Perpetrators of violence in Papua to be charged under anti-terrorism law

Kompas.com - December 19, 2012

Dian Maharani, Jakarta – National police criminal investigation bureau chief Commissioner General Sutarman says that perpetrators of violence in West Papua could be charged under Law Number 15/2003 on Terrorism.

According to Sutarman, the national police will also not hesitate to use the articles under the law against armed perpetrators that cause loss of human life.

"If someone in Papua shoots an innocent person or migrant, or creates fear, we cannot rule out the possibility of using the articles on terrorism", said Sutarman at the national police's Bhayangkara Field in South Jakarta on Wednesday December 19.

In previous shooting incidents that have occurred in Papua, perpetrators have not been indicted under the Terrorism Law. Sutarman denied that the articles on terrorism had not been applied because of the existence of the Free Papua Organisation (OPM).

"It's not because [of the OPM]. It is Indonesian territory. The law [will be applied] based on the articles that are violated and the evidence that we find. It is Indonesian territory, even though [West Papua] has special autonomy", he explained.

Mysterious shootings have occurred frequently in the Land of the Cenderawasih (Bird of Paradise, West Papua). In the most recent incident, a sectoral police post in Pirime, Lany Jaya regency, was attacked and burnt down by an armed group on Tuesday November 27. Three police officers including sectoral police chief Ipda Rofli Takubesi were shot dead.

A shoot out also occurred on Wednesday November 27 between a group led by Papua police chief Inspector General Tito Karnavian and an armed group at the Indawa village located between the district of Makki, Jayawijaya regency and Tiom district, Lany Jaya regency.

[Pelaku Penyerangan di Papua Dapat Dikenakan UU Terorisme - Kompas.com. Rabu, 19 Desember 2012. Translated by James Balowski.]

Papuans in Jakarta condemn killings and arrests of activists in Wamena

Tribune News - December 18, 2012

Adi Suhendi, Jakarta – Scores of Papuan youths living in Jakarta held a demonstration in front of the Security Maintenance Agency (Baharkam) building at the national police headquarters in South Jakarta on Tuesday December 18.

The protesters unfurled a 1 x 1.5 meter banner with the message, "State crimes, the TNI [Indonesian military] and polri [national police] have shot, arrested humanitarian activists and burnt down the Wamena Papua Traditional Council office".

They also wrote their demands in a cartoon titled, "The violent actions by the TNI and polri are just security to safeguard foreign interests in Papua".

Action coordinator Martheen Goo [from Papua National Solidarity, NAPAS – JB] said that the protest action represented Papuan's sense of mistrust in the national police headquarters.

"When the police in the regions commits crimes in the field, the national police headquarters just claim that there was an attempt to resist", Goo told Tribune News on the grounds of the Baharkam building.

Goo also responded to the arbitrary arrests of several Papuan activists on charges that they were from a separatist group committing treason.

"Yet they were [just] local people and the best of Papuans who take pride in giving voice to the truth, but when they speak the truth, the state scapegoats them with accusations of being a separatist group or committing treason, but what are the separatist or treasonable actions in this? It is foolishness", he said.

Goo charged that the TNI and the national police are maintaining a climate of violence in Papua and questioned why the police have been unable to uncover who is behind the acts of violence committed by so-called unidentified individuals (OTK). Goo suggested that this is being done intentionally by the TNI and police as justification to carry out sweeps in the land of Papua.

"It is suspected that the OTK are being maintained, in order to provide legitimisation in conducting sweeps. It is suspect that it is the TNI and the police that are maintaining them (the OTK). This is foolishness", he asserted.

[Puluhan Pemuda Papua Berdemo di Mabes Polri - Tribunnews.com. Selasa, 18 Desember 2012. Translated by James Balowski.]

Wealth gap widens as Indonesia's rich get richer

Koran Jakarta - December 11, 2012

Jakarta – The growth in the number of wealthy individuals over the last 10 years has been spectacular, increasing by five fold or by 500 percent. This can be seen from the total wealth and bank deposits that continue to increase. Data shows that the growth in the number of rich in Indonesia has been the fastest and most spectacular in the world over the last decade, surpassing even China where the number of wealthy people has only risen three fold or 300 percent.

"We project that the growth in [the number] of wealthy people in Indonesia over the next five years will continue to skyrocket by [a figure] of two fold", said Center for Welfare Studies (Perkumpulan Prakarsa) director Setyo Budiantoro in Jakarta on Tuesday December 10. According to Budiantoro, in 2012 the number of people with assets of US$1 million or around 9.5 billion rupiah totaled 104,000.

And by 2017 it is estimated that this will increase to 207,000 people. This growth is among the fastest in the world, along with Brazil, Malaysia, Poland and Russia. Although optimistic about the growth in the number of wealthy, Budiantoro said that this is still not 'quality' growth and is unbalanced. The number of relatively poor people that own assets of less than US$10,000 or around 95 million rupiah still dominates and stands at 82 percent of the population. This far above the global average of 69 percent.

Bank deposits

This wealth inequality can also be seen from the structure of bank deposits that have not changed over the last few years. Total customer deposits in banks, which have reached more than 3,000 trillion rupiah, are held in 111 million accounts. Almost 1,300 trillion rupiah or 43 percent of these deposits are held in less than 60,000 accounts.

So, less than 1.4 percent of accounts hold almost 2,400 trillion rupiah or 78 percent of deposits. Alongside the growth in the number of rich, Budiantoro said that the wealth of the 40 richest people in Indonesia has also increased several fold. Over the last three years, between 2009 and 2011, the wealth of the 40 richest people has increase by four fold.

In 2008 the total wealth of the 40 richest people stood at around US$20 billion or around 190 trillion rupiah. By 2011 this had skyrocketed to US$85 billion or around 800 trillion rupiah. "Meaning the value of the 190 trillion rupiah owned by the 40 richest people in 2008 is equivalent to what is owned by 30 million poor people", said Budiantoro. lex/E-9

Notes

According to the Deposit Security Agency (LPS), in 2012 51 percent of bank deposits totalling 1,700 trillion rupiah were held by 0.13 percent customers. Data from the National Land Agency (BPN) found that the majority of state assets in the form of land were controlled by 0.2 percent of the population.

[Kesenjangan Pendapatan - Orang Kaya di Indonesia Tumbuh Signifikan - Koran Jakarta. Selasa, 11 Desember 2012. Translated by James Balowski.]

Papuan students in Yogyakarta commemorate West Papuan Independence Day

Kompas.com - December 1, 2012

Wijaya Kusuma, Yogyakarta – Hundreds of Papuan students from Java and Bali that are part of the Papuan Student Alliance (AMP) held an action at the zero kilometre point in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta to commemorate the 51st anniversary of West Papuan independence on Saturday December 1.

The protesters were furnished with banners with messages such as "Stop manipulating Papua's entry into the NKRI [Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia] and recognise the sovereignty of the West Papuan people".

"The date December 1 is not OPM (Free Papua Movement) day but West Papua Independence Day that was officially endorsed on December 1, 1961. We, Papuan students in Java and Bali are holding this action to demand the recognition of independence of the Papuan people", said action coordinator Sonny Dogapia.

Dogapia explained that to this day the Papuan people are still being silenced through various plots, coercion, intimidation and terror in order to quash resistance by the Papuan people. This is being done by the Indonesian government in order to ensure that Papua does not separate from Indonesia.

"Before the declaration of Trikora, the West Papuan nation was already independent but its independence did not last long. On December 19, 1961 [President] Sukarno declared the Trikora in order to thwart the formation of the West Papuan state, since then the Papuan people have lived under Indonesian colonial domination", he asserted.

