spreaders. He suggested that the police institution and judiciaries to show a level of toughness within the next month or two, which will make people think twice before conducting acts that are considered to be SARA.

Political observer Ray Rangkuti of the Lingkar Madani Foundation said that the use of SARA issues as tools used for political gains can potentially last up to the 2019 legislative and presidential election. "Political parties are carrying a huge responsibility to anticipate this matter," he said.

– Adam Prireza, Dewi Nurita, Zara Amelia

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/news/2017/12/27/055914380/Hate-Speech-and-SARA-Threatens-2018-Regional-Elections

PPP seeks unity ahead of 2019 elections

Jakarta Post - December 26, 2017

Jakarta – The United Development Party (PPP) is hoping to overcome internal friction as the 2019 presidential and legislative elections draw closer.

PPP deputy secretary-general Achmad Baidowi said the party's central executive board, assembled during a national congress in Pondok Gede, East Jakarta, in April 2016 and led by Muhammad "Romy" Romahurmuziy, wished that the splinter faction led by Djan Faridz would join Romy's camp.

Achmad made the statement following the Supreme Court's ruling, which rejected an appeal filed by Djan and his faction secretary, Achmad Dimyati Natakusumah, to settle PPP's executive board dispute.

"As the ruling is final and legally binding, we are inviting all PPP cadres to unite before the 2019 elections," said Baidowi, as quoted by Antara on Tuesday. "We welcome our colleagues [from the Djan-led faction] to join us."

Baidowi urged all members to show party loyalty, because the PPP was aiming to stay one of the top three parties in terms of electoral votes.

Baidowi specifically asked Achmad Dimyati to stay in PPP following reports that he had joined the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) to run as a candidate in the 2019 legislative election.

He further said political tensions inside the party had to be stopped, as all legal issues had been resolved. All court rulings have legalized PPP's central executive board resulting from the Pondok Gede congress in 2016, including the Supreme Court rulings No.79/2017 and No.514/2017, he added. (nmn/ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/12/26/ppp-seeks-unity-ahead-of-2019-elections.html

PKS' collaboration with PAN, Gerindra likely to continue until 2019

Jakarta Post - December 26, 2017

Jakarta – The collaboration between the Islam-based Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and two other opposition parties – the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the Gerindra Party – for next year's regional elections is likely to continue until the 2019 presidential and legislative elections, the former's president, Sohibul Iman, said.

"It is probable the partnership will continue until 2019. It depends on the political constellation," he said as quoted by Antara in Jakarta on Monday.

Sohibul said the three parties had agreed to build a coalition in next year's gubernatorial elections in five provinces, namely Central Java, East Kalimantan, North Maluku, North Sumatra and West Java.

He asserted the 2018 regional elections were a stepping stone toward the 2019 elections. "We hope it [the coalition between the three parties] can be maintained until 2019."

The coalition reportedly will soon announce the names of their gubernatorial candidates in the five provinces after each party makes a decision on its gubernatorial candidacy in its internal deliberations.

Sohibul said it was understood that the three political parties would not be able to cooperate in all elections, at provincial, regency or municipal levels, in 2018.

As reported earlier, the Democratic Party's West Java central executive board was optimistic that the PKS and PAN would nominate Deddy Mizwar and Ahmad Syaikhu as governor and deputy governor candidates for the 2018 West Java gubernatorial election.

The PKS' West Java central executive board chairman, Irfan Suryanagara, said on Monday that his side would uphold a decision made by the Dems, PKS and PAN branches to nominate Deddy-Ahmad for the 2018 West Java election. (afr/ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/12/26/pks-collaboration-with-pan-gerindra-likely-to-continue-until-2019.html

5 generals to run in 2018 simultaneous regional election

Tempo - December 26, 2017

Chitra Paramaesti, Jakarta – Indonesia's 2018 Simultaneous Regional Election will have several active generals from the National Armed Forces (TNI) and the National Police who will test their chances as governors. This phenomenon is the first time it has ever happened in the five year cycle election.

Despite this fact, it does not mean that the generals will have a bigger chance compared to the civilian candidates. Monitor Indonesia Director Ali Ri'fan said that the current political condition is different from the New Order under the Soeharto Presidency.

He argues that in Indonesia's current state, high-ranking officers from the TNI and Police that participate in the country's political landscape will have potential equal to civilians. "It isn't the same as the New Order. Back then, the fight is over when an officer runs for candidacy. Generally, it's considered normal now," said Ali Ri'fan on Tuesday, December 26.

Based on our observation, there are at least five candidates that are TNI and Police generals in the 2018 Simultaneous Regional Election.

1. TNI Lieutenant General Edy Rahmayadi. He will likely submit an early retirement to run for Governor of North Sumatera. He is endorsed by Gerindra, PKS, and PAN.

2. Police Inspector General Safaruddin. The East Kalimantan police high ranking officer is expected to run for the 2018 East Kalimantan Gubernatorial election endorsed by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP).

3. Police Inspector General Anton Charliyan. This Deputy Head of Police Education and Training once held the position as West Java Police Chief back in 2016. He is also backed by PDIP.

4. Inspector General Murad Ismail. This Head of the Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) is endorsed by Nasdem and PDIP in the 2018 Maluku Regional election. He was the Maluku Police Chief from 2013-2015.

5. General Inspector Paulus Waterpauw. Endorsed by Golkar, he is currently the North Sumatra police chief who will run for the 2018 Papua Gubernatorial Election.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/news/2017/12/26/055914377/5-Generals-to-Run-in-2018-Simultaneous-Regional-Election

PBB, PKPI move on to verification stage for 2019 legislative election

Jakarta Post - December 25, 2017

Jakarta – The General Elections Commission (KPU) has announced that the Crescent Star Party (PBB) and the Indonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKPI) passed on Sunday the administrative assessment for participating in the 2019 general elections.

"Based on our evaluation of the documents from nine parties, the KPU has concluded that the two of them fulfilled the administrative criteria and will continue to the verification stage," KPU commissioner Hasyim Asy'ari said on Sunday as reported by Antara.

The PBB and the PKPI are among the nine parties that filed a motion with the Election Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) in November against the KPU's decision to disqualify them from the election.

The seven other parties are the Idaman Party, the Bhinneka Indonesia Party, the Indonesian Employers and Workers Party (PPPI), the Republic Party, the People's Party, the Voice of Indonesian People's Party (Parsindo) and the Indonesian Working Party (PIKA). These parties are also allowed to challenge the KPU's latest decision.

"According to Law No. 7/2017, the parties that did not pass could file a motion with the Bawaslu within three days after the KPU has made the decision," said Bawaslu commissioner Fritz Edward Siregar.

A total of 14 parties are to be verified for contesting the 2019 legislative election.

"We will verify new parties in all regions. Meanwhile, for older parties, we will only verify them in the new autonomous regions," KPU chairman Arief Budiman said, referring to the 10 parties that have contested previous elections.

These parties will be verified in North Kalimantan province and 17 new regencies and cities. (ami/ary)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/12/25/pbb-pkpi-move-on-to-verification-stage-for-2019-legislative-election.html

'SARA' issues expected to be still rampant in 2018 election

Tempo - December 23, 2017

Dewi Nurita, Jakarta – Association for Election and Democracy (Perludem) head Titi Anggraini stated that sectarian politics and identity politics that make use of tribal affiliations, religion, race and societal groups (SARA) will still go strong in 2018 Regional Election.

Such a statement, Titi expressed, is based on her observation from 2017 Gubernatorial Election and statements made by several political parties.

"Strong indications of the use of the issues are evident," Titi said in Central Jakarta on Friday, December 22. She explained that a number of political parties have mentioned they will duplicate the strategy used in Jakarta Gubernatorial election in regional elections since they find it effective to win votes.

Titi believed that SARA will very likely be used in 2018 Regional Election. "This is because there is no party providing balance by stating that what happened in the Gubernatorial Election is not because of SARA," she added.

Furthermore, Titi continued, Java is a huge source of votes. Regions like Central Java, West Java and East Java will determine the success of incumbent leaders for two periods. "Central Java is likely to have an incumbent, and if Gerindra steps up with their candidate, a competition antithesis will occur resembling Jakarta Gubernatorial election," Titi stated.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/news/2017/12/23/055914320/SARA-Issues-Expected-to-be-Still-Rampant-in-2018-Election

Blasphemy & shariah law

In Gorontalo, New Year celebrations banned on sharia grounds

Jakarta Post - December 31, 2017

Syamsul Huda M. Suhari, Gorontalo – Bone Bolango regency in the muslim-majority province of Gorontalo has officially banned New Year's celebrations on the grounds that they are against sharia law.

The regency has sent public offices, heads of state and private universities, as well as heads of regional-owned companies across the regency, a letter banning public officials and university students from being involved in any New Year's Eve celebrations that violate Islamic teachings.

"It is urged that you instruct all staff or students not to hold any kind of New Year's Eve celebrations that are against Islamic sharia law," said the letter signed by Bone Bolango regional secretary Ishak Ntoma on Dec. 27.

A copy of the letter went viral, creating sparked debate among Gorontalo locals on social media.

Gorontalo resident Fuad Pantoiyo said on his Facebook account "I 100 percent agree with the instruction", followed by the hashtag #SayaMuslim (I am a Muslim).

Some expressed their concerns over the instruction, for instance, Samsi Pomalingo, a lecturer at Gorontalo State University, who said it might "hinder relations among people of different religions."

Djemi Radji from Gusdurian Network, which often campaigns for pluralism, called on the regency to review the instruction.

Gorontalo regency, another regency in the province, has issued an instruction suggesting that Muslims welcome 2018 by holding dzikir (chants in praise of God) in mosques.

Gorontalo Regent Nelson Pomalingo said, however, people were allowed to hold celebrations. "But please respect the public order. Any celebrations should not involve alcoholic beverages and drugs," he said. (vla/ipa)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/12/31/in-gorontalo-new-year-celebrations-banned-on-sharia-grounds.html

Ahok does not deserve clemency: Fadli Zon

Tempo - December 23, 2017

Satria Dewi Anjaswari, Jakarta – A politician Fadli Zon views that former Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama or Ahok should not yet be granted a Christmas remission. The House of Representatives acting speaker questions the legal standing of the clemency granting.

"I think [Ahok] doesn't deserve it yet. What is the legal basis[?]" he told Tempo on Friday, December 22.

Ahok, who has been serving his jail sentence over blasphemy for six months, is reported to receive a Christmas remission. Based on the prevailing law, an inmate who has been well-behaved and has been performing the jail sentence for more than six months deserves a clemency.

However, Fadli Zon considers the status of Ahok's jail sentence in Police Mobile Brigade headquarter (Mako Brimob) Kelapa Dua, Depok, is vague. "I'm actually confused. Is Mako Brimob a detention center or a correctional center or what?"

According to Fadli, if Ahok serves his sentence in a correctional center, it is understandable that he is granted a remission since the inmates there receive coaching.

Fadli says he does not know if Mako Brimob also facilitates similar tasks and coaching as a correctional institution. He also says that it is irrelevant if Ahok serves his sentence in Mako Brimob due to a security reason.

"I think any correctional centers have the security standard," said Fadli Zon.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/news/2017/12/23/055914322/Ahok-Does-Not-Deserve-Clemency-Fadli-Zon

Surveys & opinion polls

Two most vocal politicians in 2017: Fahri Hamzah and Fadli Zon

Tempo - December 29, 2017

Jakarta – A pollster Indonesia Indicator revealed that Fahri Hamzah and Fadli Zon topped the list of the most vocal politicians in 2017, whose statements were most followed-up by online news agencies.

Fahri Hamzah was officially the most vocal politician figure with 20,791 news pieces related to him and 70,018 of his statements were quoted by the media.

"This means that there is an average of three of his statements that were quoted by news agencies," said Indonesia Indicator Communication Director Rustika Herlambang on Friday, December 29.

The second most vocal politician is Fadli Zon with the media quoting him 68,101 times. "this also shows that Fahri Hamzah and Fadli Zon are the two main figures responsible for shaping the public's opinion that come from opposing political parties," said Rustika.

