Free Papua Organisation denies surrender of 100 members

Bintang Papua - December 23, 2013

Jayapura – The Free Papua Organisation (OPM) through Secretary General Anton Tabuni has refuted a statement by Puncak Jaya Regent Henock Ibo in relation to 100 OPM members under the leadership of National Liberation Army (TPN) commander Goliath Tabuni who came down from the mountains to rejoin society.

Speaking to Bintang Papua by cell phone on Sunday December 22, Anton Tabuni explained that what was conveyed by Henock Ibo was incorrect. "It was incorrect and nonsense, which 100 people? It was an irresponsible statement, we're all at our headquarters", said Tabuni.

"What was conveyed [in the statement] was simply a political game that doesn't make sense, and is completely irrational, we under military commander General Goliath Tabuni are fighters, we're not like government officials who go off to curry favour with the president by saying that Goliath and Anton Tabuni have surrendered, it's nonsense", explained Tabuni.

Tabuni also questioned the number of 100 people has been repeatedly mentioned. "It's hard to believe that the total could be exactly 100 people? What's going on here? We've been fighting for more than 50 years, and there have been many sacrifices, so there is no such thing as the word surrender, it's just propaganda, there are no grounds for us to surrender, it never happened", he asserted.

Earlier, Puncak Jaya regent Henock Ibo announced that 100 OPM members had surrendered and were being trained to become public order agency officers or Satpol PP members in Mulia, Puncak Jaya. (bom/don/l03)

[100 Anggota OPM Menyerah, Dibantah - Bintang Papua. Senin, 23 Desember 2013. Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service.]

Papua students in Surabaya mark December 1 with call for self-determination

Lensa Indonesia (LICOM) - December 2, 2013

Around 300 demonstrators from the Papua Student Alliance (AMP) gathered in front of the Negara Grahadi building in the East Java provincial capital of Surabaya on December 2 demanding that the Indonesian government give them the freedom to determine their own future as a democratic solution for the people of West Papua.

Surabaya AMP spokesperson Mesak Pekei said that the 52nd declaration of Papua was reaffirmed yesterday on December 1 in the city of Port Numbay, Jayapura. The demonstrators are using this opportunity to again call for the acknowledgement of the sovereignty of the Papuan people.

"Based on the declaration of the West Papuan state, as of December 1, 1961 we have been independent. Then independence was taken away by the NKRI [the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia], and because of this, we want to again demand our independence from the NKRI", said Pekei when speaking with LICOM during the action on Jl. Gubernur Suryo Surabaya on Monday.

In addition to Surabaya, demonstrators also came from cities such as Bandung and Bogor in West Java, Jakarta, the Central Java cities of Semarang, Salatiga, Yogyakarta and Solo, as well as the East Java city of Malang and from Bali.

During the action they called on the government to put an end to the implementation of political policies such as special autonomy (Otsus), Otsus Plus and the Special Unit for the Acceleration of Development in Papua and West Papua (UP4B). They also called for the withdrawal of all organic and non-organic police (Polri) and military (TNI) from the land of Papua.

According to Pekei, the Indonesian state succeeded in thwarting the establishment of the Papuan state and forced the Papuan people the join the NKRI.

But he said that the struggle to realise the formation of the Papuan state will never abate. "[Despite] the various changes in ruling regimes in Indonesia, starting with the militaristic regime of [former president] Suharto through to the regime of SBY-Boediono [Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono-Vice President Boediono], they have never been able to extinguish the Papuan people's flame of resistance", he added.

During the action, the demonstrators formed a circle and raised their left hands in a fist as a symbol of the Papuan people's resistance to the NKRI. "We will continue to struggle from generation to generation until the end, because we want to determine our own future", said Pekei.

Pekei explained that the various problems faced by the Papuan people are not about prosperity, social imbalance or economic inequality but rather are about the issue of the identity of the Papuan people as nation that cannot be resolved by the policies of the NKRI.

"This is our biggest problem, so we demand that the regime of SBY-Boediono immediately give [us] the freedom and right to determine our own future, as a democratic solution for us, as the West Papua people", he said accusingly.

[Rakyat Papua Barat meminta kembali kemerdekaanya dari NKRI - Lensaindonesia.com. Senin, 02 Desember 2013. Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service.]

West Papua pro-independence activists arrested for distributing leaflets

Suara Papua - November 25, 2013

Arnold Belau, Papuan, Jayapura – As many as 16 members of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB) were arrested earlier this afternoon by the Jayapura municipal police (polresta) when they were handing out leaflets about a planned demonstration to take place throughout the land of Papua tomorrow.