After giving speeches for two hours, the action was closed with the reading of a statement. AMP made three demands, namely, affirming that December 1, 1961 is not the OPM's anniversary but West Papua Sovereignty Day. The second demand was that Indonesia and the United Nations immediately hand over West Papuan sovereignty and third, an end to claims that West Papua is part of the Indonesian republic. (k75-12)

Notes

Trikora - After the Netherlands announced the formation of a Nieuw Guinea Raad on April 1961, with the intention of creating an independent Papuan state, Indonesia's founding President Sukarno declared a military confrontation in his Tri Komando Rakjat (Trikora, Triple Commands of the People) speech in Yogyakarta, on December 19, 1961.

[Mahasiswa Papua Peringati HUT West Papua - KOMPAS.com. Sabtu, 1 Desember 2012. Translated by James Balowski.]

Police arrest three in Jayapura during Papua Independence Day rally

Metro TV News - December 1, 2012

Jayapura – West Papua National Committee (KNPB) chairperson Victor Yeimo was arrested by police during a protest action in the Waena area, Heram district, in Jayapura city on Saturday. He was arrested along with two other colleagues, Hukum Kiman and Ebes Sala.

The arrests occurred when demonstrators led by Yeimo began marching from the Waena III State Housing Company (Perumnas) towards the Expo area. Hundreds of police from the Jayapura municipal police were mobilised and police initially requested that they disburse. The KNPB were intending to commemorate December 1, which is usually referred to as Papua Independence Day.

Earlier, they held speeches at the Waena III Perumnas public transport roundabout and were determined to hold a long-march to the Waena Expo complex. After marching for around 500 metres, the demonstrators where blocked by police in front of the Waena diesel power plant, who requested that they disperse. The demonstrators refused and police dispersed them forcibly by firing tear gas into the crowd.

The 50 or so protesters immediately dispersed but not before three people were detained and placed in a paddy wagon. Jayapura municipal police chief Police Commissioner Alfred said that they were arrested because the protest did not have a permit.

"I issued an order to block them in front of the Dian Harapan hospital. While negotiations were taking place they remained determined [to march] and we used force to disburse the demonstrators", he said.

The protesters were disbursed after tear gas was fired twice when they pelted people in the vicinity [with stones]. "As a result of the [stone] throwing a person was injured in the vicinity of their elbow as a result of the [stone] throwing and is now being treated in hospital", said Alfred. As a result of the incident a number of shops were closed. (MI/DOR

[Peringati Kemerdekaan Papua, Ketua KNPB Ditangkap - Metrotvnews.com. Sabtu, 1 Desember 2012. Slightly abridged translation by James Balowski.]

UN human rights commissioner calls for Munir murder case to be reopened

Kompas - November 14, 2012

Jakarta – United Nations High Commissioner on Human Rights Navanethem Pillay has called for a full investigations into all cases of gross human rights violations in Indonesia. Specifically, she urged the government to reopen the investigation into the death of renowned human rights activist Munir Said Thalib and bring the intellectual actor behind the murder to trail.

"I have given a message to the Indonesian foreign affairs minister that the outside world is waiting for justice for human rights crusader Munir who was murdered in 2004. I have also proposed a retrial of Muchdi Purwopranjono (former State Intelligence Agency deputy chief) in order to clarify in a transparent manner [who] is responsible in this case", said Pillay at a press conference at the end of her working visit to Indonesia on Tuesday November 13.

According to Pillay, the handling of human right violations in Indonesia has been inadequate and has become of special concern to the UN. In addition to Munir's murder, Pillay also called for the establishment of an ad hoc commission under Law Number 26/2000 on a Human Rights Court in order to investigate the abduction of student movement activists in 1997-98.

The former International Criminal Court judge also urged the government to give serious attention to the problem of violence in West Papua. Pillay also expressed concern over the imposition of sharia laws (Islamic law) that are applied arbitrarily and discriminatively in Aceh.

During her visit to Indonesia, Pillay met with representatives of the Ahmadiyah, Shia and Christian religious communities in Indonesia. Pillay noted that Indonesia is still a young democratic state that has emerged from the shadow of decades of military rule. She also expressed her appreciation that as of September Indonesia has signed 150 (out of 180) international agreements on human rights (sic).

Pillay, a South African citizen of Indian decent, also noted that there is not one country in the world that has a clean human rights record. "What is important for Indonesia at the moment is transforming international human rights laws in Indonesia into local and regional level regulations", she said.

Pillay praises Indonesia for making the democratic transformation from a military regime to a civil administration. Pillay also welcome the establishment of human rights institutions in Indonesia such as the National Human Rights Commission, the National Commission on Violence Against Women and the National Commission for the Protection of Children. (GRE)

[Perserikatan Bangsa-Bangsa: Buka Kembali Kasus Munir – Kompas. Rabu, 14 November 2012. Translated by James Balowski.]

Victims say 'old forces' behind AGO's refusal to investigate 1965 killings

Voice of America - November 12, 2012

Andylala Waluyo, Jakarta – The chairperson of the Institute for the Study of the 1965-1966 Massacres (YPKP 65), Bejo Untung, told Voice of America (Indonesian language) that the victims of the 1965-1966 affair are disappointed that the Attorney General's Office (AGO) has returned a case dossier on human rights violations that occurred in 1965 to the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM).

In July, Komnas HAM announced the results of its investigation into the affair declaring that the systematic retribution against those alleged to be members of or sympathisers of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) following the 1065/1966 affair was a gross violation of human rights.

The AGO returned the case dossier last week and requested that Komnas HAM collect new evidence on the 1965/1966 cases as well as the mysterious shootings (Petrus) in 1982-1985. Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes (Jampidsus) Andhi Nirwanto said that that it would be difficult to investigate an incident that occurred decades ago.

Untung said that the YPKP 65 had already predicted that the AGO would return the case dossiers. According to Untung, this demonstrates the government's lack of seriousness in uncovering the case.

"I am concerned that there was political intervention by old forces in the case, so they are repeatedly drawing it out so that the 65-66 affair is never fully investigated", said Untung, a former member of the [PKI affiliated] Indonesian Association of Youths and Students (IPPI), who was jailed for almost nine years under the regime of former President Suharto on charges of involvement in the PKI and the failed coup on September 30, 1965.

Untung said that the Komnas HAM report into the 1965-1966 affair is very comprehensive so it is strange in his view that the AGO believes that further evidence is need to back the report.

"As far as I have studied it, the Komnas HAM report is very comprehensive, because it covers all of the issues and cases of violence spanning the 65-66 period from North Sumatra to Ambon. And [from] the sampled cases it is very clear, the military was involved in the acts of violence", he said.

"And all of [my] colleagues, who were questioned by the Komnas HAM investigation team, explained who was behind it. Including the commanders of Kodam [regional military commands], Kodim [district military commands] and Koramil [sub-district military commands], and this is absolutely clear from the written [signatures] in our release papers, this could be traced right? How much more comprehensive could it be? I am concerned that it's just a fabrication by the Attorney General".

Nur Kholis, the chairperson of the ad hoc investigation team into the 1965-66 gross human right violations, who is also a Komnas HAM commissioner, told VOA that the team will endeavour to complete the deficiencies cited by the AGO.

"The Attorney General provided annotations and also suggested several things that need to be complimented by Komnas HAM. This includes, among other things, a lack of witnesses, questions about alleged perpetrators, and also technical and legal deficiencies such as whether or not the investigators and witlessness were put under oath. Because of this therefore the team will hold a meeting, and then begin to work on the things that were deemed inadequate over the next 30 days", said Kholis.