The third most vocal politician goes to People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Chairman Zulkifli Hasan with 60,051 quotes. The fourth position goes to Setya Novanto with 54,942 quotes, and the sixth Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who placed fifth most vocal politician by scoring 32,971 quotes.

According to Rustika, the names in the list could be considered as media darlings, although it does not mean that they are mediagenic.

– Dewi Nurita

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/news/2017/12/29/055914440/Two-Most-Vocal-Politicians-in-2017-Fahri-Hamzah-and-Fadli-Zon

Internet & social media

FPI confirms boycott of Facebook, WhatsApp, other social media on

Coconuts Jakarta - December 22, 2017

Indonesian Islamist hardliners the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) continue to have us scratching our heads, announcing a blanket boycott of social media to protest their Facebook account being blocked on Tuesday, a move that would seemingly hurt no one but themselves.

Earlier this week, the FPI said that they planned to carry out a protest at Facebook's office in Indonesia in response to the account blocking.

Then yesterday, FPI Jakarta Secretary General Novel Bamukmin (of "Fitsa Hats" fame) confirmed that the group and their supporters would be unplugging from social media on Christmas day as a form of protest.

"We will boycott Facebook, WhatsApp, and others for 24 hours on Dec. 25," he said, as quoted by Tirto.

You'll forgive us if we don't get the rationale behind this move. It's not like social media platforms like Facebook, with their billions of users, are going to feel the slightest pinch from FPI's boycott, whereas the hardline group needs social media to promote their values and activities.

As for the actual physical protest against Facebook, Novel said it will happen after Christmas or some time in the new year, and that they will protest at the offices of the IT Ministry as well.

So why is Facebook the target of FPI's wrath? Well, according to this poster that circulated online earlier this week, one of the main reasons is that Facebook has banned multiple pages and groups related to FPI, with the screen at the top (opposite a photo of fugitive FPI leader Rizieq Shihab) depicting a message from the social media platform indicating that an account has been deactivated for violating the site's terms of service, which include content that promotes violence or discrimination.

Curiously, the poster goes on to ask Muslims to leave Facebook altogether for an alternative social media network that is "friendly" for all religions (which they are calling on Muslim researchers and scientists to create), which begs the question: Why boycott Facebook and other existing social media platforms for only 24 hours?

To this point, neither Facebook, WhatsApp, nor any of the social media platforms being threatened with the boycott have made any public comment on the situation.

[The original title of this article was "FPI confirms 24-hour boycott of Facebook, WhatsApp, and other social media networks on Christmas".]

Source: https://coconuts.co/jakarta/news/fpi-confirms-24-hour-boycott-facebook-whatsapp-social-media-networks-christmas/

Environment & natural disasters

Natural disasters caused 377 deaths and dislocated 3.5m people in

Jakarta Globe - December 30, 2017

Telly Nathalia, Jakarta – A total of 2,341 natural disasters in 2017 killed 377 people and displaced around 3.5 million others, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, or BNPB, said on Friday (29/12).

A total of 787 floods and 716 typhoons wreaked havoc across the archipelago this year, along with 614 landslides, according to Sutopo Nugroho, a BNPB spokesman.

"Around 99 percent of the disasters was caused by hydrometeorology," Sutopo said.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.id/environment/natural-disasters-caused-377-deaths-dislocated-3-5m-people-indonesia-2017/

Government urged to revise Montara oil spill lawsuit dossier

Jakarta Post - December 28, 2017

Djemi Amnifu, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara – Indonesian seaweed farmers from East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) have called on the government to revise their lawsuit at the Central Jakarta District Court against Thailand-based oil producer PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP) Australasia over the 2009 Montara oil spill.

They feared that several mistakes in the dossier could impact the class action lawsuit filed by 15,000 seaweed farmers against PTTEP Australasia at the Federal Court of Australia.

Daniel Sanda, one of the plaintiffs from Rote who also represents the farmers, said the government had misspelled the name of the company allegedly responsible for the oil spill in its lawsuit dossier.

The government identified The Petroleum Authority of Thailand Exploration and Production Australasia (PTTEP AA) as the first defendant in the case, instead of PTTEP Australasia (Ashmore Cartier) Pty Ltd, Daniel said on Wednesday.

He went on to say that the government had demanded the company pay for environmental damages the oil spill caused in only two regencies, namely Kupang and Rote Ndao, while the spill had actually impacted 13 regencies and cities.

Meanwhile, Ferdi Tanoni, chairman of an advocacy group supporting the oil spill victims, said the accident had affected around 10,000 seaweed farmers and fishermen in NTT, and their families in 13 regencies and cities.

The case has been under deliberation at the Federal Court of Australia in Sydney since August last year. (fra)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/12/28/govt-urged-to-revise-montara-oil-spill-lawsuit-dossier.html

Corruption & abuse of power

'Bad timing' forces police to put on hold plan to establish own

Jakarta Globe - December 29, 2017

Sheany, Jakarta – A plan by Indonesia's National Police to establish a special anticorruption unit has been put on hold indefinitely due to "bad timing," Police Chief Gen. Tito Karnavian said on Friday (29/12).

"The plan was proposed with good intentions, the KPK (Corruption Eradication Commission) knows that. Corruption in Indonesia is so widespread... having just one institution to fight it is not enough," Tito told reporters in Jakarta.

Tito said the plan to create the police's own anticorruption unit has been in the works for almost a year, but was only recently put in the media spotlight, swept along with news of lawmakers's intensive inquiries into the KPK, which critics say are just another attempt to weaken the antigraft body.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.id/corruption-news/bad-timing-forces-police-put-hold-plan-establish-anticorruption-unit/

2017 gloomy year for justice system, ICW says

Tempo - December 28, 2017

Jakarta – The Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) said 2017 has been the gloomiest year for bribery cases in justice institutions. Not only first-grade courts, the Constitutional Court (MK) and the Supreme Court (MA) were also implicated in cases that tarnish the Indonesian justice system.

ICW researcher for legal and judicial monitoring Lalola Ester said on Wednesday, that 2017's red marks began with the bribery case conducted by one of the MK judges Patrialis Akbar.

The MK is also facing charges of alleged violations of the code of ethics by Chairman Arief Hidayat. Arief allegedly lobbied politicians in the DPR Law Commission to defend his position as a judge of the Constitutional Court – allegedly in exchange for a judicial review of the MPR, DPR, DPD and DPRD (Act of MD3) law on the validity of legislators' right to inquire the KPK.

Arief admitted that he had met with a number of members of the DPR Legal Commission. "We believe that what Arief Hidayat had majorly stained the image of the Constitutional Court," he said.

Meanwhile, since October, two Supreme Court judges and one clerk were arrested by the KPK related to bribery cases. The AGO also received a critical note from ICW, in relevance to its several prosecutors getting arrested in the KPK string operations.

– Tika Azaria

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/news/2017/12/28/055914405/2017-Gloomy-Year-for-Justice-System-ICW-Says

State officials the most corrupt in 2017: KPK

Jakarta Post - December 27, 2017

Kharishar Kahfi, Jakarta – The majority of individuals arrested by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in 2017 were high echelon state officials, the antigraft body has reported.

KPK data released on Wednesday said 43 out of the 120 people arrested by the KPK on allegations of corruption and bribery throughout the year were state officials.

Businesspeople, as well as lawmakers and regional councillors were in second and third place with 27 and 20 people arrested, respectively.

Last year, state officials stood in fourth place, with 10 individuals arrested by KPK investigators. In total, the KPK arrested 99 individuals from different backgrounds in 2016.

KPK deputy chairman Laode Muhammad Syarif said state officials were the most prone to corrupt practices on account of their authority.

"This [number] could also show that the public has better awareness and are filing reports more against corrupt officials in a number of regions," Laode added.

The year 2017 was a busy one for the commission with 19 operations that led to the arrest of 72 suspects, including eight regional heads. The KPK has also recovered around Rp 2.9 trillion (US$203 million) in stolen state assets this year. (ipa)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/12/27/state-officials-the-most-corrupt-in-2017-KPK.html

Jokowi image being hurt by lack of effort in Novel Baswedan case

Tempo - December 27, 2017

M Yusuf Manurung, Jakarta – The acid attack against Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator Novel Baswedan is far from being solved. The government has also decided to not form a fact-finding team (TGPF) to solve the case.

The urgency of forming a fact-finding team sparked debates. The KPK Chairman once said that the efficiency of a fact-finding team would be inefficient to solve the case.

On the other hand, several former KPK leaders and activists that are joined in the civil society coalition for KPK continues to push the government to form a fact-finding team.

"If there is no TGPF then there would not be any attempts to reveal the mafias who attacked Novel," said Haris Azhar, member of Novel Baswedan's advocate team.

If there seems to be no intention from President Joko Widodo or Jokowi and authorities to form a TGPF, he argues that the both of them can be considered to participate in the unintended attempts of making the attackers untouched.

He further reasoned that members of the public must rethink about how bad the government and state authorities' commitment are to eradicate crimes such as corruption. He added that it might affect President Jokowi politically in the 2019 presidential election.

The attack on Novel Baswedan happened on the early mornings of Tuesday, April 11, 2017. Novel was sprayed with a glass of acid when he was walking back from a mosque nearby his house in Kelapa Gading, Jakarta.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/news/2017/12/27/055914381/Jokowi-Image-Being-Hurt-by-Lack-of-Effort-in-Novel-Baswedan-Case

Yearender: Indonesia's anticorruption campaign faces uphill struggle

Xinhua - December 24, 2017

Abu Hanifah, Jakarta – Corruption remains a serious problem in Indonesia with scores of senior officials and parliament members arrested in the past year by the nation's anti-graft commission (KPK) as the government steps up its measures to tackle the issue.

The nation's struggle to eradicate corruption has been an uphill effort as the illicit practice of stealing money from the state has been rampant and systematically conducted in state institutions.

A rising number of arrests and legal proceedings against corrupt officials and lawmakers over the last few years, however, has seemingly not provided enough of a deterrent for officials to stay away from corruption.

Anticorruption debacle

The recent long and weary process of bringing parliament speaker Setya Novanto to justice over a scandalous corruption case he committed, has illustrated how serious the issue is in Indonesia and how steep the uphill struggle is to tackle it.

Despite his distinguished post in the country that required him to be a role model and respect the supremacy of law, Setya demonstrated his defiance by filing an appeal against the allegations leveled by the KPK in July and made a political attempt to rebuff the KPK by having parliament form an inquiry task force against the commission.

The latter move incited staunch public criticism of parliament, which once ranked as one of most corrupt institutions in the country.

The public regarded the forming of a parliamentary inquiry task force against the KPK as being an absurd move that ran contrary to the government and the will of the people to totally eradicate corruption in the country.

"This is serious. They used political variables to oppose the nation's anticorruption drive. Instead of facilitating it, the parliament members actually broke the nation's hope of seeing a brighter, corruption-free future," HS Dillon, a member of Indonesia's Anti-Corruption Civil Society, said.

He added that rampant corruption would hinder the nation from advancing further towards becoming a prosperous country.

In addition, Setya also tried several bogus attempts to be absent for KPK questioning after being summoned. His excuses included illnesses and an instance of literally running away from KPK enforcers.

His escape tactics ended up in a dramatic car crash that saw him admitted to hospital last month. Wasting no time, KPK enforcers arrested him in the hospital and immediately detained him in a KPK detention facility.

Setya was charged for committing corruption connected to a project related to national digital ID cards that ran from 2011 to 2013 when he served as parliament member.

He was charged of illicitly reallocating some 2.3 trillion rupiah (about 169.2 million U.S. dollars) from 5.9 trillion rupiah (about 434.1 million U.S. dollars) allocated for the project.

The parliament speaker, who also chairs the nation's influential Golkar Party, finally resigned from his post when he was detained by the KPK, and is awaiting legal proceedings.

Setya's attempts to dodge justice have yet to end. He filed another appeal to a court, asking for help from President Joko Widodo as the trial against him was underway.

He has received no reply thus, and is facing corruption charges which may carry a maximum punishment of life imprisonment.