The goals of the planned demonstration were to support the opening of a Free Papua Movement (OPM) office in Port Moresby on December 1, supporting a meeting between the International Parliament for West Papua (IPWP) and the International Lawyers for West Papua (ILWP) in Port Moresby on November 25-28 and to support a planned visit to Jakarta and Papua by foreign affairs ministers and representatives of countries that make up the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG)/

When sought for confirmation, KNPB national spokesperson Wim Rocky Medlama said that the 16 had been arrested in Padang Bulan, Abepura at around 3.15. "That's correct. Earlier as many as 16 of our members were arrested by police from the Jayapura City polresta", said Medlama.

Medlama said they are fed up with the police's actions, which are arrogant and excessive. "This is too excessive. And I think that the police have much to learn. So that they undertake their duties in accordance with the orders", he said angrily.

Meanwhile the coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS) Papua, Olga Hamadi said that the police's actions were excessive and the pattern of arrests should stop.

"I've only just heard this information. I think that the police are too excessive. Patterns of arrests such as this should no longer be necessary. This is included under the rights of each person to express themselves. Moreover this is a democratic country right", she said in an SMS message sent to Suara Papua this evening.

Hamadi added that people expressing their views should not be attacked and arrested. "They should be given space. The issue of expressing views in public should not be responded to with arrests and law enforcement. If [the police] are going to be like this it won't solve the Papuan problem", said Hamadi.

When sought for confirmation by Suara Papua meanwhile, Jayapura municipal police chief Assistant Superintendent Alfred Papare denied that the 16 KNPB members had been arrest for distributing leaflets. "There were no arrests", wrote Papare.

Papare instead responded by asking questions in a threatening tone, "Who said that there were arrests earlier. And do did you [actually] see it or not", he said to media journalists via an SMS message.

Based on information gathered by Suara Papua, the 16 were arrested earlier this afternoon and taken to the Jayapura municipal police station were the leaflets were confiscated by police. Following this they were returned home.

[16 Aktivis KNPB Ditangkap Saat Bagi Selebaran - Suarapapua.com. November 25, 2013. Slightly abridged translation by James Balowski for the Indoleft news service.]

Jakarta rally rejects creation of new administrative area in West Papua

Suara Papua - November 4, 2013

Oktovianus Pogau, Papuan, Jakarta – On Monday afternoon scores of youth and students from the Papua Student Alliance (AMP) held a peaceful demonstration at the House of Representatives (DPR) building to declare their opposition to the creation of 33 new operational areas (DOB, new administrative areas) in Papua.

Elias Petege, one of the speakers said that the majority of ordinary people in Papua and West Papua provinces do not want the creation of 33 new DOBs, including three new provinces, as agreed to recently by the DPR.

"The creation of 33 DOBs in the land of Papua will not answer the problems. We explicitly reject this plan. The DPR must cancel the RUU [draft law] that has been drafted", said Petege in a speech in front of the DPR building.

According to Petege, with the creation of new administrative areas, it will in fact allow for the establishment of more military complexes such as district military commands, battalions, sub-regional military commands and sectoral, district and regional police administrations, which will proliferate and threaten the existence of indigenous Papuans.

"We explicitly call in the DPR and Commission II [overseeing regional autonomy] to cancel the plan. The [political] elite who are working for this decentralisation are in fact seeking money, jobs and positions, not for the interests of the ordinary people", asserted Petege.

"Decentralisation will further marginalise the Papuan people. Right now the population of indigenous Papuans and non-Papuans are the same, what will happen is there is decentralisation. Migrants will continue to flow into the land of Papua, and of course Papuans will be further pushed aside from their own traditional lands", said Jigibalom.

According to Jigibalom, decentralisation in Papua will only destroy the identity of indigenous Papuans and further open up opportunities for military businesses.

"We are not convinced that decentralisation is in the interests of indigenous Papuans. Decentralisation will be a disaster for indigenous Papuans and because of this we strongly oppose the plan", said Jigibalom in a speech.

Satisfied with giving speeches in front of the DPR, at around 11.30am the protesters continued the action at the offices of the Ministry of Home Affairs (kemendagri) on Jl. Merdeka Barat in Central Jakarta.

In front of the home affairs ministry, the protesters, who came from Jakarta and the West Java cities of Bandung and Bogor, again declared their opposition to the creation of 33 new DOBs.