In its report, Komnas HAM cited evidence that there were nine kinds of humanitarian crimes that represent gross human rights violations that occurred during the 1965-66 affair. The nine types of crimes against humanity include murder, forced evictions or relocation of populations, or physical violations of the liberty of persons in the form of torture, rape and forced disappearances.

This conclusion was arrived at by Komnas HAM after taking testimonies from 349 witnesses, who comprised victims, perpetrators as well as people who witnessed the events directly. The total number of victims of the affair is estimated to be between half-a-million to 3 million people.

Komnas HAM also recommended to the AGO that the mysterious shootings that occurred in 1982-1985 be followed up.

[Korban Peristiwa 1965-1966 Kecewa dengan Kejaksaan Agung - VOA Bahasa Indonesia. 12.11.2012. Translated by James Balowski.]

Labour coordination posts attacked by thugs, workers assaulted

Berita Satu - October 29, 2012

Ronna Nirmala/Ratna Nuraini – Unidentified individuals have attacked at least 10 labour coordination posts. Workers wearing organisational identification have been assaulted and their uniforms stripped off.

The incident occurred the previous evening at at least 10 labour coordination posts at factories located in the industrial zones in Jababeka, Cikarang and Bekasi. The attackers are calling themselves the Bekasi United Social Forum (FMBB).

A gathering of Bekasi workers today strongly condemned the attacks that were carried out by groups of people suspected of being thugs. Bekasi Joint Labour Secretariat (Sekber Buruh) spokesperson Budi Wardoyo said that the attacks carried out since yesterday evening are suspected to have been don on the orders of particular parties. Not, he continued, on the group's own initiative.

"Earlier there was in fact a leaflet that was distributed containing threats against workers [warning them] not to hold anymore street protests, on the grounds that it disrupted local stability and security", said Wardoyo when contacted today. In concert with these attacks, said Wardoyo, several Bekasi investor forums visited the Ministry of Trade and Industry to request input on the recent protest actions by workers.

Not only did they pay a visit on the Ministry of Trade and Industry, but also the Indonesian military (TNI), in order to ask the TNI to secure these protest actions. "So we conceded that the attacks are a response to their requests to the parties concerned", continued Wardoyo.

Prior knowledge

Wardoyo has also accused security forces and the government of having prior knowledge of the attacks and choosing to allow them to occur without taking any preventative measures to protect the workers.

Wardoyo also explained that the attacks have actually been taking place since the previous evening. A group of people dressed up as thugs visited several labour coordination posts in Jababeka, Cikarang and Bekasi.

"The thugs began by conducting sweeps for workers at PT Samsung, several workers were sacked and one was also assaulted", added Wardoyo. "Not just content with that, the attackers also stripped the cloths from workers wearing labour forum uniforms".

Meanwhile the attackers, who call themselves the FMBB, according to Wardoyo, demanded that workers sign an agreement not to hold any more protest actions and agree to outsourcing employment systems.

So far Wardoyo has been reluctant to report the attacks to the authorities and has elected to collect data on workers who have fallen victim to the assaults. "We don't yet know exactly how many, later after all [the information] has been gathered we will make a report", he explained.

[Sejumlah Posko Buruh di Bekasi Diserang dan Diteror - Berita Satu. Senin, 29 Oktober 2012. Translated by James Balowski.]

Four injured, 11 arrested after police fire on protesters in Manokwari

Berita Satu - October 23, 2012

Antara/Ratna Nuraini – A demonstration by the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) that took place in Manokwari this morning ended in chaos. As a result of the incident, 11 people were taken away by the Manokwari district police.

The action by members of the KNPB, which was held to support a meeting of the International Parliament of West Papua (IPWP) in London, took place in the vicinity of Jl. Gunung Salju in front of the University of Papua in Amban, Manokwari. The action had been taking place since around 9am.

After giving speeches, the protesters who numbered around 100 planned to hold a long-march to the Borasi Square. But the plan was thwarted when they were blocked and forcibly disbursed by police.

As a result, the protesters became enraged and pelted security personnel with stones. In response, police fired warning shots resulting in four people being injured. In addition to the four who were inured, two police officers were injured after being hit by rocks.

When contacted by Berita Satu, Papuan regional police public relations chief Assistant Superintendent Gede Sumerta admitted that as many as 11 people are currently being detained by district police. They are FN, AW, OA, DA, ET, DM, KJ, PP, OM and AN.

In addition to questioning the 11, the police also confiscated four KNPB and United Nations flags as well as banners and pamphlets brought by the demonstrators. Sumerta said that they did not come across any Morning Star flags, either brought by the demonstrators or flown openly.

When asked about the four people hit by gunshots, Sumerta stated that they are yet to receive a report from the Manokwari district police. According to Sumerta, based on information received from an Indonesian Embassy staff member in London, Aris Nugroho, it turns out that there was no meeting that discussed Papua in the British parliament.

"So news that there were discussions about Papua are untrue", said Sumerta adding that according to Jayapura municipal police, no demonstrations supporting the IPWP in London took place in Jayapura.

Nevertheless, Jayapura police could be seen on guard in a number of places and had deployed Barracuda armoured vehicles in and around the Imbi area in Jayapura.

• A Metro TV video report of the clash can be viewed here: http://www.metrotvnews.com/read/newsvideo/2012/10/23/162405/Demo-Komite-Nasional-Papua-Barat-Berujung-Bentrok/6.

[Dukung Rapat Papua di London, 11 Demonstran Ditangkap di Manokwari - Beritasatu.com. Selasa, 23 Oktober 2012. Translated by James Balowski.]

Papuans in Manado rally in support of IPWP meeting, independence

Kompas.com - October 23, 2012

Contributor Manado, Ronny Adolof Buol – As reported earlier, Papuans living in North Sulawesi, specifically those in Manado city held a protest action demanding justice for the Land of Papua on Tuesday October 23.

Although they were not joined by the thousands of people expected earlier, the demonstration by several hundred people managed to attract the attention of Manado residents because it passed through the main streets of the city.

The demonstrators began the action on the grounds of the Sam Ratulangi University (Unsrat) rectorate office then held a long-march towards the South Sulawesi Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) building. Throughout the march, the protesters called out their demands. "We demand justice for the Land of Papua. We want independence", shouted the demonstrators accompanied by their own unique singing.

In addition to demanding independence for Papua, the demonstrators who came from the North Sumatra Papuan Students, Youth and People's Solidarity (SPMPMP) also declared their support for the International Parliamentarians for West Papua (IPWP) meeting in London.

"The IPWP [meeting] that is currently taking place in London, England, which is being attended by senior Papuan leaders, is endeavoring to urge the UN to acknowledge the Papuan nation's struggle", explained action coordinator Nenaluck.

The demonstrators also said that Papua needs a referendum in order that the Papuan people can determine the fate of their own nation. "The nation and motherland of Papua has been a sacrificial offering for the economic, political and dominating interests of Holland, America and Indonesia", shouted one of the protesters during a speech in front of the DPRD.

The demonstrators also conveyed their wishes on the grounds of the DPRD. "We hope that the South Sulawesi DPRD can accommodate our hopes and wishes. We have long experienced injustice. Regional autonomy has not provided an answer. We want independence", said Nenaluck.

A written statement and list of demands signed by various different student groups at the demonstration was handed over to the DPRD. DPRD Deputy Speaker Arthur Kotambunan who made time to receive the demonstrators explained that they accepted the protesters wishes.

