Sharp rise in attacks on human rights, democracy activists

Kompas - March 21, 2011

• Laporan Tahunan: Ancaman kepada Aktivis HAM Meningkat – Kompas. Senin, 21 Maret 2011

Jakarta – Threats against workers, democracy and human rights activists have increased in 2010. This includes threats against journalists, which have begun to face threats to their lives. Conversely, cases of threats and violence against human rights and democracy activists are never able to be resolved.

The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) 2010 annual report on the human rights situation in Indonesia notes that attacks on human rights and democracy activists have risen sharply.

"From the data we have, there are several important notes. First, violence against human rights and democracy workers has increased, almost touching on a figure of 100. Journalists and those defending the rights of farmers or fisherpeople, are always the victims. In addition to this, there are also anti-corruption activists", said Kontras Coordinator Haris Azhar at the launch of the annual report, which coincided with the commemoration of Kontras' 13 anniversary in Jakarta on Sunday March 20.

According to Azhar, although there has been an increase and escalation in threats against human rights and democracy activist, the irony is that these cases are never solved by law enforcement agencies. "What is most typical is violence against human rights and democracy defenders. Cases of violence against journalists are not resolved, the murder of journalists is not solved. Likewise in cases involving the shooting of farmers and fisherpeople, none are ever solved", he said.

This is despite the fact that according to Kontras' records, threats of violence against human rights and democracy activists frequently end in death. Kontras' annual report also notes that journalism is one of the professions that are most vulnerable to the loss of life because of the nature of their work. The most recent case was the murder of Pelangi Maluku (Maluku Rainbow) journalists Alfrets Mirulewan, which is suspected to be linked to his investigative reporting.

Former National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) member MM Billah claimed that the perpetrators of violence have begun to shift from state institutions to civilians. (bil)

[Translated by James Balowski.]

Activists call on government to pay attention to women's welfare

MedanBisnis - March 9, 2011

• Pemerintah Dituntut Perhatikan Kesejahteraan Perempuan – MedanBisnis. Rabu, 09 Maret 2011

Medan – Protesters calling themselves the Women's Liberation Progressive Committee (KP3), which is an alliance of the North Sumatra Islamic University (UISU) Islamic Students Association Commissariat (HMI-KOM) faculty of agriculture, the UISU HMI-KOM faculty of literature, Free Women (Perempuan Mahardhika), the Political Union of the Poor (PPRM), the United Indonesian Labour Movement (PPBI), the Student Struggle Center for National Liberation, held a protest action in front of the North Sumatra Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) on Tuesday March 8.

The action was accompanied by the burning of an effigy resembling corpse symbolising the failure of the government system under President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY). "This is evidence of the failure of the SBY leadership system and his lackeys", said action coordinator Jumeida Hutauruk from the PPRM. Singing the song "Patriot's Blood", housewives who took part in the action raised their fists in the air.

Women should have reaped the benefits of prosperity since the proclamation of Indonesian independence, but what has happened has in fact been the opposite. "This is despite the fact that our country has ratified the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women", shouted Jumeida.

According to Jumeida, despite the signing the convention in 1984, discrimination against women continues to occur, from exploitation, violence in all kinds of forms to disparities in social rights, education, the economy, healthcare, culture and politics.

"Provide health insurance for women", said Jumeida, adding that the liberation of women is an absolute right in order that women are no longer exploited.

During the action, which involved around 50 people, they also read out a statement in front of DPRD representative Jamaluddin Harahap.

In the statement they called on the government to take serious action on violence against women, both mental and psychological, to provide the people with decent housing and drinking water, the broadest possible employment opportunities, quality, modern and free healthcare, and an end to all forms of discrimination and intimidation against women, and free education that is scientific, democratic and with a pro-people perspective.

They also called for decent education and protection for women migrant workers, the repeal of Law Number 1/1967 on Capital Investment, the annulment of Labour Law Number 13/2003 and its replacement with a pro-workers law.

The statement also offered several solutions for the government's consideration such as the nationalisation of foreign assents, the repudiation of the foreign debt, the development of a people's national industry and the expansion of job opportunities.

In his response, Jamaluddin Harahap said that he also supports the struggle for women's rights. "I am also part of this movement", he said. Harahap however said that actions in the name of women should not involve men so that the action is purely and clearly from women without contamination by the interests of other parties. "As if there are those making use of it", he said.

The National Mandate Party (PAN) politician, who is also the deputy speaker of the DPRD, said he was disappointed because many of the protesters' complaints were valid. "Moreover, to this day, in the law it states that the composition [of women] in the House of Representatives [should be] 30 percent. However the truth is that currently there are only around 11 people [women] in the North Sumatra DPRD", he said. Harahap added that their statement would be conveyed to the house leadership to be fought for.

After setting fire to the corpse, the protesters disbanded peacefully. (benny pasaribu/franzul sianturi)

[Slightly abridged translation by James Balowski.]