Frans Tomoki, one of the speakers, called on the home affairs minister (mendagri) not to accept the DPR recommendation for the decentralisation of Papua because it was decided unilaterally and is in the interests of the political elite.

"At the DPR we called on Commission II to withdraw the RUU creating 33 DOBs, and here at the kemendagri we are calling on the mendagri to reject the unilateral creation of new regions. The majority of Papuan people have explicitly rejected decentralisation" said Tomoki.

Tomoki added that decentralisation would in fact give rise to new conflicts between local communities, including between the people and the central government.

"Already there are many examples of new regencies that have failed. And always end with tribal wars, this is a consequence of the creation of new regions that are done without coordination with local communities", asserted Tomoki.

After giving speeches for around 30 minutes, representatives from the protesters were invited to meet with several home affairs department officials and to present their position and demands. After meeting for around 1 hour, the representatives left the home affairs ministry offices. Action coordinator Jhon Wakerkwa then read out a statement and the protesters disbanded peacefully.

[Tolak Pemekaran, AMP Demo ke DPR RI dan Kemendagri - Suara Papua. November 04, 2013. Slightly abridged translation by James Balowski for the Indoleft news service.]

Yogya students hold solidarity action, condemn violence by paid thugs

Tribune Yogyakarta - November 1, 2013

Yogya – Scores of students from the Student Struggle Center for National Liberation (Pembebasan) held an action in solidarity with the October 31-November 1 national strike in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta. The action, which was held in front of the Yogyakarta Presidential Palace, was marked with the lighting of one thousand candles.

"Almost all workers in the country are taking action. Moreover workers in Jabotabek (Greater Jakarta) are standing firm to fight for their rights. We are here to support the actions by the workers", said action coordinator Ajwar on Friday evening.

Ajwar said that the workers' demand that the government increase the regency and municipal minimum wage (UMK) by 50 percent is reasonable and is in accordance with the reasonable living cost index (KHL).

"The politics of low wages by companies and the government hurts workers a great deal. This keeps workers out of reach of a decent living, so it is fitting if workers demand their rights", he asserted.

During the action the students also condemned the violent actions by thugs to thwart strike actions in the Jakarta satellite city of Bekasi and other areas on October 31. The group said that the government and employers must be held liable.

Ajwar said that four workers were slashed and stabbed by paid thugs during the incident and employers must be held responsible for the brutal action.

"It is very regrettable that in a democratic country there are still efforts to muzzle the people's wishes by acts of thuggery. We condemn this brutal action", he said.

[Mahasiswa Gelar Aksi Seribu Lilin untuk Buruh - Tribunjogja.com. Jumat, 1 November 2013. Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service.]

Yogyakarta students scuffle with police at national strike solidarity action

Detik News - November 1, 2013

Edzan Raharjo, Yogyakarta – An action in solidarity with the national strike was held by scores of students from the Student Struggle Center for National Liberation (Pembebasan) at the Yogyakarta Presidential Palace in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta on Friday evening.

The student action, which was in support of the labour movement's demands for wage increases, was marred by a scuffle with police. The scuffle broke out when the students prepared to set fire to two tyres, which were encircled by a blockade of demonstrators.

When the tyres were fully alight, police officers moved in and forced their way through the student blockade, taking the tyres away and extinguishing the flames. Police also sized flags brought by the students although they were later returned. The action continued with students giving speeches.

The action was in support of workers who are holding a national strike to demand wages increases of 50 percent, which the students said was appropriate given the current situation. "Support the workers' strike. And halt actions by mass organisation thugs against the labour movement" said action coordinator Azwar in a speech.

The students lit scores of candles as a symbol of solidarity with the workers. They also brought posters with messages such as "The freedom to form trade unions is non-negotiable" and "Smash thuggery and militarism".

[Aksi Solidaritas Mahasiswa Untuk Buruh di Yogya Ricuh dengan Polisi - detikNews. Jumat, 01/11/2013. Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service.].

Workers, students and urban poor hold solidarity action in Makassar

Tribune News - October 31, 2013

Erul, Makassar – On Thursday October 31, several different organisations from the group Social Solidarity Action for the Indonesian People (Samurai) again held a protest action in front of Makassar Industrial Zone (KIMA) Gate II on Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan Km 15 in the South Sulawesi provincial capital of Makassar.