"We accept the wishes of our sisters and brothers from Papua, and will try to convey these wishes to the national House of Representatives", Kotambunan told the protesters. The demonstration, which was closely watched over by police, proceeded in an orderly and peaceful manner, although it did create traffic congestion on several of the city's streets.

[Warga Papua di Manado Tuntut Papua Merdeka - Kompas.com. Selasa, 23 Oktober 2012. Translated by James Balowski.]

Protesters condemn minister's statement blaming victims for being raped

Kompas.com - October 17, 2012

Riana Afifah, Jakarta – Following the offensive statement by the Minister for Education and Culture about a female high-school student victim of rape in Depok, namely ASS, the Women's Alliance Against Rape (APTP) held a protest action in front of the Department of Education offices on Wednesday October 17.

APTP member Dhyta Caturani said that the group is calling on Education Minister Mohammad Nuh to issue a new statement expressing his support for protecting teenage women from sexual violence and discrimination.

"Don't let there be any more talk that paints teenage women in a bad light because they become pregnant or because they become victims of rape", said Caturani, when sought out in front of the Education Ministry on Jl. Jendral Sudirman in Jakarta on Wednesday morning.

The group is also calling on the Education Minister as a public official that is responsible for education in Indonesia to take the case seriously. Moreover in the changes to the education curriculum that are currently being discussed should included sex and reproductive health education for teenagers.

"This is important so teenagers can avoid sexual violence such as rape, sexual harassment and [so they have] knowledge about [their] bodies and sexuality", said Caturani.

Caturani added that in order that there is no repeat of this, they are also demanding that the Education Minster reprimand schools that commit acts of discrimination without caring about the rights of victims.

The demonstration by scores of women is continuing although the flow of traffic on Jl. Jenderal Sudirman has not been disrupted and is moving smoothly.

[Perempuan Unjuk Rasa, Protes Pernyataan Mendikbud - Kompas.com. Rabu, 17 Oktober 2012. Translated by James Balowski.]

National strike to demand abolition of outsourcing, contract labour

Kompas.com - September 24, 2012

Jakarta – Workers from the Joint Labour Secretariat (Sekber Buruh) have agreed to hold a national strike on October 3. They are demanding the abolition of outsourcing and contract labour systems, which they insist harms the working class.

"It's definite, we will hold a national strike on October 3. It won't just be a strike, we will also hold street actions", said Sekber Buruh Presidium Secretary Edi Santoso during a break in a mass meeting attended by hundreds of workers from various labour organisations at the divisional office of the Labour and Transmigration Department in North Jakarta on Sunday September 23.

Prior to the mass meeting, hundreds of workers held a peaceful action in front of the Tanjung Priok port area in North Jakarta. They then held a parade riding motorcycles and city busses that set off for the Sudin Labour and Transmigration office in North Jakarta. The rally was watched over by police.

Santoso called on workers and other participants at the mass meeting not to just remain silent during the strike, but join them in taking to the streets in actions that are planned to take palace at a number of points in the industrial zones of Jakarta and nearby Bekasi.

The call was welcomed by the workers at the mass meeting, who came from a number of labour organisations that are part of the Jakarta Workers in Motion (BJB), an alliance of 18 labour organisations throughout Jakarta.

Santoso said the national strike will be conducted peacefully. "Our demands are the abolition of outsourcing systems and the politics of low wages that do great harm to workers", said Santoso.

The national strike will not just be restricted to the Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi, but simultaneous strikes are planed in other cities including Cirebon, Bandung, Batam, Semarang and Surabaya.

"The problem of contract labour systems is a problem for workers nationally and because of this workers must fight it collectively, on a national scale", said Santoso.

Sekber Buruh coordinator Michael said that the group will be consolidating with all trade unions to collectively hold a national strike on October 3. The main demand that will be taken up is the abolition of outsourcing by revoking the articles that justify the system, namely Law Number 13/2002 on Labour.

In addition to this, Sekber Buruh will also be demanding improvements to the reasonable living cost index (KHL) in determining minimum wages as regulated by Ministry of Labour and Transmigration Decree 13/2012, by calling for an increase in the components of the KHL from 60 to between 86 and 122.

"This should [happen] without [us] asking, without [us] demanding it, without the need for a national strike, the government is obliged to undertake the mandate of bringing prosperity to workers", he explained.

BJB coordinator Abdul Rosyid said that they would continue to garner support and coordinate with other organisation and labour organisation alliances.

The BJB is not yet able to estimate how many workers will take part in the national strike, but according to Rosyid, a national strike represents a last resort on the part of workers.

Workers have repeatedly called for the abolition of outsourcing systems but this has gone unheeded. "Efforts at bi-partite negotiations with companies and the government have been undertaken many times", he said.

Rosyid said that Law Number 13/2003 is unable to protect workers. Under contract labour systems, workers' futures are uncertain because they are never promoted to the status of permanent employees. Contract workers also do not obtain other basic rights. "There are many who have worked for years and years, but have still not been promoted to permanent employees", he said.

This situation is aggravated by low provincial minimum wages (UMP). Rosyid gave the example of the 2012 Jakarta provincial minimum wage of 1,529,150 million rupiah per month. This wage is no longer adequate because of the high cost of living in Jakarta. "This amount is barely sufficient to stay alive", said Rosyid. (RWN)

[3 Oktober, Buruh Akan Mogok Kerja - Kompas.com. Senin, 24 September 2012. Translated by James Balowski.]

Public lecture by Prabowo interrupted by protest action

Detik News - September 11, 2012

Angling Adhitya Purbaya, Semarang – Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) board of patrons chairperson Prabowo Subianto give a public lecture today at the Diponegoro University (Undip) in the Central Java provincial capital of Semarang.

Half way through the lecture however, students in the seating area on level two suddenly unfurled a banner with the message, "Reject Forgetting".

The three, along with one student from the Undip Student Executive Council (BEM) Community of Students, looked like the other students taking part in the public lecture, sitting quietly and listening to what Subianto had to say. But when the national figure began talking about his personal experiences they stood up and unfurled the white banner.

Within seconds, members of the student university paramilitary regiment (Menwa) who were not far away from the activists seized the banner and rolled it up. "We were secured by Menwa [members] straight away", said BEM foreign affairs spokesperson Hendri Ariwibowo on Tuesday September 11.

The four students were then escorted out of the lecture hall by the Menwa members and rushed towards the student activities centre building.

Earlier, eight students almost succeeded in waylaying the black Alphard car with licence plates H 999 DH that Subianto was riding in on its way to the Prof. Soedarto building where the lecture took place. The students however, who had brought posters and were giving speeches, fail to stop the car however because it was moving too fast.

Action coordinator Reza Auliarahma said that they held the protest action to remind society about reformasi [the reform movement that began] in 1998 and the human rights violations committed in East Timor that involved Subianto.

"This is to remind society that Subianto still has sins related to reformasi in 1998 and the abduction of activists along with human rights violations in East Timor", said action coordinator Reza Auliarahma in front the Prof. Soedarto building.

Subianto gave a talk titled "The Revitalisation of National Culture as a Basis to Develop a New Indonesia for the 21st Century". The lecture was attended by more than 1000 students, scores of which were willing to stand in the aisles in order to hear him speak. (alg/try)

[3 Mahasiswi Bentangkan Spanduk Saat Prabowo Orasi di Undip - detikNews. Selasa, 11/09/2012. Translated by James Balowski.]

Prabowo greeted by student protests at Semarang university

Detik News - September 11, 2012

Angling Adhitya Purbaya, Semarang – A number of students could be seen Tuesday standing at the traffic circle in front of the Prof. Soedarto building at the Diponegoro University (Undip) in the Central Java provincial capital of Semarang, awaiting the arrival of Prabowo Subianto who is to give a public lecture at the university.