Along with Setya, the powerful government-sanctioned anti-graft agency has also arrested dozens of parliament members on suspicion of their involvement in multiple corruption cases.

At least 12 governors, 64 regents and majors have already been arrested by the KPK for their involvement in corruption cases since the anti-graft commission formed in 2004.

In addition, the KPK also arrested former ministers and other high-ranking officials on corruption charges during their service tenures.

Legal proceedings against some of them have been concluded with various sentences of up to six years of imprisonment imposed along with the obligation to return the money embezzled to the state.

The most shocking arrest involving an Indonesian corruption case was of Akil Mukhtar, who headed the Constitutional Court (MK) in 2013, the nation's highest legal institution.

The MK chief justice was caught red-handed receiving a bribe amounting to 250,000 U.S. dollars at his official residence. The bribe was related to disputed results of a regional election in Kalimantan. He was sentenced a year later to life in prison.

Leniency and loopholes

Eradicating corruption has been a focal policy for governments ruling Southeast Asia's largest country over the last several decades.

There has been a drastic surge in the number of arrests of violators since the KPK launched its crackdown in the mid-2000s, with widespread media coverage of the dramatic arrests of high-profile people who were caught red-handed accepting bribes.

Despite the media hullabaloo, however, many of those arrested received only lenient sentences, after being prosecuted, averaging between just four to six years imprisonment. This, despite the maximum legal sentence being life imprisonment.

Legal experts here have maintained that such lenient sentences do little by way of providing a deterrent to the accused to reoffend, or from deterring would-be grafters from illicitly lining their own pockets.

The experts have also highlighted flaws in the law and loopholes that allow embezzled funds to flow out of the country.

Sentences brought against those charged with corruption are not commensurate with the impact their crimes have had on ordinary people in light of the enormity of state funds usually involved, critics have also asserted.

The punishments have also not included social sanctions, essential in deterring such acts from occurring in society, experts have also pointed out.

Such sanctions could involve removing political rights, banning access to certain financial services, as well as the ability to work in the public sector. They could also include a full disclosure of the person's identity in the media, they added.

"Indonesian law is still attached to conventional methods, but needs to be innovative and inventive, in creating punishments against violators," Ramadan Pradiptyo, an executive at the Economics and Business Research Center at Gajah Mada University, said.

Indonesia has ratified the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) through Law No. 7/2006 that allows the nation to be more creative in its efforts to eradicate corruption issues plaguing the country, he added.

Digital breakthrough

The current government administered by President Joko Widodo has proposed using digital technology aimed at minimizing the opportunities to commit corruption.

The government has planned to apply e-budgeting, e-planning and e-procurement systems to facilitate administration processes in proposing budgets, development plans and procuring goods for government proposals in the near future.

President Widodo said recently that his administration is now in the process of providing a legal basis for the systems, which are expected to significantly reduce instances of corruption.

Widodo also plans to reform the permission issuance process in authorized institutions, so that the public and business people wanting to obtaining official permission for their business activities are not duped.

Digital technology could certainly help Indonesia tackle corruption, as a lifetime digital footprint would always provide incontrovertible evidence against those seeking to defraud the government and swindle the nation's law-abiding, hardworking citizens.

Source: http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2017-12/24/c_136849034.htm

Terrorism & religious extremism

Indonesia beefs up anti-terror police unit to combat growing challenge

Straits Times - December 29, 2017

Jakarta – Indonesia is beefing up its elite Detachment 88 unit in light of increased threats from local and international terror networks, National Police Chief General Tito Karnavian said today (Dec 29).

There will be additional 600 policemen assigned to the squad, bringing the total headcount to 1,300.

"We now have Isis, not only Al-qaeda elements. We are also seeing those who, through the internet, got self-radicalised, learnt how to make bombs and made attack plans," said General Tito, who was appointed police chief by President Joko Widodo last July (2016). "Therefore, the Detatchment 88 must be beefed up."

General Tito, who was involved in various high-profile terrorist raids when he was a field officer with Detatchment 88, told a briefing in Jakarta that silent operations must be stepped up, meaning more preemptive strikes are needed. This in turn requires higher detection capability, he added.

Tasks within Detatchment 88 are divided into various operations: arrests and raids; investigation and cross examination; interrogation; wiretapping; and evidence handling.

The unit has won praise for the many raids it has made on militant networks in Indonesia, foiling attacks and arresting terrorist suspects.

In 2017, Detatchment 88 arrested 154 and killed 16 terrorists during raids, with 14 officers injured and four killed during the raids operations.

The unit made more than 150 arrests in 2016, disrupting terror plots, including the planned launch of rocket attacks on Singapore's Marina Bay Sands from Batam island.

General Tito also unveiled plans to send more police officers for overseas studies, saying he was inspired by the late Singapore prime minister Lee Kuan Yew in his bold move in preventing corruption.

The police force has, for the first time, received an allocation of 120 scholarship positions from the finance ministry to send its personnel abroad. This would mean a record number of officers studying overseas in coming years.

"We want to have big waves of new faces and a less corrupt culture," said General Tito. "When they return to Indonesia, they will have their own community who think the same way and who will be the agents of change. We want to replicate the Singapore concept. This is what Singapore did."

He noted that when young policemen are sent to the United States, Britain and other countries with a less corrupt culture, they will be shaped accordingly.

The plan is to send 100 of the 300 fresh graduates from the police academy overseas as well as scores of other early-career policemen, he added.

Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/indonesia-beefs-up-anti-terror-police-unit-to-combat-growing-challenge-from-extremists

Indonesia compensates victims of terrorism for the first time

Tempo - December 22, 2017

Sapri Maulana, Jakarta – The Indonesian government has provided compensation for the victims of terrorism for the first time. The beneficiaries are the victims of a bomb attack on a church in Samarinda City on November 13, 2016.

Seven victims received a total of Rp237,871,152 that was handed over by the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) that represented the government.

"LPSK has been mandated, among others, to facilitate the compensation claims from the victims of terrorism..." LPSK deputy chief Lili Pintauli Siregar said on Thursday, Dec. 21.

Earlier, public prosecutors seek compensation of Rp1,479,535,400 for the seven victims of various amounts.

The first victim received Rp128,565,000, the second victim received Rp118,798,000, the third victim received Rp124,170,000, the fourth victim received Rp131,770,000, the fifth victim received Rp305,595,400, the sixth victim received Rp534,137,000, and the seventh victim received Rp136,500,000. The recommendation was read out at the East Jakarta District Court in a trial session of Samarinda church terror attack.

"The ruling covers actual losses suffered by the victims, whereas immaterial damages were not. So, the Rp1.4 billion include immaterial damages whereas Rp237 million is only for the actual losses," Lili said.

In a trial session held on Sep. 25, the judges handed down a life sentence to defendant Juhanda and ruled that the victims should be compensated, namely Marsyana Tiur, the mother of Alvaro Aurelius Tristan Sinaga at Rp56,357,892, Sarina Gultom, the mother of Trinity Hutahaen at Rp60,191,268; Anggiat M. Banjarnahour, the father of late Intan Olivia Banjarnahour at Rp66,252,000; Jekson Sihotan, the father of Anita Christabel Sihotang at Rp17,155,000; and Dorta Manaek, the mother of victims Misti Nofa Dinara and Elyka Mentieva at Rp19,215,000.

Aside from the families of the victims of the terror attack, the owners of vehicles burned in the incident also received compensation, namely Mesriani Sirait at Rp9,650,000 and Martha Bin at Rp9,050,000.

The compensation is expected to help the victims even though it might not be easy to heal the wounds after the terror attack. "I would like to express my gratitude to the government that has shown its attention to us. The amount itself is not essential," victim Novita Sagala said.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/news/2017/12/22/055914292/Indonesia-Compensates-Victims-of-Terrorism-for-the-First-Time

Freedom of religion & worship

Jakarta Archbishop calls for stronger national unity in Xmas message

Jakarta Post - December 25, 2017

Jakarta – The Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) and the Indonesian Bishops Conference (KWI) have issued a joint Christmas message that calls for the strengthening of national unity according to Pancasila, the state ideology.

Jakarta Archbishop Ignatius Suharyo said that the country's sense of unity was currently at peril.

"There are parties that have directly or indirectly shown a tendency to take a different path other than our national principle, Pancasila," Ignatius said on Monday at Jakarta Cathedral, as quoted by kompas.com.

He said that such parties were unable to respect Pancasila and accept it as the country's founding principle.

If such parties respected Pancasila, he added, they would implement its principles in their entirety. For instance, Ignatius said, government officials who were detained for graft were unable to put into action Pancasila's fifth principle of social justice to all citizens of the country.

"How many lawmakers have been arrested for corruption? They should have conformed to the law [they made] for the prosperity of the people [they represented]," he said.

Ignatius offered two messages with regard to the matter: First, not to forget the history of how the country was founded upon Pancasila as its basic principle; second, that all citizens should take responsibility for keeping that history alive by implementing the values of Pancasila on a daily basis. (nmn/ahw)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/12/25/jakarta-archbishop-calls-for-stronger-national-unity-in-xmas-message.html

Muslims may choose over Christmas greeting: MUI

Jakarta Post - December 25, 2017

Kharishar Kahfi, Jakarta – The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) has responded to the issue of a Makassar-based bakery's refusal to write a Christmas greeting on top of a cake a customer had ordered, calling it a part of freedom of expression.

The council's deputy chairman, Zainut Tauhid Sa'adi, said in a statement on Monday that the MUI could not prohibit anyone from having an opinion on whether it was allowed for Muslims to say "Merry Christmas."

"Ulemas have been split on the issue. The MUI welcomes every Muslim to choose according to their beliefs," Zainut said.

"We can't prohibit a bakery from refusing to write the greeting on the cake. At the same time, we can't condemn the ones serving customers by writing 'Merry Christmas'," he went on to say.

Zainut added that the council suggested for people to become wiser in responding to differences of opinion, so the debate would not create disturb religious harmony in the country.

"The MUI leaves a message for all Muslims to keep the principles of both Islam and brotherhood among fellow children of the nation," Zainut said.

On Sunday, a Makassar-based bakery refused a customer's request to write Selamat hari Natal keluargaku (Merry Christmas my family) on top of a cake she had ordered. The bakery, Chocolicious Indonesia, believes that it did nothing wrong, saying the policy should by no means be interpreted as an act of intolerance. (wit)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/12/25/muslims-may-choose-over-christmas-greeting-mui.html

'Religious diversity a blessing to all': Jokowi's Chistmas message

Jakarta Post - December 25, 2017

Safrin La Batu, Jakarta – President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo delivered on Monday his Christmas message to all Indonesian Christians, emphasizing that the country's religious diversity was to be embraced as a blessing.

"To all Christians in Indonesia, I wish you a Merry Christmas. The country's religious diversity is a blessing for us all," Jokowi said on his official Twitter account @Jokowi.

Sending public greetings during religious holidays has become a tradition among the presidents of Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim majority country.

The presidential holiday tradition also typically includes visiting houses of worship. During Christmas, presidents normally visit Jakarta Cathedral, among the oldest and largest churches in the country. Jokowi, however, did not visit the cathedral on Christmas Day.

During Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo, National Police Chief Gen. Tito Karnavian and Indonesian military (TNI) Commander Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto paid a visit to the cathedral to ensure that the government's rigorous security measures were allowing Christians to observe the holiday in peace.

"The government, in this case the police and the military, will safeguard Christmas," Tjahjo told those who had gathered at the cathedral.

Last week, Jokowi ordered the National Police chief and the TNI commander to heighten security at vital locations and houses of worship over the Christmas and New Year holiday. (ahw)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/12/25/religious-diversity-a-blessing-to-all-jokowis-xmas-message.html

Indonesia has peaceful Christmas holiday

Jakarta Post - December 25, 2017

Kharishar Kahfi and Dian Septiari, Jakarta – The festive season has, once again, passed safely as Christians celebrated Christmas this year without any major disturbances or incidents.

The solemn atmosphere of Christmas meant that Elitha Evinora Tarigan, a 31-year-old Jakarta-based business owner, listened carefully to the priest's sermon at Christmas Eve mass in Jakarta Cathedral on Sunday.