Activists in Yogyakarta call for women to become active, organised and united

Detik.com - March 8, 2011

• Sambut Hari Perempuan Internasional, Perempuan Yogya Tolak Poligami – detikNews. Selasa, 08/03/2011

Bagus Kurniawan, Yogyakarta – Hundreds of woman activists in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta from the Indonesian Women's Movement (Gerpari) commemorated International Women's Day (IWD) with an action rejecting polygamy, unregistered marriages, contract marriages and underage marriages.

The action, which was joined by various different women's groups and organisation was held in the Malioboro area of Yogyakarta on Tuesday March 8 and ended at the central post office intersection.

During the action they called on Indonesian women to become active, organised and united. The also rejected the culture of patriarchy and neoliberalism, which they said harms women.

In a speech at the gates of the Yogyakarta Regional House of Representatives (DPRD), action coordinator Arsih Suharsih said that they rejected neoliberalism because it marginalises the position of women. An example of this is working women, who are not provided with pregnancy leave, menstrual leave or maternity leave.

"Women workers' wages are extremely low and they become objects to be milked by companies and many women workers who are sick do not receive healthcare allowances", she said.

According to Arsih, the oppression of women is worsened by a fertile culture of patriarchy in society. Because of this, they said they would continue to fight for gender equality and reasonable wages for women.

"We also demand that legislation and bylaws which discriminate against women such as the anti-pornography and porno action law be revoked", she said.
 (bgs/fay)

[Slightly abridged translation by James Balowski.]

Women activists in Makassar call for end to human trafficking

Okezone - March 8, 2011

• Hari Perempuan se-Dunia: Aktivis Perempuan Desak Hentikan Human Trafficking – Okezone. Selasa, 8 Maret 2011

Andi Aisyah, Makassar – Scores of women activists held an action commemorating the 100th International Women's Day (IWD) in the South Sulawesi provincial capital of Makassar today.

The protesters, who came from a number of different organisations under the banner of the Indonesian Women's Front (BPI), took to the streets calling for an end to the sale of human beings or human trafficking, particularly women. Demanding equal rights and obligations between men and women, they also handed out brochures to pedestrians.

In a speech action coordinator Bunga Rosi said that the exploitation of women is excessive and is taking place in various sectors and in both the public as well as the domestic domain. She added that this was happening because the government has failed to protect women or fulfill their rights.

"Women often become the targets of physical, psychological and sexual violence. This must end, President SBY [Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono] as the leader of the country must accommodate this demand. SBY has failed to bring prosperity to women", said Bunga on Tuesday March 8.

During the demonstration that continued through to the afternoon, the protesters also brought banners with messages such as "Stop trafficking women laborers overseas", "Stop the exploitation of workers" and "Stop domestic violence".

IWD was also commemorated with a protest action at the Ratu Indah Mall organised by the South Sulawesi Indonesian Women's Coalition, the South Sulawesi Anging Mamiri Women's Solidarity and the Women's Issues Monitoring Forum (FPMP). The groups also collected funds for the empowerment of women. (ton)

[Slightly abridged translation by James Balowski.]

Muslim protesters say 'gender equality is capitalistic empty jargon'

Detik.com - March 8, 2011

• Hari Perempuan Internasional: Muslimah HTI Kritik Kapitalisme Global - detikNews. Selasa, 08/03/2011

Ari Saputra, Jakarta – Commemorating International Women's Day today, global capitalism became the target of sharp criticism. Muslim women from the Islamic organisation Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) said that capitalism promotes the destruction of the family institution, violence against woman and murder.

"Women's political representation in the face of modern democracy is always accompanied by the destruction of the family institution, divorces, pornography and murder", said one of the speakers, Iffah Rohmah during a break in the action at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta on Tuesday March 8.

During the protest, a huge banner was unfurled. The protesters also brought small posters explaining their criticisms of capitalism. "Capitalist democracy fails to honor women", shouted the demonstrators, "Gender equality = capitalistic empty jargon".

Satisfied after giving speeches for around 40 minutes, the women demonstrators, all of whom were wearing veils, disbursed peacefully. The scores of police standing guard only appeared to monitor the action from a distance and were more focused on a workers' demonstration at the same location. (Ari/nwk)

[Slightly abridged translation by James Balowski.]

Women workers ask 'after 100 years are women free from oppression'

Okezone - March 8, 2011

• Hari Perempuan se-Dunia: 'Apakah Perempuan Sudah Bebas dari Penindasan?' - Okezone. Selasa, 8 Maret 2011

Iman Herdiana, Bandung – International Women's Day (IWD) was marked by a protest action by hundreds of workers from the Indonesian Trade Union Congress Alliance (KASBI) in the city of Cimahi, West Java.

Wearing red T-shirts and taking up the theme "There is no women's liberation without the liberation of the people", the demonstrators besieged the Gedung Sate building government offices on Jl. Diponegoro demanding the liberation of women from all forms of oppression.