The students however, who came from the Undip Student Executive Council (BEM) Community of Students, were not waiting hear a lecture from Subianto, but rather to stop him from entering the university and had brought banners and shouted slogans rejecting his visit.

"This is to remind society that Subianto still has sins related to reformasi [the reform movement that started in] 1998 and the abduction of activists along with human rights violations in East Timor", said action coordinator Reza Auliarahma in front the Prof. Soedarto building on Tuesday September 11.

Earlier, the Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) board of patron's chairperson held a ceremonial laying of the first brick at the construction of a library at Undip's Faculty of Cultural Science. Following the ceremony, Subianto and his entourage set off towards the Prof. Soedarto building.

As he passed the traffic circle in front of the Prof. Soedarto building, the student began giving speeches and moved on to the road in an attempt to waylay Subianto's black Alphard car with licence plates H 999 DH. The students however were not quick enough to catch the fast moving car guarded over by members of the student university paramilitary regiment (Menwa) and police.

Despite their failure, they continued giving speeches on the theme "healing the culture of forgetting". "We weren’t actually rejecting Subianto's visit, but rejecting the culture of forgetting [the past]. He played a role in human rights violations in East Timor. The government should also not forget. We students have repeatedly reminded [them] about human rights issues', added BEM foreign affairs spokesperson Hendri Ariwibowo.

Despite the protest action, the public lecture organised by Faculty of Cultural Science went ahead as planned. In his talk, Subianto took up the theme "The Revitalisation of National Culture as a Basis to Develop a New Indonesia for the 21st Century". The lecture was attended by more than 1000 students, scores of which were willing to stand in the aisles in order to hear Subianto. (alg/try)

[Prabowo Dicegat Mahasiswa Saat Hendak Beri Kuliah Umum di Undip - detikNews. Selasa, 11/09/2012. Translated by James Balowski.]

Protest action in Semarang calls for end to violence in West Papua

Republika.com - August 30, 2012

Afriza Hanifa, Semarang – Scores of Papuan protesters from Papua National Solidarity (NAPAS) held an action in front of the East Java regional police headquarters in the provincial capital of Semarang on Thursday August 30.

The demonstrators called on the Indonesian government to resolve the problem of violence in West Papua, which according to the group has been on-going since Papua became part of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI).

The protesters, who shouted demands calling for and end to violence in Papua, brought a variety of posters and banners with demands such as, "End the violence in Papua", "End military businesses in Papua" and "Provide a chance for democracy in Papua".

Following the action on the grounds of the East Java police headquarters, the protesters, who came from Semarang and the Central Java cities of Salatiga and Yogyakarta, then held a long-march towards Jl. Pahlawan, the location of the regional police office complex and the offices of the East Java governor.

Action coordinator Otis (20) said that the Papuan people have been beset by violence since Papua became part of NKRI. On August 23, a shooting took place in the Paniai-Dogiyai district, which resulted in the death of a police officer, and to this day the perpetrator remains unknown.

"The problem has continued unabated for years and years. This [protest] is so that follow up action is taken by those in authority", he said. Otis added that simultaneous actions are also being held in Jakarta, the West Java cities of Bandung and Bogor, and the East Java cities of Surabaya and Malang. Their demands are the same, the liberation of Papua from violence.

"NAPAS is demanding that the SBY-Boediono [President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Boediono] regime take responsibility for the mysterious shootings in the land of Papua, end all forms of terror and violence against the Papuan people. Third, immediately form a national independent investigation team and provide space for an international investigation team to investigate the mysterious shootings in the land of Papua. Then, put an end to and evaluate the organic and non-organic military presence [in Papua]. Along with opening up democratic space and release all Papuan political prisoners in order resolve Papua's social-political problems", read their demands.

Action coordinator Gabi (26) said that NAPAS hopes that these demands can be acted upon, and if they are not fulfilled they will continue to hold protest actions. "If they are not fulfilled, we will continue to take to the streets to press [our demands]. The regional police should be able to discuss this with the TNI [Indonesian military] and the national police", said Gabi.

[Warga Papua 'Geruduk' Polda Jateng - Republika.co.id. Kamis, 30 Agustus 2012. Translated by James Balowski.]

NAPAS calls for Paniai police chief, military commander to be sacked

Kompas.com - August 23, 2012

Aditya Revianur, Jakarta – Speaking at a press conference in Jakarta, Papua National Solidarity (NAPAS) coordinator Martheen Goo called for the Panai district police chief and district military commander to be removed from their posts.

The call came following sweep operations by security forces in Paniai regency, West Papua, that have left the region in the grip of fear.

"The Paniai district police chief and the district military commander should be sacked because they have failed to maintain a peaceful situation", said Goo at the offices of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) in Central Jakarta on Thursday August 23.

Goo explained that Paniai is in the grip of fear following the security sweeps, which have resulted in a series of arrests and the victimisation of ordinary civilians. The security forces should be conducting sweeps in the hills in order to catch the perpetrators of a spate of recent shootings, which according to officials are from the National Liberation Army (TPN), the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement (OPM).

The district police chief and district military commander, he continued, have failed and should be removed because conducting sweeps in city areas has resulted in damage to facilities. Security forces have even conducted sweeps on patients at the Paniai public hospital.

Even worse, explained Goo, they have reason to believe that when questioned by security forces in Paniai, civilians have been assaulted. "Yet the perpetrators are supposedly the TPN, not civilians who are then stigmatised by the security forces as if they are armed. The terrible thing is that security forces stigmatise [all] Papuan people as OPM, this is excessive", he said.

Goo explained that based on the facts on the ground, the justification for the arrest of civilians in Paniai is unclear. Security forces have used armed force to conduct sweeps against and to arrest civilians. This has added to the already muddy situation in Paniai with many ordinary people increasingly afraid to carry out their normal activities.

The security forces, continued Goo, should be maintaining a favourable situation in Paniai and not be conducting security sweeps. Goo appealed to the TNI and police leadership to support peace in Papua by putting an end to the security sweeps within the city and adopting prudent measures to prevent incidents of violence. Ordinary civilians should not be victimised because the security forces are incompetent and unable to catch the perpetrators.

[NAPAS: Kapolres dan Dandim Paniai Sebaiknya Dicopot - Kompas.com. Kamis, 23 Agustus 2012. Translated by James Balowski.]

Pancasila Front opposes any follow up on 1965 rights commission report

Berita Satu - August 22, 2012

Ezra Sihite/Wisnu Cipto – Mass organisations (Ormas) that are part of the Pancasila Front are ready to oppose any follow up on the recommendations by the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) on the 1965 killings.

Golkar Party Deputy General Secretary Leo Nababan is urging for an end to calls for a restoration of the political rights of the victims and the families of the 1965 affair. According to Nababan, Komnas HAM's recommendation, which stated that gross human rights violations occurred during the affair, do not need to be taken to an ad hoc human rights court.

Nababan argues that the existing 1996 MPRS decree on communist teachings has not been revoked and this is a basis for anti-communism in Indonesia. He added that the mass organisations in the Pancasila Front are ready to oppose any follow up to Komnas HAM's recommendations.

"The Pancasila Front will be ready to block it, particularly [our] youth generation allies in Anshor NU [Anshor Youth Movement, Nahdlatul Ulama's youth wing] if for example the affair goes to court", said Nababan in an email sent to journalists today.