The sermon continued until one of the bishops arrived at the church's main hall with a number of officials, including Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo, and interrupted the sermon so the minister could give his speech to the thousands of attendees at the Catholic Church.

"I have no problem with these officials coming to the church during Christmas eve mass. However, I think they should come at a more appropriate time, such as after mass has finished, as the church provides time for additional announcements," Elitha told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

In the speech, Tjahjo passed a greeting on behalf of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, who was unable to go to the cathedral himself. At Christmas, the president normally visits Jakarta Cathedral, among the oldest and largest churches in the country.

The minister also apologized to Christians across the country if they have felt uncomfortable with the government's heavy security measures implemented to safeguard churches during the Christmas holiday. "We apologize if the [Christmas celebrations] seemed heavily guarded," the minister said.

Security was heightened, the minister said, "solely to provide assurances so that people can worship peacefully and solemnly without interference."

Tjahjo's apology was made after the deployment of more law enforcement personnel to ensure that this year's Christmas celebrations could take place peacefully. The National Police and the Indonesian Military (TNI) have deployed about 180,000 personnel in anticipation of possible terror attacks.

The number of personnel is larger than in 2016, when the combined security forces deployed only 150,000 personnel to secure the festive season.

Elitha, who had to go through security checks to attend mass in the cathedral, said the security measures affected the atmosphere during the service. "It's actually fine, but deep down, I feel sad. Why should we have to be guarded so tight during mass?"

The increased security measures were also felt by Eleny Marsha Claudia, 24, who witnessed more law enforcers guarding St. August Catholic Church in Cawang, East Jakarta. "There were around 10 to 15 fully-equipped police and military personnel compared to last year's five to seven police officers."

The law enforcers, however, seemed to overlook securing a congregation at St. John's Catholic Church in Kebayoran Lama subdistrict in South Jakarta, as attendees claimed that a smaller number of law enforcement officers had guarded the church.

"There were only two police officers who stood guard at the front door," said Afriani Liliani, a 28-year-old housewife, who went to the church. "I didn't know about it until I finally realized upon entering the church that the police were gone!"

The number personnel guarding the church, however, made Afriani feel more relaxed upon attending Christmas mass. "I personally felt more insecure last year as there were more security issues such as the threat of suicide bombers."

In January 2016 a suicide bombing and gun attack, claimed to have been carried out by the Islamic State movement (IS), took place in Jakarta, killing eight people, including police officers.

The increased security measures this year yielded a positive result: there were no major incidents across the country, especially during Christmas Eve.

"As of tonight, there have not been any major incidents reported. Everything is safe," National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian told reporters on Sunday. "The only problem is traffic congestion [going out of Jakarta]."

State-owned toll road operator Jasa Marga recorded that around 312,000 vehicles had left Jakarta as of Dec. 24, a 10 percent increase in the number of vehicles leaving Jakarta than usual.

The situation across the country has echoed the message of peace delivered by prominent figures, including President Jokowi, who delivered on Monday his Christmas message to all Christians, emphasizing that the country's religious diversity should be embraced.

"To all Christians in Indonesia, I wish you a Merry Christmas. The country's religious diversity is a blessing for us all," Jokowi said on his official Twitter account @Jokowi.

The Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI) and the Indonesian Bishops Conference (KWI) also issued a joint Christmas message calling for the strengthening of national unity according to Pancasila, the state ideology. (wit)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/12/25/indonesia-has-peaceful-christmas-holiday.html

GKI Yasmin, HKBP Filadelfia hold another churchless Christmas

Jakarta Post - December 25, 2017

Callistasia Anggun Wijaya, Jakarta – Members of GKI Yasmin and HKBP Filadelfia held their Christmas services in front of the Presidential Palace in Jakarta for the sixth consecutive year on Monday, as they were again denied permits by their local administrations to hold services in their own church buildings.

Hundreds of members of the two congregations held their services with only umbrellas to protect them from the sun and stifling heat on Monday afternoon.

The reader of the liturgy priest Juliar Chandra said the celebration was conducted to express their hope for justice.

"We celebrate Jesus' birthday in front of the Presidential Palace as a symbol of our hope for justice, the spirit of truth and our peaceful stance," Juliar said during the service.

GKI Yasmin spokesman Bona Sigalingging said both churches hoped to use their own buildings soon given they had obtained all the required permits.

"We hope the President will push the administration's leaders, especially Bogor's mayor and Bekasi's regent, to guarantee the rights of GKI Yasmin and HKBP Filadelfia to use their churches," Bona said.

Back in 2008, the Bogor city administration issued a decree freezing the GKI church's building permit (IMB) in response to residents' resistance.

The Bandung State Administrative Court (PTUN) and the State Administrative High Court in Jakarta ruled in favor of the church and ordered the administration to revoke the decree. The Supreme Court also ruled in favor of GKI Yasmin in 2010.

However in 2011, former Bogor mayor Diani Budiarto revoked the church's IMB, thus leaving the church with no permit at all.

Meanwhile, HKBP Filadelfia faced a similar problem with the Bekasi administration sealing off the location upon which their church was to be built in 2010.

Both Bandung and Jakarta PTUN, as well as the Supreme Court, ruled in favor of HKBP Filadelfia in 2011. However, the congregations still could not use the churches as both administrations ignored the rulings.

Bona added that in December last year, Bandung Mayor Bima Arya had promised to accommodate the congregation's right to worship.

He had voiced an idea to build a mosque next to the church to show that people of different religions could live in harmony, Bona said. "We now encourage Bima to implement his own idea before the end of his term as mayor," Bona said.

Meanwhile, the government should pay attention to the dispute involving HKBP Filadelfia in Bekasi as the mayor did nothing significant to settle the dispute, he said. (wit)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/12/25/gki-yasmin-hkbp-filadelfia-hold-another-churchless-christmas-celebration.html

Indonesian bakery reignites debate over Xmas greeting

Jakarta Post - December 24, 2017

Jakarta – The annual debate over whether Muslims can say "Merry Christmas" to their Christian fellows took a new turn on Sunday after a Makassar-based bakery refused a customer's request to write "Selamat hari Natal keluargaku" (Merry Christmas, my family) on top of a cake she had ordered.

Indonesian netizens, whether Muslim or Christian, are sharply divided over the company's policy. If a Muslim believes that their faith prohibits them from saying "Merry Christmas" on the grounds it is akin to confirming the beliefs of Christians (an argument that has been widely refuted by top ulema), would they be considered intolerant if they denied a request of writing it on a cake?

The bakery, Chocolicious Indonesia, believes that it did nothing wrong, saying the policy should by no means be interpreted as an act of intolerance.

"With all due respect and humility, first of all, we would like to offer our deepest regrets. We from Chocolicious Indonesia are not yet able to write 'Merry Christmas' or other similar expressions," the bakery said in a statement on its official Instagram account.

"This does not mean we do not respect your religion. But with all due respect this is what we have to practice based on our religious principles," it said.

"Again, we sincerely apologize from the bottom of our hearts and with a feeling of respect and honor as Indonesians. We will still provide greeting cards and chocolate boards as additional services for your order. You are welcome to add your own writing. Again, we wish for your understanding."

For some netizens, the seemingly inoffensive and carefully worded explanation still failed to conceal what they perceived as the bakery's intolerance toward Christians.

Journalist Dandhy Dwi Laksono tweeted: "In the case of Chocolicious, what if the word 'Christmas' in the decorous sentence were replaced by 'Idul Fitri'? Or what if the same attitude were displayed by chocolate farmers in Flores who refuse to serve their buyers who celebrate Idul Fitri?"

Other social media users were less diplomatic, condemning the bakery as "racist", "fanatics" and "unfit to live in Indonesia". But not all netizens were furious or alarmed.

Burhanuddin Muhtadi, a political analyst from Jakarta Islamic State University, argued that the bakery had the right to refuse the request, saying, "Other people also have the right to buy cakes from other shops if they feel uncomfortable with [the bakery owner's] religious interpretation."

The Christmas cake controversy came amid concerns over rising identity politics in Indonesia, with the nation's burgeoning middle class now seen to be growing more religiously conservative. While many have become used to the antics of hard-line Islamic groups in their war against Christmas, it is unusual for a seemingly law-abiding Muslim shop owner to politely refuse a small request of writing "Selamat Natal" on the cakes they are selling.

Specifically, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), regarded as the highest religious authority in the country, does not prohibit Muslims from greeting Christians on their holiday. The late Buya Hamka, one of the most influential Muslim clerics in Indonesia, also made it clear that Muslims were permitted to say "Merry Christmas" despite many Muslims basing their argument against Christmas greetings on a 1981 MUI fatwa released by Hamka.

Yudi Latif, who heads the presidential working unit on the implementation of the state ideology of Pancasila (UKP-PIP), said more work needed to be done to instill tolerance in society.

He said the shop owners had "the right to refuse or accept" an order, adding that it was the task of religious leaders to spread the message of tolerance, including persuading the bakery owner to grant the customer's request.

Yudi said, "The government must ensure that business owners can operate freely and accept any order they want, as long as it is not against the law."

But regardless of the debate, Chocolicious Indonesia is losing some of its customers because of its policy.

Makassar resident Widya Sabila said she and her family had long been customers of the bakery. "I never thought they would do that. I am no longer a fan of their pastries," she said, adding that she and her friends would just stop buying from them. (vla/ami/ahw)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/12/24/indonesian-bakery-reignites-debate-over-xmas-greeting.html

Indonesia beefs up security ahead of Christmas and New Year celebrations

Straits Times - December 23, 2017

Jakarta (The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network) – Local administrations across Indonesia have been instructed to tighten their security measures and put fire departments on standby, ahead of the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Home Affairs Minister Tjahjo Kumolo said heightened security measures have been implemented across the country starting from Friday (Dec 22) till Jan 3.

The measures include installing security posts and preparing community health centres (Puskesmas) and hospitals to operate 24 hours during the year-end holiday season, the minister told journalists.

Instructions had been given to all local administrations in a circular telegram on Tuesday, he said. "I ordered them to provide best services to all people, both those who celebrate Christmas and people of other faiths," said Tjahjo.

Echoing the minister's statement, Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Hadi Tjahjanto said it was the duty of police and military personnel to ensure all Indonesian citizens felt safe during the holidays.

"Every TNI and National Police (POLRI) officer has to respond firmly, quickly and proportionately to any unruly behaviour that may be perpetrated by some groups to provoke security disruptions," he said.

In Central Java, two thirds of the province's 35,000-strong police force have been deployed to protect 2,800 churches across the region. About 180 churches across 35 regencies and municipalities have been singled out for additional safety measures.

"We want everyone to celebrate Christmas in a safe and peaceful environment," said Central Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Condro Kirono.

In Surakarta, which has a significant proportion of the Christian population, 168 churches will receive 24-hour protection starting from Saturday until after the New Year's Eve celebration.

"As many as 1,120 personnel have been prepared," said Surakarta Police's operational head Comr. Arif Joko. "There will be additional forces from the TNI, Polri and the Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) as well," he added.

In Medan, North Sumatra, where more than 20 per cent of the population are Christians, 1,500 police officers have been prepared to secure 618 churches and man 11 security posts across the city.

"The safety measures will be focused on anticipating terror attacks and street crimes," Medan Police chief Sr. Comr. Dadang Hartanto said.

Traffic congestion is expected to worsen as travellers simultaneously depart for their end-of-year vacations. The authorities in regencies and municipalities across the country have prepared precautionary measures to reduce traffic.

The Riau Police, for instance, have deployed their personnel to 69 posts set up along the highways that link Riau with its neighbouring provinces.

"During the year-end holiday, which coincides with school vacation, people usually go out of town, either to West or North Sumatra," said Riau Police chief Insp. Gen. Nandang. "That's why security and traveller services on highways are the priority," he added.

In West Java, the province's police and transportation agency are working together to impose a ban on freight vehicles on toll roads from Friday to Tuesday to reduce traffic.

The East Java branch of state railway operator Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) has prepared 87 train trips in anticipation of increased ridership.