During the solidarity action by students, workers and urban poor organisations, protesters closed off several lanes of the road. National Trade Union Confederation (KSN) chairperson Salim Samsur said the action was held to condemn the government, in this case South Sulawesi Governor Syahrul Yasin Limpo.

"Today around 300 workers closed off the road. If our demands are not met, in coming days three thousand workers will close the road", he said. The workers blockaded the main road leading to the centre of Makassar city for around one hour.

Biring Kanaya sectoral police chief Police Commissioner Akbar Setiawan said that he had deployed around 60 local officers to secure the demonstration. "Around 60 officers were deployed. This was a joint operation with the Tamalanrea sectoral police", he said.

[Buruh Tutup Jalan di Pintu II KIMA Makassar - Tribunnews.com. Kam, 31 Okt 2013. Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service.]

Workers demand action after peaceful protest attacked by paid thugs

Viva News - October 31, 2013

Sandy Adam Mahaputra, Syahrul Ansyari – The president of the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI), Said Iqbal, is demanding that three social organisations in Bekasi, West Java, be held accountable for an attack on workers who were holding a peaceful demonstration.

Iqbal said that the three organisations had carried out an act of terror. "The Pancasila Youth (PP), the Son's of Bekasi Association (Ikaput) and the Bekasi Association of Waste Companies (Asperindo). The police must question their chairperson, Hartono, and secretary Budianto", said Iqbal at a press conference at the Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) in Jakarta on Thursday October 31.

Iqbal alleged that there was a meeting between Hartono and Budianto to plan the attack and if the police fail to act, then the workers would take up the fight. "We will go up against them in the context of defending [ourselves] not attack. What kind of country is this where black employers work with criminals", he said.

Iqbal is convinced that the attackers were not local residents but a group of thugs and called on the media not to write stories painting their actions or their movement in a negative light. "Thugs who were paid, slashing and stabbing with machetes, samurai. This is clearly what was caught on television news", he said.

They are also calling for the removal of Bekasi district police chief Senior Commissioner Isnaini. "We are asking for Senior Commissioner Isnaini to be removed who it is reasonable to suspect allowed people to carry sharp weapons. We will give them 3 x 24 hours to sack Isnaini", said Iqbal.

If this demand is not met, Iqbal threatened that they would fight to the bitter end insisting that they already had a permit from the national police for the strike action that was attacked.

"As a consequence 28 people were injured, seventeen with serious injuries, eleven were able to return home, two were stabbed, five suffered broken bones after being struck by blunt instruments, the others were injured as a result of the clash and so forth", added Iqbal.

Earlier, a clash broke out between workers from the companies PT Schneider Indonesia and PT Abacus Kencana with a group of people from the PP at the EJIP industrial estate in Cikarang, Bekasi. As a result eight people were injured after being hit by stones and two people had to be rushed to hospital after suffering stab wounds.

According to the head of the public relations division, Police Senior Commissioner Rikwanto, the clash occurred because local residents opposed the workers' protests over the last few days. They believed the action had impacted upon local economic activities such as motorcycle taxi drivers, waste management and boarding houses. (eh)

[Bentrok di Bekasi, Buruh Tuntut Tiga Ormas Bertanggung Jawab - VIVAnews. Kamis, 31 Oktober 2013. Slightly abridged translation by James Balowski for the Indoleft news service.]

10,000 workers protest in Surabaya for minimum wage increase

Tempo - October 31, 2013

Agita Sukma Listyanti, Surabaya – Protesting workers are threatening to occupy the East Java governor's office in the provincial capital of Surabaya if their demands for a regional and municipal minimum wage (UMK) of 3 million rupiah a month are not met, saying that for workers this amount is non-negotiable.

East Java Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) deputy secretary Jamaludin (Jamal) said that in accordance with an instruction from the KSPI national office, workers will occupy all governors' offices in Indonesia between October 31 and November 1. "We will occupy the governor's office until the demand for 3 million is met", said Jamal on Thursday.

According to Jamal, workers are insisting that three demands be met, namely the annulment of Presidential Instruction Number 9/2013 and an increase in the regency and municipal minimum wage to 3 million rupiah, an end to contract labour or outsourcing and revisions to the reasonable living cost index (KHL) increasing the number of components from 60 to 84.

Around 10,000 workers from Surabaya, Sidoarjo, Gresik, Pasuruan and Mojokerto have packed Jl. Governor Suryo in front of the governor's office. They have blockaded the road by sitting and giving speeches and playing dangdut music (a popular music with strong Hindu type musical beat). Hundreds of police are on guard in the vicinity of the governor's office.