The chairperson of the Mutual Assistance Cooperative (Kosgoro, Golkar affiliated youth group) in the 1957 era stated that the victims and the families of the 1965/1966 affair who are linked with communists do not need to seek further redress. "It is enough that their political rights have been restored", asserted Nababan.

Komnas HAM's recommendations on the 1965 affair have indeed been controversial. Komnas HAM proposed several options that could be taken by the government, one of which is reconciliation by means of a presidential apology. One month after the recommendation however, the government is yet to take a position on the matter.

Notes:

1. Tap MPRS XXXV/1996: Provisional People's Consultative Assembly Decree Number XXXV/1996 on the Dissolution of the Indonesian Communist Party and Prohibitions on Marxist, Leninist and Communist Teachings.

2. Former PKI members and others accused of involvement in the alleged 1965 coup suffered decades of stigmatisation and discrimination. They were not allowed to become civil servants, military or police officers, teachers, preachers or legislators and their IDs were labelled with “ET” (ex-political prisoner). Following a Constitutional Court ruling in 2004 former PKI members were allowed to contest elections and in 2006 the government deleted the ET label on IDs.

[Wasekjen Golkar Minta Rekomendasi Kasus HAM 1965 Ditolak - Beritasatu. Rabu, 22 Agustus 2012. Translated by James Balowski.]

127 anti-communist groups ready to fight if 1965 case goes to court

Inilah.com - August 22, 2012

Agus Rahmat, Jakarta – One of the Golkar Party's mass organisations, Kosgoro 1975 (Mutual Assistance Cooperative) is opposing the recommendation by the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) that the government apologise to the families of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI). Kosgoro believes that such an apology would again give rise to horizontal conflicts.

This was conveyed by the chairperson of Kosgoro's 1957 central leadership board Leo Nababan. Nababan even emphasised that Kosgoro is ready to back GP Ansor (Ansor Youth Movement, the youth wing of the Islamic mass organisation Nahdlatul Ulama), which have said they will be on guard against such a move.

"The 127 anti-communist mass organisation supporters of Pancasila in 1965 that are part of the Pancasila Front are ready to block, particularly [our] youth generation allies in Ansor Nahdlatul Ulama if for example there are calls for the case to go to court. Once again don't go too far", said Nababan in a press release received by Inilah.com on Wednesday August 22.

Nababan, who is also the Deputy General Secretary of the Golkar Party, stated that the regulations on the PKI are still enshrined in a People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) decree. This being the case, Komnas HAM cannot all of a sudden recommend that the Indonesian government apologies to the families of the PKI. "The TAP MPRS No. XXX/1996 on communist teachings has not been revoked", he said.

For Nababan, this is still a very sensitive issue. He is concerned that horizontal conflicts could erupt within society. According to Nababan, at present the lives of the families of former PKI members are quite good, particularly with the restoration of their political rights".

"And I don't want NKRI [the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia] to collapse and be full of blood again if a horizontal conflict occurs. Right now the lives of the PKI families are adequate. It is sufficient that their political rights have been restored", he asserted. (bay)

Notes:

1. Tap MPRS XXXV/1996: Provisional People's Consultative Assembly Decree Number XXXV/1996 on the Dissolution of the Indonesian Communist Party and Prohibitions on Marxist, Leninist and Communist Teachings.

2. Former PKI members and others accused of involvement in the alleged 1965 coup suffered decades of stigmatisation and discrimination. They were not allowed to become civil servants, military or police officers, teachers, preachers or legislators and their IDs were labelled with “ET” (ex-political prisoner). Following a Constitutional Court ruling in 2004 former PKI members were allowed to contest elections and in 2006 the government deleted the ET label on IDs.

[Kosgoro Tolak Usul Komnasham Terkait Keluarga PKI - Inilah.com. Rabu, 22 Agustus 2012. Translated by James Balowski.]

NAPAS slams president's speech on West Papua as deceptive, indifferent

Cahayareformasi.com - August 18, 2012

Surabaya (CARE) – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's speech on August 16 took up several issues related to West Papua, including that it is not easy to solve the Papuan problem, that it needs measures that are specific, basic and comprehensive, that we have to integrate these measures to accelerate development in Papua.

Therefore special autonomy (Otsus) for Papua and West Papua is our basic framework to manage public services, development and regional governments. In order to ensure that development is in accordance with plans and policies, of both the central and regional governments, the government has formed the Acceleration of Development in Papua and West Papua (UP4B), which is working to ensure the synergy, synchronisation and coordination all agents of development. It is by this means that, in a systematic manner, we can accelerate improvements to the people's standard of living in the provinces of Papua and West Papua.

Papua National Solidarity (NAPAS) coordinator Marten Goo is of the view that this is actually an effort on the part of the head of state to deceive the public. Resolving the Papua problem would actually be easy, if the central government is prepared to open up to the Papuan people through a democratic process beginning with a dialogue or negotiations.

"In actual fact, the central government is making the problem more difficult, and we (NAPAS – ed.) are of the view that the central government has hidden interests with regard to Papua", said Goo in a press release sent to cahayareformasi.com.

The speech, continued Goo, shows that President Yudhoyono is indifferent to the needs of the ordinary people, above all the Papuan people. The president is inviting the people to have false hopes. Yet up until now these two things [dialogue and negotiations] have not been implemented, and instead humanitarian crimes continue to be committed in Papua.

"The government's programs such as special autonomy, the UP4B and breaking up the region into new provinces and districts will only complicate the Papuan problem. Humanitarian crimes will only increase instead", said Goo.

In his speech, the president asserted that the government is implementing the UP4B for the sake of the Papuan people. The UP4B is a central government program that is being forced on the Papuan people. Special autonomy meanwhile, which has a higher position than the UP4B, has not been consistently implemented by the central government.

Because of this therefore, Goo believes that the UP4B is just an effort by the government to divert attention and stifle the Papuan people's good intentions to immediately hold a dialogue and negotiations to resolve the Papuan problem comprehensively.

"The state must immediately hold negotiations between Jakarta and Papua, which are mediated by a neutral third party. The president must immediately stop deceiving the public by trading off the Papuan people for a profit in the name of development and the like, through statements and speeches that are illogical", he asserted. (Ones Madai)

[Nasional Papua Solidary (NAPAS) Menilai, Pidato Presiden Berlebihan - Cahayareformasi.com. 18 Agu 2012. Translated by James Balowski.]

Independence Day commemoration celebrates sexual and cultural diversity

Our Voice - August 17, 2012

Yatna Pelangi – Marking Indonesia's 67th anniversary of independence, members of the transsexual, gay and lesbian community held an Independence Day commemoration in Ndalem Notoprajan in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta.

Starting with a reflection on the struggle for liberation and a sense of nationalism, the Yogyakarta Network for Human Rights and Diversity (Jamgaman) held a flag rising ceremony.

Scores of Jamgaman activists, including members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LBGT) community, along with church leaders could be seen underneath the sun's intense heat singing and honoring the raising of the flag.

Through the Facebook page Upe Ha, one of the activists who took part in the commemoration said, "This activity reflects the symbolic love of a community that has been sidelined by the system because of a different life choice. Although to this day discrimination continues unabated, we still show a deep respect for the [independence] struggle.

The Upe Ha Facebook page added that the activity was a mutual reflection that the people that reside in Indonesia are diverse and from a variety of backgrounds, whether that diversity is sexual orientation, cultural diversity, religious diversity and other backgrounds. And the state and policy makers must return to understanding the real meaning of the word independence, not making new policies that instead "imprison" its citizens.

[LGBT Yogya rayakan kemerdekan RI dengan upacara bersama - Ourvoice.or.id. 17 Augustus, 2012. Translated by James Balowski.]