Similarly, the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) branch of state ship operator Pelayaran Nasional Indonesia (Pelni) has six vessels, with a total capacity of 9,000 passengers, on standby in Kupang.

Meanwhile, airport authorities in Lombok, a popular tourist destination in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), have set up a special Christmas and New Year customer care centre.

"We have always seen an upward trend of travellers during long year-end holidays. This year, we predict a 10-per cent increase in passengers, but it could be more," Lombok International Airport general manager I Gusti Ngurah Ardita said. "We hope the centre can provide comfort and safety for the passengers," he added.

Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/indonesia-beefs-up-security-ahead-of-christmas-and-new-year-celebrations-measures-also

Religion & politics

Indonesia's Islamists create re-election minefield for Widodo

Nikkei Asian Review - December 27, 2017

Erwida Maulia, Jakarta – Ridwan Kamil, the popular mayor of Bandung in Indonesia's West Java Province, was once touted by Muslim conservatives to be destined for national leadership. But this changed in March when Kamil, previously backed by the opposition, agreed to support President Joko Widodo ahead of the 2019 general election.

Kamil, who will run for West Java governor next year, suddenly found himself on the receiving end of a propaganda campaign portraying him as a "lesser Muslim." He has been blasted for visiting a church during the Christmas season and accused of being a Shiite – a shunned minority in the Sunni-majority country – among other smears.

This same dynamic could affect Widodo himself, as he is likely to seek re-election.

Widodo already had a scare in the 2014 election campaign, when what was once a dominant lead shrank rapidly, partly due to rumors about his religious faith. On election day, he eked out a narrow victory.

The president, who is also a Muslim, has been accused of being a secret Christian. He has also been linked with the disbanded Indonesian Communist Party, and has been accused of rolling out a red carpet for China to take over the country.

The persistence of such rumors may make Widodo's commanding lead in the polls for 2019 less secure than it looks. Even though his infrastructure programs and reforms have won over the public after a rocky first year, if he seeks re-election, the smear campaign could go into overdrive again.

Islamists' growing influence over Indonesian politics became clear in the Jakarta gubernatorial election in April. The capital's once-popular governor, ethnic-Chinese Christian Basuki Tjahaja "Ahok" Purnama, was accused of blasphemy, lost the race and was sentenced to two years in prison.

The accusation that Purnama, a Widodo ally, insulted the Quran had sparked two huge rallies by conservative Muslims in late 2016. Burhanuddin Muhtadi, executive director of pollster Indikator Politik Indonesia, called the rally leaders "religio-political entrepreneurs" with links to political interests, despite their claims that they are purely looking out for Islam.

Faith-based strategy

One way or another, the movement clearly helped former Education Minister Anies Baswedan unseat Purnama in the gubernatorial election. Backed by Prabowo Subianto – Widodo's main rival on the national stage – Baswedan's popularity surged after the rallies as he courted some of the hard-line Muslim groups that had organized them.

Even with Purnama in jail, the movement lives on – stoking concern about sectarian tensions in the world's most populous Muslim country.

Islamists have been using the tag "Alumni 212" – a reference to the date of one of the big anti-Purnama protests – to mobilize crowds for what they call Islamic causes.

This includes the Alumni 212 Reunion at the National Monument in Jakarta on Dec. 2, during which speakers claimed that Widodo has criminalized ulemas – councils of Muslim scholars – while selling Indonesia to Chinese tycoons and foreigners.

Muhtadi said the Islamists' mobilization could have serious implications for Widodo's chances for a second term. "The campaign against Jokowi is centered around him being a lesser Muslim," Muhtadi said, using the president's nickname. "That is along the same line" as the campaign against Purnama.

To counter allegations that he is somehow anti-Islam, Widodo has distanced himself from Purnama – a move some see as tantamount to throwing the jailed ex-governor under the bus. The president has also forged strong ties with Indonesia's two largest Muslim organizations, the Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah, which are generally seen as moderate.

Internationally, the president has made a point of raising Indonesia's profile in the Muslim world. He has been outspoken on the plight of Myanmar's Rohingya Muslims and, more recently, on the issue of Jerusalem.

Regarding the U.S. decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, Widodo told the Nikkei Asian Review on Dec. 22 that "Indonesia is always behind Palestine to fight for their freedom."

On the subject of the Rohingya, he said, "As the country with the world's largest Muslim population, the Indonesian people want the Burmese government to settle the problems in Rakhine State as soon as possible."

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics-Economy/Policy-Politics/Indonesia-s-Islamists-create-re-election-minefield-for-Widodo

MUI: Politicization of religion beyond haram

Tempo - December 26, 2017

Chitra Paramaesti, Jakarta – Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) deputy secretary-general Amirsyah Tambunan condemned politicization of religion practiced by certain groups. "[Politicization of religion] is a blasphemy," he told Tempo on Tuesday, December 26.

Amirsyah added that politicization of religion for certain groups is beyond haram. Amirsyah called on leaders to learn and practice religious values. "Therefore, religion must not be used for political purposes," he said.

Amirsyah argues that religion cannot be separated from life. He went on saying that religion is a moral ethical foundation in every aspect of life, including politics.

Islamic law expert Afifuddin Muhajir said during a seminar in Bondowoso, East Java echoed Amirsyah's statement saying that using religions for political purposes is prohibited in Islam.

Afifuddin called on the public to remain optimistic in improving the condition of the country.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/news/2017/12/26/055914366/MUI-Politicization-of-Religion-Beyond-Haram

Poverty & social inequity

40 richest Indonesians control Rp 1.62 quadrillion in assets

Jakarta Post - December 28, 2017

Jakarta – The combined wealth of Indonesia's 40 richest people in 2017 reached Rp 1.62 quadrillion (US$119.2 billion), according to Megawati Institute executive director Arief Budimanta.

"The wealth of the 40 Indonesians grew by 23 percent. The wealth of the richest Indonesian man increased by 39 percent. Meanwhile, [Indonesia's] gross domestic product [GDP] grew by 6 percent, while GDP per capita grew by 4 percent," he said in Jakarta on Wednesday at a discussion titled, "The Danger of Economic Oligarchy," as reported by kompas.com.

He said the wealth of the 40 richest Indonesians reached $92.91 billion in 2016, $95.7 billion in 2015 and $86.78 billion in 2014.

The Megawati Institute calculated their assets by using a material power index (MPI) developed by Jeffrey Winters.

Their wealth is 584,478 times the wealth of an average Indonesian. This means that the Indonesia's MPI is at 584,478, while Malaysia stands at 152,926, Thailand at 499.117, South Korea at 499.117 and Singapore at 46,825. (bbn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/12/28/40-richest-indonesians-control-rp-1-62-quadrillion-in-assets.html

Land & agrarian conflicts

Cement giant aiming to criminalize Kendeng farmer Joko Prianto, say

Jakarta Post - December 28, 2017

Jakarta – A new chapter of disputes between Kendeng farmer Joko Prianto and publicly listed cement manufacturer PT Semen Indonesia (PT SI) has opened as the Central Java Police are set to hand over Joko's case dossier to the local prosecutor's office.

Activists have voiced their supports for Joko, who was previously summoned by the police following a report by PT SI's lawyer, Yudi Taqdir Burhan, over alleged document forgery.

PT SI, which aims to continue its plan to build a cement plant in Kendeng despite protests, reported Joko to the police after the Supreme Court granted a case review request filed by Joko and other farmers, who claimed the company's plan was illegal.

The cement manufacturer's lawyers reported Joko to the police for the alleged falsification of signatures put on a petition rejecting the cement factory construction plan that was given to the Supreme Court to support his lawsuit.

Activists considered the company's lawsuit against Joko as a way to criminalize him.

"This is a way to criminalize Joko because an existing law says anyone who is fighting for the right to a good environment cannot be sued," said Kendeng farmer Ngatiban, citing Article 66 of the 2009 Environment Law.

Among the groups supporting the petition are the Kendeng Mountain Community Network (JMPPK), the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), Semarang Legal Aid Institute (LBH Semarang), the Indonesian Legal Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI) and the Legal Resource Center for Gender Justice and Human Rights (LRC-KJHAM). (nmn/ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/12/28/cement-giant-aiming-to-criminalize-kendeng-farmer-joko-prianto-say-supporters.html

Cases of agrarian conflict increase in 2017: Consortium

Jakarta Post - December 28, 2017

Jakarta – The Agrarian Reform Consortium (KPA) recorded an increase in the number of agrarian conflicts in 2017, reaching 659 cases, covering 520,491.87 hectares of land and involving 652,738 households.

This year's number of agrarian conflicts shows an almost 50 percent increase from the 450 conflicts recorded in 2016.

"Approximately two agrarian conflicts occurred every day in Indonesia this year," KPA secretary-general Dewi Kartika said as quoted by kompas.com on Wednesday.

The KPA revealed 208 cases, or 32 percent of the total number of agrarian conflicts, were related to the plantation sector, which covers 194,453.27 ha of land, followed by 199, or 30 percent of cases related to property and 94 cases related to infrastructure.

Dewi said in terms of commodities, agrarian conflicts in the plantation sector were dominated by oil palm plantations. Oil palm and its derivative products are among the largest contributors to the country's export revenue.

"The government's moratorium on the issuance of new permits for oil palm plantations has not yet reduced or settled agrarian conflict, since it has not yet reviewed the permits issued in the past," she said.

The KPA also recorded 21 cases of violence involving members of the National Police among the 659 conflicts. The police reportedly arrested people who tried to defend their land without proper procedures, Dewi said.

Vigilante groups were involved in 15 cases of violence and Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel in 11 cases of violence related to agrarian conflicts.

KPA recorded 1,361 agrarian conflicts that took place during President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's tenure. (afr/ebf)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/12/28/cases-of-agrarian-conflict-increase-in-2017-consortium.html

Jakarta & urban life

Paltry number of Ok Otrip cards sold

Jakarta Post - December 28, 2017

Jakarta – The cards for Jakarta's one-fare public transportation system called OK Otrip, one of Governor Anies Baswedan's campaign promises, have met with a poor response since they first went on sale on Saturday.

Up until Wednesday only 125 cards had been sold from a total of 5,000 provided by the city administration.

Commuter Syarifatun Nisa Nurdhi, 29, said on Thursday she had considered buying the card at the Harmoni Transjakarta bus station but decided to use a regular e-money card instead.

"There are [cooperative Koperasi Wahana Kalpika] KWK minivans operating near my house, so I thought of buying one. But I changed my mind because of the time limit," Nisa said, referring to the fact that the cards expire if the trip is not made within three hours of purchase.

Using the OK Otrip, passengers can travel across the capital using different modes of transportation for three hours by paying only Rp 5,000 (36 US cents).

Living in Pondok Ungu, Bekasi, West Java, Nisa regularly commutes to Kelapa Gading in North Jakarta using Transjakarta and online motorcycle taxis.

Earlier, KWK, whose drivers serve the Pulogadung, East Jakarta, to Grand Mall, Bekasi, route said its public minivans would be integrated into the system.

Currently the cards are sold at 12 bus stops including Grogol, Enggano, Lebak Bulus, Harmoni and Dukuh Atas 2. Deputy Governor Sandiaga Uno said the poor sales performance was because of a lack of promotion. (dis/wit)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/12/28/paltry-number-of-ok-otrip-cards-sold.html

Criminal justice & legal system

BNN shot dead 79 drug dealers in 2017

Tempo - December 27, 2017

Ahmad Faiz Ibnu Sani, Jakarta – Head of the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) Commissioner General Budi Waseso revealed that the agency shot dead 79 drug dealers in 2017, they were suspects who resisted arrest.

"Our firm actions are evidence of our seriousness as law enforcers," said Budi Waseso during a press conference at the BNN Headquarters on Wednesday, December 27.

Despite a large number of deaths, Budi explained that authorities only shoot in defense against suspects who endanger police personnel. Budi went as far to say that there were unfortunately only 79 suspects who died from the thousands of drug dealers that were caught.

"We actually have ample ammunition. But they were lucky. I personally hope that [drug dealers] resist so that we can actually use our ammunition [on them]," said Budi.