KASBI action coordinator Srinarti said that although women have commemorated IWD for 100 years, women still face discriminative labour laws, low wages, sexual harassment, they are not given menstrual or pregnancy leave, face physical and verbal violence and are prohibited from forming unions.

"For 100 years we have commemorated this day, are women now liberated from oppression?" asked Srinarti during the action on Tuesday March 8.

Srinarti explained that the oppression of women occurred because of the oppressive economic system, so they are demanding an end to arbitrary dismissals, contract labour (outsourcing), decent wages, menstrual and maternity leave, an end to violence and discrimination and free education.

"It's time for us to take the lead, SBY-Boediono [President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Boediono] have failed to bring prosperity to the people", she asserted. (ton)

[Slightly abridged translation by James Balowski.]

Discrimination and violence against women on the rise: Komnas Perempuan

Kompas - March 8, 2011

• Diskriminasi: Negara Kehilangan Kendali – Kompas. Selasa, 08 Maret 2011

Jakarta – The institutionalisation of discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, religion and beliefs is causing women, particularly those from minority groups, to progressively lose their sense of security. The terror that they face includes threats to life.

"Since 1999 up until early March 2011 there were 195 discriminatory policies found at the national, provincial and regency level", said Arimbi Heroeputri from the Monitoring Division of the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) during the launch of Komnas Perempuan 2010 Annual Report in Jakarta on Monday March 7. This, the 10th annual report by Komnas Perempuan marks the 100th commemoration of International Women's Day on Tuesday March 8.

Quoting from the report titled Terror and Violence against Women: The State has Lost Control, Arimbi added that there are only 46 policies that support the implementation the constitution's mandate to end violence and discrimination against women by November 2010.

The number of discriminative polices as of early March 2011 has risen from 154 (March 2009) and are spread across more than 100 regencies and 25 provinces. The six provinces that are most fond of issuing discriminative by-laws, including the banning of the Ahmadiyah religious sect, are the provinces of West Java, West Sumatra, South Kalimantan, Sulawesi Selatan, West Nusa Tenggara and East Java.

"In all the conflicts that smack of religion, women and children are the principle victims", said Komnas Perempuan Commissioner Ninik Rahayu.

Spreading hatred

The state has lost control and not yet prepared mechanisms to respond to these policies. "The state fails to act firmly against perpetrators, on the contrary it appears [the state] is permitting it, even though victims pay with their lives. This represents a violation of human rights", said Komnas Perempuan Chairperson Yunianti Chuzaifah.

The report recorded that 863 cases of violence against women in 2010 were committed by state officials and public figures. In particular it noted statements by five pubic officials and four officials in the education sector that violated public ethics by promoting hatred and discrimination.

Ninik underlined that there is a recurring pattern of human rights violations against migrant workers (TKI). I Wayan Paga from the National Agency for the Placement and Protection of Overseas Labor (BNP2TKI) commented that the according to the report, around 200 out of 1,000 migrant workers return home to Indonesia with problems.

No improvement

In addition this, attacks based on sexual orientation and gender identity also continued throughout 201. "The enactment of Law Number 44/2008 on Pornography also discriminates against female victims", said Ninik.

The report notes that 105,103 cases of violence were handled by 384 service agencies in 2010, a drop of 27 percent on the previous year. According to Komnas Perempuan Commissioner Yustina Rostiawati however, this does not mean that the situation is improving, but is because of a decrease in the capacity of service provider agencies that are operated by the state.

"The recorded figure is only the tip of the iceberg", said Yustina. As a comparison, Poppy Retnoadji from the Ministry Women's Empowerment and Protection of Children said that in Erom, Papua, one village chief resolves five cases of violence against women per day. (MH/IND)

[Translated by James Balowski.]

Corporations must also be held liable for rights violations

Kompas - March 4, 2011

• Pelanggaran Hak Asasi: Korporasi Harus Ikut Bertanggung Jawab – Kompas, Sabtu, 05 Maret 2011

Jakarta – The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) is pushing for corporations, both national and multi-national, to be deemed as parties that can also be held liable for human rights violations.

Up until now, Komnas HAM has faced difficulties when it has to summon corporations as parties guilty of gross human rights violations. Yet the violations committed by corporations are no less serious than when the perpetrators are the state or social groups.

Komnas HAM deputy chairperson Nur Kholis revealed that in 2008 corporations were ranked second place as the parties most reported to Komnas HAM. The crimes committed by corporations moreover are broader in scale in terms of the number of victims.

In first place for institutions reported to Komnas HAM is the police with as many as 1,106 cases followed by corporations or companies with as many as 748 cases. "Komnas HAM wants to push for corporations, as violators of gross human rights violations, to be acted against also. Corporate crimes usually result in larger numbers of victims of human rights violations", said Kholis in Jakarta on Thursday March 3.

ASEAN Inter-governmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) chairperson Rafendi Djamin said that it is time for corporations, particularly those operating in Third World countries such as Indonesia, to also be liable if human rights violations that occur in their operational area. (BIL)

[Translated by James Balowski.]