Papuan protesters call on US to end military ties with Indonesia

Kompas.com - August 15, 2012

Vitalis Yogi Trisna, Jakarta – Coinciding with the commemoration of 50 years since the New York Agreement, Papuan National Solidarity (NAPAS) held a protest action in front of the United States Embassy in the Gambir area of Central Jakarta on Wednesday August 15.

"We are calling on the United States government to investigate human rights violations committed by PT Freeport through a legal trial in the United States", said action coordinator Marthen Goo. NAPAS also called on the US government to end military cooperation with Indonesia.

The New York Agreement was signed on August 15, 1962 in New York. According to Goo, the agreement represented the first chapter in the suppression of the Land of the Cenderawasih (Bird of Paradise, West Papua). n"Indonesia, Holland and the United States intentionally made the agreement without involving representatives from the Papuan nation", said Goo.

The demonstration proceeded in an orderly fashion with traffic passing in front of the US Embassy largely unaffected.

[Unjuk Rasa Sentil 'New York Agreement' - Kompas.com. Rabu, 15 Agustus 2012. Translated by James Balowski.]

NU, retired army officers reject apology for victims of 1965 killings

Kompas.com - August 15, 2012

Aditya Revianur, Jakarta – The Nahdlatul Ulama's Central Board (PBNU) with the support of retired army officers and mass organisations is strongly opposed any form of apology by the government or the Indonesian president for the 1965-1966 tragedy.

The reason for this is that the East and Central Java branches of the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU, the largest Islamic mass organisation in Indonesia) have sent a letter to the PBNU strongly rejecting an apology to the victims of the 1965 tragedy.

"We (PBNU) reject an apology by SBY [President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono] to the victims of the 1965 tragedy. We believe that what needs to be promoted is reconciliation, not an apology", said PBNU Deputy Secretary General As'ad Said Ali at the declaration of "Be on Alert for the Revival of the PKI" (Indonesian Communist Party) at the PBNU's headquarters in Salemba, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday August 15.

Said expressed the view that as a nation it is better if the humanitarian tragedy of the 1965 affair be forgotten. Former President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid, he continued, has already provide space for the restoration of the rights of the descents of PKI members so an apology by the government to the victims of the 1965-1966 tragedy is unnecessary.

Aside from this, according to Ali, an ad hoc count would only add to problems because the issues involved in the 1965-1966 tragedy smack of politics rather than humanitarian concerns. "NU is not pushing for an [ad hoc] court because [we] don't wish to dig up old issues. Our people, Islamic teachers were killed by the PKI, so we are not making accusations", he added.

Ali revealed that the NU has overlooked the 1965 tragedy as a form of its great spirit. The NU will not dig up the issue of the killings by the PKI in 1948 in Madiun because it is better for forgive and forget in order to develop a better national character in the future.

"Our position is a form of our great spirit because we have a share in this republic. We founded this republic. If an apology is made then the nation will continue to fight", he asserted.

A similar view was expressed by Suryadi, the chairperson of the Retired Army Generals Association (PPAD), who explained that in recommending that the president apologise to the victims of 1965, the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) is fanning the flames of a new hostility in Indonesian society.

The PPAD, continued Suryadi, opposes Komnas HAM's position. It is improper for Komnas HAM to push the government to apologies to the victims of 1965 because the party that was responsible was the PKI. "The PKI were the perpetrators of the coup. There's already plenty of evidence. It is improper for the government to apologise. Komnas HAM is not acting justly", he said.

Notes:

On the night of September 30, 1965 a group of middle-ranking military officers kidnapped six generals they accused of organising a coup against Indonesia's leftist President Sukarno. For reasons that remain unclear, the six were killed and their bodies dumped in a well in South Jakarta. By blaming the incident on the PKI, this provided the pretext for sections of the military, led by a Major General Suharto, to mount a bloody counter-revolution in which as many as 1 million communists and left wing sympathisers were killed. Hundreds of thousands of others were imprisoned for years without trial. The so-called Madiun revolt in 1948, which is also blamed on the PKI, was triggered by an attempt by Vice President Hatta in alliance with right-wing military officers to disband the PKI and left-wing military units.

[PBNU Tolak Permintaan Maaf kepada Korban Tragedi 65 - Kompas.com - Rabu, 15 Agustus 2012. Translated by James Balowski.]

Government does not need to acknowledge 1965 crimes: NU youth wing

Kompas.com - August 15, 2012

Aditya Revianur, Jakarta – The chairperson of the Anshor Youth Movement (the youth wing of the Islamic mass organisation Nahdlatul Ulama), Nusron Wahid, says that the government does not need to acknowledge past gross human rights violations, particularly the humanitarian tragedy in 1965-1966.

It is not appropriate for the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) to label the affair, which occurred during the Cold War era and took the lives of many victims, as a gross human rights violation, which according to Wahid, was just part of the spirit of the times.

"The government does not need to acknowledge human rights violations in the 1965 tragedy. Let alone try to uncover the masterminds behind the tragedy. It's not possible, the affair was zeitgeist (the spirit of the times). We don't need to dig up pass issues anymore", said Wahid, who is also a member of the House of Representative's (DPR) Commission XI, speaking at the Nahdlatul Ulama's Central Board (PBNU) offices in Jakarta on Wednesday August 15.

Wahid said that the 1965-1966 tragedy was an ideological one. If the issue is revealed, he continued, then the situation in Indonesia's will become unfavorable. It is improper for past issues to be revealed in the current period he said.

Anshor, he explained, is not trying to dispute history, but the historical [facts] of the 1965 affair should not be altered again just because of the results of the Komnas HAM investigation. "If it's revealed, do we want to develop the nation or invite another war? I reiterate again, the 65 issue was only a result of friction between elements of the nation", he added.

Wahid explained that the Indonesian Communist Party and Nahdlatul Ulama were victims of the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the United States. Law enforcement institutions, he insisted, through an ad hoc court, are not necessary to deal with cases of human rights violations in 1965-1966.

It is sufficient if the affair be viewed as a historical lesson, so the current government does not need to acknowledge the affair. "An ad hoc court is unnecessary. Those who have been accused of being the perpetrators are dead. It's better for us to look to the future", he asserted.

Notes:

On the night of September 30, 1965 a group of middle-ranking military officers kidnapped six generals they accused of organising a coup against Indonesia's leftist President Sukarno. For reasons that remain unclear, the six were killed and their bodies dumped in a well in South Jakarta. By blaming the incident on the PKI, this provided the pretext for sections of the military, led by a Major General Suharto, to mount a bloody counter-revolution in which as many as 1 million communists and left wing sympathisers were killed. Hundreds of thousands of others were imprisoned for years without trial.

[GP Anshor: Pemerintah Tidak Perlu Akui Kejahatan 1965-1966 - Kompas.com. Rabu, 15 Agustus 2012. Translated by James Balowski.]

Only the richest 20 percent benefiting from economic growth

Kompas.com - August 9, 2012

Jakarta – Economic growth, which reached 6.4 percent in the second quarter of 2012, is largely being enjoyed by the middle- and upper-class, because it is not quality growth.

Economics professor Mudrajad Kuncoro, from the Gadjah Mada University Faculty of Business and Economics, said that economic growth has risen and per capita income (PCI) has reached 3,540 US dollars annually.

However the indications of an imbalance are visible from the results of the current national development process. This can be measured by the imbalance in distribution of income that is steadily widening as reflected by the gini coefficient (a measure of inequality), which rose from 0.33 in 2002 to 0.41 in 2011.