Other than neutralizing 79 drug dealers, throughout 2017, BNN also revealed more than 46,000 drug-related cases and 27 drug money laundering cases. The number of suspects reached 58,000 people.

The agency also confiscated 4.71 tons of crystal meth, 151 tons of marijuana, and 2.9 thousand ecstasy pills.

Budi Waseso, who's the former Chief of the Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) said that the attempts to eradicate drugs from the country is hampered by the lack of seriousness of instances that are supposed to be responsible for handling drug-related matters outside of the BNN.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/news/2017/12/27/055914394/BNN-Shot-Dead-79-Drug-Dealers-in-2017

Foreign affairs & trade

Cabinet papers 1994-95: How a security agreement allayed Australian

The Conversation - December 31, 2017

Hangga Fathana – Despite its short lifespan, the signing of the Australia-Indonesia Agreement on Maintaining Security in 1995 marked a particular milestone in the history of the two countries' relationship.

From the Indonesian perspective, the agreement was considered somewhat effective in building common interests to promote regional security and stability. Indonesia perceived the agreement as complementary to the 15 years of Australia-Indonesia military co-operation that had already taken place.

To some extent, the agreement also enriched Indonesia's existing bilateral military co-operation with selected countries in the region.

Indonesia once assumed that the agreement was also meant to build confidence and ease Australia's anxiety over regional security. Australian federal cabinet papers from 1994 and 1995, released today by the National Archives of Australia, support this presumption.

A gesture from down under

Cabinet submissions show Prime Minister Paul Keating first raised the idea of a security agreement in June 1994 with Indonesian President Soeharto. Discussions on the draft were relatively efficient: the text was agreed one month before the treaty was signed in December 1995.

Keating is remembered as one of the most Indonesia-friendly Australian prime ministers. He has frequently argued that relations with Indonesia should be an Australian foreign policy priority.

Keating's cabinet submission strengthens his image as an Indonesian "diplomat" while prime minister. Unlike previous administrations, members of the Keating government visited Indonesia four times per year. This showed his strong personal interest in building a sustainable relationship with one of Australia's nearest neighbours.

The agreement with Australia was Indonesia's first bilateral security agreement. It emphasised the friendly relations between the two countries in the early-to-mid-1990s. This contrasts with the late 1990s, when enmity dominated relations amid the East Timor dispute.

There were some concerns in Indonesia over the agreement, including questioning its impact on the wider southeast Asian region. However, these were not as strong as protests in Australia, where some claimed the agreement showed Keating supported Soeharto's dictatorship.

Easing Australia's anxiety

The cabinet records not only reinforce Keating's strategic interest in Indonesia, they also reflect Australia's anxiety on certain issues.

From a regional perspective, the treaty reassured others of Indonesia's commitment to building common security interests. From the Keating government's point of view, the process of securing stability in the region should begin on its doorstep. So Indonesia has a dual purpose for Australia: a near neighbour, and an entry point for securing regional security.

The cabinet records also disclose that the agreement was seen as a means to ease Australian anxiety on uncertain strategic change in southeast Asia. This aligns with the region undergoing a post-Cold-War security transformation in the 1990s, particularly in the relationship between ASEAN and Indochinese countries (such as Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia).

Keating's submission also supports his statement that Australia's success in Asia would determine its success elsewhere. For him, the security agreement with Indonesia would help enrich Australia's existing arrangements in the region.

The cabinet records confirm Australia's anxiety on what would happen once Soeharto left office. The treaty itself was therefore seen as a way to bind Indonesia's commitment to co-operate with Australia.

Keating argued that the treaty might not necessarily prevent Australia from any possible disputes with Indonesia. But it could help Australia to handle what – and who – followed Soeharto as president. This expectation was far from true, given Indonesia's decision to terminate the treaty in 1999 due to Australia's intervention in East Timor.

The period in Indonesia following Soeharto's resignation in 1998 was unpredictable. The assumption that the security agreement would be helpful indicates that Australia did indeed have strong fears of Indonesia's upcoming reformasi.

However, Indonesia's succession was a domestic issue. It would not have threatened Australia's strategic security in any way – but for the Howard government intervening in East Timor.

Repairing the mutual trust

The Labor government's defeat in 1996 and the conclusion of the security agreement in 1999 were once misunderstood as the end of the Australia-Indonesian friendship. Indeed, it wasn't until 2006 that the two countries developed the Lombok Treaty to revive security co-operation.

The cabinet records show that Keating's legacy has proven relevant: Australia's defence relationship with Indonesia is its most important in the region. It has built a strong base to extend the scope of co-operation between the two countries to economics, counter-terrorism, and law enforcement.

The commitment from the two countries to build a mutual understanding also remained strong. Suspicion has sometimes arisen, but the two countries are aware that conflict would do more harm than good.

[Hangga Fathana is a Lecturer in International Relations, Universitas Islam Indonesia.]

Source: http://theconversation.com/cabinet-papers-1994-95-how-a-security-agreement-allayed-australian-anxiety-over-indonesia-89143

Tourism & hospitality

Bali beaches buried in rubbish as Indonesia battles oceans of plastic

Sydney Morning Herald - December 29, 2017

Jewel Topsfield and Amilia Rosa – It's the monsoon season in Indonesia, which means Bali's iconic surf beach in Kuta is vomiting rubbish again. The water is a soupy sludge of plastic and the sand littered with Coke bottles, thongs, crumpled plastic water cups and drinking straws.

Shadikin Akbar, who teaches surfing lessons on Kuta beach, encountered a sanitary pad in the water. "Rubbish makes the beach disgusting," he says. "A lot of people say no to lessons or renting surfboards."

Akbar says most of the annual deluge of plastic between December and February comes from the densely populated Indonesian island of Java.

Last week authorities erected a quaintly worded banner on Kuta beach: "We do apologise for this inconvenience, your visit interrupted by natural phenomenon in the form of annual waste of west wind impact."

Bulldozers created towering piles of plastic, which disappeared before Indonesian President Joko Widodo's visit to Bali. But the next day there was more plastic tangled in the sand.

From December 5 to 10, the local government declared a "trash emergency" on Kuta and Legian beaches.

"During those five days the amount of trash that washed up on the beach each day reached over 50 tonnes," says Badung regency head of environment and sanitation Putu Eka Merthawan.

"During the monsoon season normally we clean no more than five tonnes daily."

Shadikin Akbar, who offers surfing lessons at Kuta beach, says the "disgusting" trash is bad for business.

Eka says a crew of 50 usually clean the eight-kilometre stretch of beach from Pererenan to Jimbaran on Bali's south-western coast but by declaring emergency status they could mobilise an army of sweepers. "During those five days we deployed 700 personnel to clean the beach."

Kuta is hit the hardest, Eka says, depending on waves and wind. "It is not our doing, not the Kuta or Badung people's doing. We just each year end up with the trash."

Community groups often hold beach clean-ups, including Trash Hero, which works with school groups and volunteers. "During the rainy season the amount of trash is quite shocking everywhere," says Wayan Aksara, the chairman of Trash Hero Indonesia Foundation.

Those who earn their livelihoods from the tourist beaches also do their bit – everyone from Akbar to the wiry old masseuses, hair braiders and hawkers who sell bracelets and fans are out collecting rubbish.

"Honestly, it is to keep the customers here," Akbar says. But it's just the tip of the iceberg. "The rubbish comes every day... the problem is bigger than just cleaning."

At an environmental summit in Kenya this month, United Nations environment executive director Erik Solheim warned the world was facing an "ocean Armageddon".

Eight million tonnes of plastic is dumped in the ocean every year, destroying marine life and ending up in the food chain. A report last year suggested 2050 could be the grim tipping point when there is more plastic in the ocean than fish.

Solheim called for governments to ban some packaging, such as drinking straws. "Let's abolish products that we do not need... if you go to tourist places like Bali, a huge amount of the plastic picked from the oceans are actually straws.

Only China dumps more rubbish in the oceans than Indonesia. Four of Indonesia's rivers – Brantas, Solo, Serayu and Progo – have been named in the top 20 most polluted rivers in the world.

In August environmental activists called on people to stop dumping used nappies into the Brantas river in East Java. A World Bank study also found that 21 per cent of Indonesia's marine litter consisted of nappies.

But the scale of the problem was most poignantly illustrated by something quite tiny. While diving off the Indonesian island of Sumbawa, US photojournalist Justin Hofman captured a seahorse clinging to a cotton bud.

The photo – "Sewage Surfer" – was named a finalist in this year's Natural History Museum's Wildlife Photographer of the Year award and resonated world-wide.

Indonesians are huge consumers of single-use plastic. Roadside stalls sell individual shampoo sachets. Sealed plastic cups of water (with plastic-wrapped straws) are served in restaurants and offices throughout the country. Instant noodles in polystyrene cups are a national favourite and disposable nappies are growing in popularity.

Even canang sari – the daily offerings Balinese Hindus place in temples or small shrines in houses to thank their supreme deity, the Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa – often contain plastic-wrapped items such as lollies or are sold in plastic bags.

This, coupled with poor or non-existent solid waste management systems, has created the perfect environmental storm.

"Currently there are many homes that are not serviced by garbage collection systems and this is why a lot of waste is discharged into rivers or other places without control," says environmentalist David Sutasurya from the Bio-science & Biotechnology Development Foundation. Plastic is then flushed into the ocean.

A billion-dollar pledge

Indonesia is acutely aware of the impact marine pollution could have on tourism, especially in Bali, which attracts five million visitors a year. At the World Oceans Summit in March, the government pledged $US1 billion a year to reduce marine waste by 70 per cent by 2025.

Arief Havas Oegroseno, the deputy of Maritime Sovereignty in the Coordinating Ministry of Maritime Affairs, is optimistic Indonesia can achieve the ambitious target.

"We have just concluded a national strategy to address marine plastic debris," Havas tells Fairfax Media, acknowledging that "as you can see, we have problems with the management of solid waste".

Havas says local government, which has been responsible for waste management since decentralisation in 1999 following the fall of Suharto, often struggles with funding.

"International benchmarks for the management of solid waste is $US15 per person per year. In Indonesia it is $US6. So there is a big gap." The missing link, Havas believes, has been the involvement of the private sector: "They have the money and expertise."

Indonesia is in discussion with foreign investors, including the Australian firm behind a proposed plastics-to-fuel plant in the Canberra suburb of Hume. "It's a very interesting proposition – waste to road-ready fuel," Havas says.

Indonesia is also experimenting with adding melted plastic into asphalt. A 700-metre plastic-tar road was built in Bali and more will be rolled out in Bekasi, a city in West Java.

An incinerator that burns waste to create electricity is being planned for Sunter in North Jakarta.

Another has been mooted for Bali, although Havas says it is complicated by restrictions that prohibit structures that stand higher than the island's coconut palms.

Environmentalist David Sutasurya is sceptical. He says incinerators and waste-to-energy technologies generally create pollutants and/or are very expensive and do not directly address the problem of rubbish being thrown into rivers and seas. "In many cases materials that should be recycled are burned," he says.

"The first thing to do is garbage collection as close as possible to where the waste is generated."

In 2016 a plastic bag tax of 200 rupiah (two cents) was trialled in 23 cities across Indonesia. However the Indonesian retailers association ended the trial later that year until the government introduced official regulations.

"To be frank it was not well thought out because... the stores did not know what to do with the money," Havas says. He says a presidential decree is being considered that would enable the plastic bag tax to be returned to communities.

The governor of Bali, Made Mangku Pastika, also famously announced three years ago that Bali would be plastic bag-free by 2018.

However the two Balinese sisters behind the Bye Bye Plastic Bags campaign admit 2017 has been filled with frustration.

This year the sisters – Melati and Isabel Wijsen – decided to work with governments to implement a charge on plastic bags in Bali as a first step towards a total ban.

"We know that implementing a charge on plastic bags in Bali is legally possible, economically beneficial and a practical, worthwhile solution to reducing plastic pollution. SO WHY AREN'T WE DOING IT?!," they wrote in an end-of-year email.

"We've had to learn to dance with the politicians. It's three steps forward, two steps back, again and again."

Meanwhile a number of schools, businesses and NGOs are coming up with innovative ways of tackling the scourge of waste. One recycling scheme offers Indonesia's trash pickers health insurance in exchange for rubbish.

At al-Kausar kindergarten in Jambi, central Sumatra, monthly school fees can be paid with recyclable rubbish.

"I believe rubbish is an untapped gold mine," says kindergarten founder Adi Putra. "It's an endless resource. It is for our own benefit if we properly handle our rubbish."

Putra says that if rubbish is seen as a valuable commodity it changes the mindset of children at the school.

"If they want to throw something away they will separate it first, they will keep it until they see a rubbish bin. I hope people can change their way of thinking about rubbish."

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/world/bali-beaches-buried-in-rubbish-as-indonesia-battles-oceans-of-plastic-20171229-h0b8e9.html

Mining & energy

Indonesia backpedals on coal production cap

Jakarta Post - December 29, 2017

Viriya P. Singgih, Jakarta – It is unlikely that Indonesia will set a cap on coal production in the near future due to uncontrollable coal mining activities in the country, according to an official.

The government initially planned to reduce domestic coal production from 419 million tons in 2016 to 413 million tons this year. The figure was expected to fall to 406 million tons next year, before hovering at only 400 million tons a year starting in 2019.

However, as of Wednesday, this year's coal production had reached 477 million tons, already surpassing last year's achievement of 434 million tons.

"Indeed, we previously expected to produce only 406 million tons of coal in 2018," the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry's mineral and coal director general, Bambang Gatot Ariyono, told reporters on Wednesday.

"But looking at the current condition, it might be impossible for us to prevent all holders of coal mining permits, particularly ones that have conducted feasibility studies or have started construction process [at the mining sites], from entering the production stage."

In fact, Bambang said the government would have to increase the country's coal production to boost its non-tax state revenues (PNBP)

As of Wednesday, the PNBP from the mineral and coal sector reached Rp 39 trillion ($2.73 billion), already surpassing the full-year target of Rp 32.7 trillion.

Indonesia had coal resources amounting to 128.06 billion tons and coal reserves of 28.46 billion tons by the end of 2016, located mostly in Kalimantan and Sumatra. (bbn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/12/29/indonesia-backpedals-on-coal-production-cap.html

Miners invest $5b in Indonesia nickel smelters in first 10 months

Jakarta Globe - December 28, 2017

Sarah Yuniarni, Jakarta – Thirteen mining companies have invested a combined $5.03 billion in the construction of nickel smelters during the first 10 months of this year to comply with Indonesian government requirements, an official at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources said.

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo issued a government regulation earlier this year to amend several articles in a 2010 mining regulation, which now requires miners to process raw materials within Indonesia before exporting them. To do this, miners must build smelters to produce value-added products.

"Our new regulation, issued [by the president] this year, contributes to the value-added nickel products and it has had a positive impact on smelter investment this year," Bambang Gatot Aryono, the ministry's director general of coal and minerals, told reporters on Wednesday (27/12).

However, Bambang did not elaborate on the number of smelters that have been built so far. Processing and Smelting Companies Association (AP3I) data shows that 32 smelters were built between 2012 and 2016 for a total investment of around $20 billion. These smelters process iron, nickel and copper.

Meanwhile, 13 companies have started smelter operations between January and October this year, including state-controlled miner Aneka Tambang and nickel producer Vale Indonesia, the local unit of the Brazilian mining giant.

Bambang said these companies produced about 598,000 tons of ferronickel and nickel pig iron, in addition to 64,000 tons of nickel matte. They produced a combined total of around 34 million tons of nickel ore in the first 10 months of this year.

He added that two nickel smelters operated by local miners Cahaya Modern Metal Industri and Indoferro have ceased operations over the past two years, due to lower nickel prices and the high cost of coke since the end of last year. Coke contributes around 40 percent of the industry's total production cost.

Indoferro ceased its smelter operations in on July 19, while Cahaya Modern Metal Industri ceased smelter operations in January last year. Both companies initially produced iron ore, but shifted to nickel in January 2014.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.id/business/miners-invest-5b-in-indonesia-nickel-smelters-in-first-10-months/

Indonesia will exceed coal production cap again next year

Jakarta Globe - December 28, 2017

Rangga Prakoso, Jakarta – Indonesia's coal production may keep increasing next year with new miners set to start operations, undermining the government's energy security plan.

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources estimates coal production next year can exceed this year's 477 million ton target, the director general of minerals and coal at the ministry, Bambang Gatot, said on Thursday (28/12).

The figure diverges from Indonesia's medium-term plan, known as RPJMN, which seeks to reduce the coal production to 406 million tons in 2018, and to 400 million tons in 2019, in an effort keep coal reserves for energy security. Reducing coal production was also part of the country's commitment to mitigate climate change.

Today, there are about 2,000 mining permit holders who have just completed feasibility studies or construction of their facilities and are ready to start production, Bambang said.

"Can we revoke these permits to stop the production? Or tell the miners to suspend their operations and take a break? It's just impossible," he said.

Bambang said the ministry has submitted a letter to the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) to request it to reconsider the country's production plan.

Indonesia already missed its target to reduce coal production to below 413 million tons this year. About a fourth of the production is consumed domestically, while the rest is sold mainly to China and India.

To address the problem, the ministry will be more vigilant in reviewing environmental aspects of coal mining next year, and can impose production limits on miners.

"If the environment cannot support their production capacity, we will not allow them to [force it]," Bambang said.

Coal is one of Indonesia's main exports and sources of state revenue. According to the ministry's data, the government collected Rp 39 trillion ($2.7 billion) from coal mining royalties this year, exceeding its initial target of Rp 32.7 trillion.

Source: http://jakartaglobe.id/business/indonesia-will-exceed-coal-production-cap-next-year/

PLN's electricity sales still grow at snail's pace

Jakarta Post - December 22, 2017

Viriya P. Singgih, Jakarta – State electricity firm PLN has said its electricity sales have only grown 3.62 percent annually from January to November, raising further concerns over excess capacity that could choke the company with multi-billion US dollar costs.

Through its electricity procurement business plan (RUPTL) for the 2017-2026 period, PLN has envisioned the development of new power plants with a total capacity of 77.9 gigawatts (GW) based on the assumption that electricity sales will grow 8.3 percent annually.

"However, the assumption is different from the realization as our electricity sales had only climbed 3.62 percent as of November. We estimate that it will only reach 4.1 percent by the end of 2017," PLN renewable energy division head Tohari Hadiat said Thursday.

Throughout 2016, PLN's electricity sales increased 6.5 percent year-on-year to 216 terawatt hours (TWh).

With the current RUPTL, PLN has calculated that the reserve margin of its Java-Bali system will reach 55 percent in 2019 and 41 percent in 2026 from only 27 percent this year. The reserve margin is the difference between available capacity and peak demand.

The situation might force PLN to pay US$16.2 billion for idle capacity between 2017 and 2026, according to the United States-based Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA).

PLN corporate planning director Syofvi Felienty Roekman previously said the company would adjust the electricity growth assumption in its upcoming RUPTL for the 2018-2027 period to be more realistic, though the figure would still be above the country's economic growth of around 5 percent. (bbn)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/12/22/plns-electricity-sales-still-grow-at-snails-pace.html

Economy & investment

BI estimates 2017 GDP growth at 5.1%, helped by exports, investment

Jakarta Post - December 23, 2017

Anton Hermansyah, Denpasar – Indonesia is expected to record year-on-year (yoy) economic growth of 5.1 percent this year amid increasing exports and investment, Bank Indonesia (BI) has announced.

BI Governor Agus Martowardojo said economic conditions in 2017 were better than in 2016, although the recovery was slow. Gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the first, second and third quarters ranged between 5.01 percent and 5.06 percent yoy, slightly better and more stable than growth of 4.92 percent to 5.18 percent yoy in the corresponding periods of last year.

"Looking at the growth in the previous quarters, we may end this year with nearly 5.1 percent growth," he said during a visit to the Mount Agung observation post in Rendang district in Karangasem regency, Bali, on Friday.

Pointing to investment growth of 7.11 percent yoy and export growth of 17.27 percent yoy in the third quarter, the governor noted that those two segments would support economic growth in the final quarter of the year. Household spending, however, remains the crucial factor.

"Consumption is still a dominant factor for our economy. It contributes 55.68 percent to the total GDP," he said.

Growth in this segment has been stable throughout 2017. In the third quarter, household spending grew at a rate of 4.93 percent yoy, which compares to 4.95 percent yoy in the second quarter and 4.93 percent yoy in the first quarter. (dmr)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/12/23/bi-estimates-2017-gdp-growth-at-5-1-helped-by-exports-investment.html

Analysis & opinion

A politicisation of morality in Indonesia?

Straits Times - December 28, 2017

Francis Chan, Jakarta – A recent decision by Indonesia's Constitutional Court to reject a bid by a local conservative group to criminalise sex outside marriage took many people here by surprise.

As the proposed ban on premarital sex would include same-sex relations in a country where gay marriage is outlawed, the ruling against the petition also drew applause from lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) groups.

Some news reports, particularly by the Western media, even went as far as to say the decision was a blow to the growing influence of religious hardliners in Indonesia. Such conclusions are premature.

First, it should be noted that the decision of the nine-member Bench was a narrow 5-4 cliffhanger. Notably, the court issued a press statement shortly after its verdict to clarify that its decision should not be construed as having "legalised" LGBT sex.

The judges also advised the petitioners from the Family Love Alliance of Indonesia, better known as Aila, that they should look to Parliament if they wanted to outlaw premarital and gay sex.

This is because only Parliament has the power to amend laws or enact new ones and "matters concerning the limitations of people's rights are the authority of the lawmakers", said one of the presiding judges. In short, the conservatives lost primarily on technical grounds.

Indeed, a House committee is already working on expanding the definition of adultery to include fornication, and its proposed changes could be tabled once Parliament comes out of recess early next year.

This means we can expect a sequel to Aila's petition, but this time it will be played out among lawmakers instead of before the courts, the narrow decision of which shows that even the judiciary is torn on the issue.

Conservative coalition

The petition by Aila and the move to broaden the definition of adultery can be seen as a pushback by conservatives against not only lax sexual mores, but also the legal framework, which they believe has led to such un-Islamic behaviour.

In its petition, Aila wanted the court to, among other things, broaden the definition of zina, or adultery, in the penal code to include sex outside marriage, and as an intended result, ban gay sex.

As Indonesia heads into an extended election season next year, it is not unreasonable to expect public morality being used to attack political rivals.

They argued that current laws, enacted by the Dutch colonial government, were based on Western liberal norms that are secular in nature and thus contradicted Indonesia's state ideology Pancasila, which holds, among other things, the "belief in the one and only God".

Aila also argued that action had to be taken to arrest the morally corrosive influence of the LGBT community, particularly after legalisation of same-sex marriage in the United States.

Issues of morality are a source of tension in Indonesia, which is home to the world's largest Muslim population but is also governed by a secular Constitution that promotes pluralism and diversity.

With the exception of Aceh, a semi-autonomous province in the country where syariah law is practised, Indonesia is in some ways socially more liberal than, say, Malaysia, where religious police can and do catch unmarried couples for the crime of khalwat or close proximity.

Unlike Singapore, Indonesia does not have the equivalent of Section 377A in its penal code which criminalises sex between men. As a result, in recent raids on places where gays are known to gather, the authorities have had to justify their crackdown by relying on an existing pornography law's loosely worded injunction against material or actions that are deemed to undermine public decency.

Indonesia is often cited for its moderate brand of Islam, and President Joko Widodo is known for his efforts to support that. However, conservative resistance has long existed alongside this tolerant attitude and shows signs of becoming more assertive.

Recently, a couple in Tangerang, just outside of Jakarta, were beaten, stripped naked and publicly shamed after they were caught allegedly having premarital sex.

There have also been police raids on suspected gay spas and nightclubs in the capital since late last year, leading to the arrest of scores of men, including 51 in October.