"The irony is, there has been a decline in the [share] of the national cake enjoyed by poorest 40 percent of the population, which has been accompanied by an increase in the [share] of the national cake enjoyed by the richest 20 percent", said Kuncoro when contacted in Jakarta on Tuesday August 7.

Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) general chairperson Sofjan Wanandi is of the view that economic growth is only being enjoyed by the middle- and upper-classes, while lower-class society is being ground down by various obstacles and is simply trying to survive.

"Even though [they] benefit, the lower-classes' gains are becoming smaller because they have to deal with the high price of materials and have to face high bank interest rates", said Wanandi.

Wanandi confirmed that current economic growth rates are being sustained by people's consumption during the fasting month and Idul Fitri holiday celebrations. On the questing of increased investment, Wanandi said this is not something new.

Wanandi said that current investment, particularly by foreign investors, appears to be sustained, and represents a process that has been going on for two years. It is not the pace of investment that has recently been ventured, such as the investment by Foxconn from Taiwan, which is still struggling to find industrial land.

Not much change

Fishing communities and trade unions admit they have felt little impact from the high level of growth in the second quarter.

Cornelius Mahuze (32), a traditional fisher from the Marind Kampung Mbuti ethnic group in Merauke district, Merauke regency, Papua, concedes that his life is not heading in a better direction. "Yeah, it's just like this, [I] can only net prawns. [I] don't have a boat, don’t have any capital", he said on Tuesday.

Every day Cornelius works netting prawns on at the Mbuti beach. If it is the prawn season, he can catch 10-20 kilograms a day. Prawns sell for 15,000 rupiah a kilo. If it's not the prawn season, he can only catch 1-2 kilograms a day. "If it’s the hot season or big wave season, [I] don't have any income", he said.

Laurensius Mahuze (50), another traditional fisher from the Mbuti village, also relies on netting prawns from the beach because he does not own a motor-boat to catch fish at sea. His income depends upon the season. "If it's not prawn season, I just sell young coconuts for 5,000 rupiah each", he said.

Meanwhile according to Jamaluddin, a labour activist from the East Java provincial capital of Surabaya, economic growth has yet to raise workers' living standards and only provides profits to business and employers. This is reflected in the growth in the number of outsourced workers so that benefits that company owners are obliged to provide, such as the right to a pensions, healthcare allowance and children's schooling costs, are in fact non-existent.

"Workers' wages in Indonesia are the lowest compared with Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines and Malaysia. Meaning that economic growth is not directly proportional with workers' incomes, never mind farmers or fisherpeople", he said.

Meanwhile, an economic observer from the Airlangga University in Surabaya, Subagyo, said the gains from all this are actually being enjoyed by foreign investors who already control shares in almost all business sectors. "Economic growth is not impacting directly on the little people, but rather the owners of capital", he said.

National Planning and Development Minister and National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) chief Armida Alisjahbana said that economic growth in the second quarter of 2012 is being driven by growth in domestic consumption and investment. The government is targeting an investment growth of 11 percent, which could realistically reach 12 percent.

"How to maintain the momentum and minimalise declining exports. So as to get the best contribution for the agricultural sector. That will be the driving force. Our hope is, all of this can be translated into ordinary people's living standards and reducing unemployment", he said. (RWN/ETA/EVY/ATO/OSA/IDR/BEN)

[Pertumbuhan Dinikmati Kelas Menengah - Kompas.com. Kamis, 09 Agustus 2012. Translated by James Balowski.]

Strong economic growth not accompanied by rising living standards

Kompas - August 7, 2012

Jakarta – In the midst of a global crisis, Indonesia's economic growth recorded a positive result. Economic growth for the second quarter of this year reached 6.4 percent compared with the same period last year.

Economic growth continued to be centred in Java Island contributing 57.5 percent. In cumulative terms, economic growth for the first semester of 2012 was an improvement on first semester economic growth for 2011, which was 6.3 percent.

"Although still centred in Java, regions outside Java also began to record significant economic growth, particularly in Sulawesi. Economic growth in Sulawesi for the second quarter reached 4.6 present compared with the previous quarter of only 4.5 percent. This improvement was cause by a growth in mining industry and agricultural products", said Central Statistics Agency (BPS) chairperson Suryamin during a press conference in Jakarta on Monday August 6.

Suryamin said that gross domestic product (GDP) at current market prices for the second quarter of 2012 reached 2,050.10 trillion rupiah [US$ 215.25 billion]. The three sectors that recorded the highest growth (quarterly) were trade, hotels and restaurants, accounting for 5.2 percent, electricity, gas and drinking water, 4.6 percent, and construction 4.4 percent.

Meanwhile for annual growth, the transportation and communication sector grew by 10.1 percent, trade, hotel and restaurants 8.9 percent, and construction 7.3 percent.

GDP for the second quarter of 2012 was dominated by manufacturing, plantations, trade, hotels and restaurant sectors, each contributing 23.5 percent, 14.8 percent and 13.8 percent respectively. The structure of GDP according to spending for the second quarter of 2012 was dominated by household spending amounting to 53.5 percent.

In addition to this, GDP was also supported by gross fixed capital formation (GFCF) and government expenditure, which provided a contribution of 32.9 percent and 9 percent respectively, along with exports at 24.3 percent and imports at 26.6 percent.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono welcomed the positive economic growth for the second quarter noting that this growth has occurred in the midst of a global economic crisis.

Anomaly

According to economic observer Salamuddin Daeng from the Institute for Global Justice (IGJ), Indonesia's economic growth can be categorised as an anomaly because it is not accompanied by improvements in living standards.

There are four reasons for this anomaly said Daeng. First, Indonesia's economy is driven by foreign debt, which continues to grow. "Indonesia's [foreign] debt has accumulated to 2.870 trillion rupiah [US$ 301.35 billion]. Debt has become the government's principle source of income and is the driving force of economic growth", he explained.

Second, economic growth is driven by increased consumer spending based on the rising cost of basic goods and food, which is sustained by a growth in credit, particularly consumer credit.

The third factor is economic growth is driven by raw material exports such as minerals, oil and gas and plantation and forestry products, so there is little creation of added value and employment opportunities. Finally, economic growth is driven by foreign investment resulting in the country's natural resources increasingly being controlled by foreigners.

Economic observer A. Tony Prasetiantono from Gadja Mada University (UGM) in Yogyakarta said that the domestic sector is sustaining national economic growth. "The transmission of the global crisis through a decline in exports and a trade account deficit will only be felt in the third and fourth quarters of this year. Moreover the contribution of exports to GDP is not significant", said Prasetiantono.

A similar view was conveyed by economist Mirza Adityaswara. A number of domestic sectors are growing because they are driven by low interest rates, which are apparent from a growth in credit of 26-28 percent (annually), which is simultaneously driven by low fuel prices (BBM), which are still subsidised by the government.

"So from this, high [economic] growth is being experienced by sectors orientated towards domestic [markets], such as trade, manufacturing, the automotive industry, transportation, communication and construction", said Adityaswara, adding that the consequence of high growth in sectors orientated towards the domestic market is a tendency for the trade account deficit to steadily rise.

According to Prasetiantono, faster and more government spending has also been enough to assist economic growth. In concert with this, keeping inflation below 5 percent has helped slightly although this will have an effect, namely energy subsidies will continue to increase, which is not in fact a healthy trend. (ENY/BEN/ATO/MAS)

[Ekonomi Tumbuh Signifikan, Kesejahteraan Masih Rendah - Kompas. Rabu, 07 Agustus 2012. Slightly abridged translation by James Balowski.]