Hardline Islamic vigilante groups have in the past also conducted "sweeping operations", trashing bars and other nightspots for serving alcoholic drinks.

Aila's move to petition the courts shows that the hardline camp is not limited to rowdy street mobs like those from the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), which made headlines earlier this year for its rallies against former Jakarta governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama at the gubernatorial election.

Among those who argued Aila's case before the Constitutional Court were academics from renowned universities in Indonesia – proof that there are more complex and intellectual elements behind the ultra-conservative movement.

But who are the people behind Aila? Its Facebook page, which has almost 9,500 followers, says Aila is a network of non-governmental organisations that aims to "strengthen Indonesian families". Key members of this so-called conservative family movement include many academics, lawyers, professionals and Islamic preachers.

According to political commentator Ary Hermawan, Aila is chaired by Islamic scholar Bachtiar Nasir, the founder of a Muslim coalition group formed to mastermind the fall of Basuki.

One of the coalition's members is FPI, a hardline group that agitated for the arrest of Basuki – better known by his Chinese nickname Ahok – for blasphemy against Islam.

Mr Ary said that while it may appear mainstream, Aila wants to create a "moralistic, religious state", and hence could be more dangerous than FPI.

"Despite its secular name, the so-called Family Love Alliance is evidently motivated by the same religious zeal as the FPI," he once wrote in The Jakarta Post.

"The only difference is that they have greater public support, the patience and the know-how to achieve their goals through painstaking, but more effective, legal means."

New electoral weapon

Much has happened since Aila first filed its petition for judicial review early last year.

Basuki was defeated in April by Muslim rival Anies Baswedan in an election fraught with sectarian discord, and jailed a few weeks later for insulting Islam.

The Christian politician's downfall was attributed to the growing influence of Islam in Indonesian politics, with his opponents and FPI flagrantly capitalising on the blasphemy scandal. It was also accompanied by anti-Chinese rhetoric.

The concern among some long-time political observers, such as Mr Andreas Harsono from Human Rights Watch, is that anti-LGBT sentiments will be "weaponised" in the same way as issues of race and religion were used against Basuki.

Last year, for instance, Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu was reported by Tempo magazine to have accused the LGBT movement of being a menace to national sovereignty and of conducting a "proxy war".

"This is a kind of modern warfare... it's dangerous as we can't see who our foes are, but out of the blue everyone is brainwashed – now the (LGBT) community is demanding more freedom, it really is a threat," he said.

Aila's petition to the Constitutional Court ruling is not dissimilar in its arguments.

As Indonesia heads into an extended election season next year, it is not unreasonable to expect public morality being used to attack political rivals.

Considering how effective race and religion were in bringing down Basuki, what more the morality card as it is that much harder to question rivals who claim to speak as righteous defenders of values that voters hold dear, such as the sanctity of family.

[A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on December 28, 2017, with the headline 'A politicisation of morality in Indonesia.]

Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/a-politicisation-of-morality-in-indonesia

Widodo in a sweet spot – for now

Nikkei Asian Review - December 26, 2017

Ken Ward – Indonesia's President Joko Widodo can look to next year in a far more relaxed way than he faced 2017. At the end of 2016, radical Islamic groups, notably the Islamic Defenders' Front (FPI), staged huge demonstrations in protest at the blasphemy allegedly committed by the governor of Jakarta, Basuki "Ahok" Purnama, an ethnic Chinese.

The protests, capturing the support of hundreds of thousands of Muslims, shook Widodo's confidence and seemed briefly to threaten his own political survival as 2017 approached.

A year later, Purnama is serving a two-year jail sentence following a guilty verdict for blasphemy after he lost a gubernatorial election. On the other hand, FPI chair Habib Rizieq is himself in self-imposed exile in Saudi Arabia to avoid arrest on pornography charges back home.

Moreover, Widodo has defanged another radical Islamic organization, Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia, by banning it. This measure, while deplored by human rights and democracy advocates, has not undermined the president's popularity. Widodo thus seems much more secure now against any Islamic-driven opposition.

The Purnama case was unusual in that the ex-governor had "double minority" status, being both Christian and ethnically Chinese. Because few ethnic Chinese occupy prominent political posts in Indonesia, large-scale Muslim opposition to another double minority target is unlikely.

The continuing dominant position that ethnic Chinese business holds in the Indonesian economy, while a source of frustration and anger for Muslims, does not lend itself readily to street protests. Widodo himself is occasionally the target of whispering campaigns claiming fancifully that he is a Chinese or even a communist. But such "black campaigns," which have a long pedigree in Indonesia, will not shake his grip on power.

On the other hand, U.S. President Donald Trump has handed Muslims in Indonesia as elsewhere a new trigger for mobilizing their supporters with his policy on Jerusalem. Whereas the Widodo government has been keen on a Trump visit in recent months, such a visit now would undoubtedly provoke massive Muslim demonstrations, perhaps even rivaling those of 2016. A Trump visit could therefore severely embarrass Widodo at any time before Indonesia's next presidential election in April 2019.

High stakes

But, though Widodo is currently more secure against Muslim opposition, whoever competes with him for the presidency in 2019 will almost certainly adopt some kind of Islamic platform if only to distinguish himself from the 56-year-old incumbent.

Prabowo Subianto, the retired lieutenant-general and former son-in-law of the late President Suharto, did this in 2014 when he stood against Widodo. He will probably repeat this approach in 2019.

He and Widodo are likely to be only two candidates in the next presidential election. Indonesian electoral laws require would-be presidential candidates to be backed by parties that have together won 25% of the votes or hold 20% of seats in the national parliament. Only Widodo and Subianto crossed this threshold in 2014. The next poll will be held at the same time as parliamentary elections so that, very strangely, the 2014 parliamentary results or seat distribution will again apply.

Party leaders will be tempted to support proven electoral performers rather than untried newcomers, even a former president's son such as Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono. He came only third in the Jakarta governorship election.

By contrast, Widodo has proved he can win a presidential election and can also govern the country. The very wealthy Subianto, for his part, has proved that he run Widodo close. Each has a lot of inducements to offer prospective supporters, particularly ministerial portfolios and government contracts. Promises of future rewards made by newcomers will have far less plausibility.

As he reflects on his prospects for 2018 and 2019, Widodo can draw comfort from his recent success in dispatching the troublesome commander of Indonesia's armed forces, General Gatot Nurmantyo. Widodo dismissed him "with honour" several months before he was due to retire. He replaced Nurmantyo with his air force chief of staff, a longstanding Widodo loyalist. A demagogue with impressive charisma, Nurmantyo was widely seen as a possible presidential candidate. Unwisely, he often took public positions that encroached on the authority of ministers, even of Widodo himself.

The chief of police, Tito Karnavian, is another tried and true Widodo loyalist. The president can therefore face a series of regional elections in 2018 and the national elections in 2019 confident that he has the main organs of state security firmly in his grasp. Not only that. Widodo has just acquired a new asset. Setya Novanto, chair of Golkar, the second biggest party which is in a ruling coalition with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), is to go on trial on corruption charges. He has been replaced by industry minister Airlangga Hartarto.

Golkar is now much more likely to remain within the Widodo fold. Widodo can already count on the largest party, the PDI-P, run by Megawati Sukarnoputri, daughter of Indonesia's first president, Sukarno.

What can go wrong?

The Indonesian economy has grown moderately rather than dramatically in the Widodo era, expanding by an expected 5.1% in 2017. Reliant on commodity exports, it has been put under pressure from recent global price swings. Meanwhile domestic private consumption is patchy. Although annual inflation is rather low at 4%, domestic price levels for key products are often considerably higher than global prices, creating the impression of high living costs. It is still too early to judge when Widodo's big infrastructure initiatives will yield political benefits or boost economic growth.

What is most uncertain for Widodo, however, is the international geopolitical environment in the Trump era. An American war with Iran would have far-reaching effects on Indonesia through the destabilization of the global economy. An American attack on North Korea leading to war on the Korean Peninsula would also have grievous, unpredictable consequences for Indonesia as for most other Asia-Pacific countries. Perhaps it would make sense for Widodo to invite Trump to Indonesia after all.

[Ken Ward is a former Australian diplomat and intelligence analyst, and is the author of "Condemned to Crisis?," an assessment of Australia-Indonesia relations.]

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/Viewpoints/Ken-Ward/Widodo-in-a-sweet-spot-for-now

Indonesian tycoons wager with confidence in Widodo's economy

Nikkei Asian Review - December 26, 2017

Wataru Suzuki, Jakarta – "The Future is Here Today." This slogan is splashed across billboards all over Jakarta, advertising a massive satellite city project on the outskirts of the capital. Open a newspaper or turn on the TV, and you are bound to encounter the same five words.

On weekends, buyers are dazzled with tours of the new 500 hectare township, called Meikarta. Orange golf carts zip them around a sprawling park and construction sites where cranes tower overhead.

Lippo Group, an Indonesian conglomerate owned by the Riady family, launched the project in May and plans to develop at least 250,000 residential units, along with schools, malls, hospitals and more. It is ambitious even for a group known for aggressive marketing campaigns.

It is also a sign of the times. Indonesia's most powerful companies and tycoons are lining up big domestic bets under President Joko Widodo – a clear sign that doing business has become easier. Many of these groups have their hands in a variety of industries, like Lippo, which in addition to malls and hospitals runs TV networks and e-commerce endeavors.

The bets also signal that business heavyweights are confident in Indonesia's political stability. Ethnic-Chinese tycoons tend to stay out of the public eye and avoid politically sensitive investments, especially after the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis, when their cozy ties with former President Suharto elicited public outrage. But recently, companies linked to billionaire Anthoni Salim, whose father was known as Suharto's closest business partner, bought large stakes in an infrastructure developer and water treatment companies in Jakarta.

The markets have rewarded the tycoons handsomely. The country's top 10 richest people – nine of whom are ethnic-Chinese – have a combined net worth of about $80 billion, up nearly 50% from three years ago thanks to rising asset and commodity prices, according to Forbes.

Foreign companies' reactions to Widodo's reform drive, meanwhile, have been mixed – partly because economic growth has not accelerated as hoped. On Dec. 22, Salim-controlled food company Indofood Sukses Makmur announced it is buying out Japanese beverage producer Asahi Group Holdings' stake in local joint ventures for nonalcoholic drinks.

The pair launched the partnership only five years ago with much fanfare, vowing to cater to Indonesia's growing middle class. Yet the business struggled with lackluster demand.

Widodo has cut foreign ownership limits in industries such as tourism and e-commerce – potentially posing challenges for domestic consumer businesses, like Chairul Tanjung's CT Corp., which is expanding its chain of theme parks and malls. But the government has been less friendly to overseas players in sectors like mining, where it has tightened controls on foreign ownership of raw natural resources.

A string of international companies, including Newmont Mining of the U.S. and South Korea's Samtan, have sold off assets to local tycoons. Widodo showed no sign of budging in an interview with the Nikkei Asian Review on Dec. 22, saying: "We don't want to sell natural resources. We want to sell trust."

Haves and have-nots

Beneath the surface lies the potential for social friction that could give Widodo's adversaries ammunition.

While Indonesia's tycoons are racking up gains, 82% of the country's adults have less than $10,000, according to the Credit Suisse Research Institute. That is higher than the global average of 70%.

As regional and presidential elections near, inequality could give the public another issue to rally around, after the large demonstrations against former Jakarta Gov. Basuki Tjahaja Purnama over accusations that the ethnic-Chinese Christian insulted the Quran.

Anies Baswedan, who beat Purnama in the gubernatorial election in April, appears to be capitalizing on an apparent return of anti-Chinese sentiment. "In the past, all of us natives had been oppressed and defeated," he said in a much-criticized inaugural speech in October. "Now that we're free, it's time to be the host of our own home."

Such rhetoric, if it snowballs, could make life decidedly less comfortable for the conglomerates.

[Nikkei staff writer Erwida Maulia in Jakarta contributed to this story.]

Source: https://asia.nikkei.com/Features/Asia-Insight/Indonesian-tycoons-wager-with-confidence-in-Widodo-s-economy


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