Meanwhile around 30 worker representatives from 30 different trade unions have met with East Java Governor Soekarwo, East Java Provincial Government 3rd Assistant Edi Purwinarto, the East Java regional police chief and the V/Brawijaya regional military commander to discuss the three demands and the delivery of a formula for a minimum wage plus-plus.

Soekarwo said that the regional government had set a formula for the 2014 UMK plus-plus. The formula is made up of the current UMK of 1.7 million rupiah a month plus inflation plus economic growth that will then be adjusted to the conditions in each regency and municipality.

[Buruh Jawa Timur Tuntut Upah Rp 3 Juta - Tempo.co. Oktober 31, 2013. Slightly abridged translation by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service.]

Protesting workers blockade north coast road in Semarang

Detik News – October 30, 2013

Semarang – Hundreds for workers from the Indonesian Metal Trade Workers Federation (FSPMI) in the Central Java provincial capital of Semarang have blockaded the Java northern coast (pantura) road demanding that the Central Java governor agree to a 3 million rupiah a month minimum wage for workers.

The blockade began at 9.50am when scores of motorcycles and trucks carrying hundreds of workers arrived from a westerly direction and stopped on Jl. Siliwangi directly in front of the Semarang State court.

They then sounded their horns and began giving speeches. "We reject low wages. The governor must agree to a wage of 3 million rupiah", said action coordinator Somad on Wednesday October 30.

As many as 178 police officers were on alert at the location and the end of the toll road to keep watch over the action. Almost the entire road was closed off although police controlled traffic so a small section could be opened for trucks to pass.

West Semarang sectoral police chief Police Commander Yani Permana said that they would give the workers time to give speeches on the pantura road rather then be uncompromising. "We will allow them to give speeches here first, what's important is that cars can still pass through", Permana said.

The workers plan to hold even bigger actions in front of the Semarang city hall, which will be followed by demonstrations at the Central Java governor's office. Protesters from several different parts of Central Java will gather and demonstrate.

"We will gather at the Youth Monument to meet up with our comrades from the east, and then we will go to the city hall", shouted Somad.

Although the demonstration only continued for around 20 minutes, the blockade of the pantura road created considerable traffic congestion with vehicles wanting to pass only having a narrow space to pass the crowd of workers giving speeches.

[Minta Upah Rp 3 Juta, Buruh Blokir Pantura di Semarang - DetikNews. Rabu, 30/10/2013. Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service.]

Former labour activist Dita Sari urges workers to negotiate, not demonstrate

Metro TV News - October 30, 2013

Jakarta – Former labour activist Dita Indah Sari says that a mature labour movement must strengthen its "negotiating muscles" or capacity to negotiate with individual companies rather then organise big demonstrations to achieve wage settlements.

"If [they] want to increase wages significantly workers must strengthen their 'negotiating muscles' rather than their 'demonstrating muscles'. So that they deal directly with a company", Sari said in Jakarta on Wednesday October 30.

Because of this therefore, according to Sari, now is the time for move towards strengthening dialogue and negotiating abilities with companies, as well as increasing the strength of trade unions.

"Trade unions must play a greater role, because now is the time for a momentum to strengthen the approach of dialogue and negotiations", she said.

An approach using dialogue and negotiations between workers and companies, continued Sari, would provide an opportunity for individual employers who have different capacities to settle wage increases.

"Because each company's capacity [to pay wages] is not the same. For example a company with a workforce of 50 or 100 people, is of course different from one that has 1,000 workers", she said.

Because of this therefore, Sari suggesting that it would be best if workers demand a standard wage that is not too high, is realistic and in line with a company's capacity.

"Because in actual fact the minimum wage should only apply to new workers, while those who's terms of employment have already reached two years or more it is appropriate to make demands through the channel of direct negotiations with a company", she said.

The National Labour Movement Consolidation [a united labour front established by trade unions in early October – JB] plans to hold a national strike on October 31 and November 1. The national strike will be preceded by labour actions throughout Indonesia on October 28-30.

The national strike is demanding, among other things, an end to the politics of low wages and the abolition of outsourcing or contract labour. In Jakarta province, workers are demanding that the minimum provincial wage (UMP) be set at 3.7 million rupiah per month.

According to Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) Secretary General Muhammad Rusdi, workers are fighting to obtain a minimum wage of 3.7 million rupiah per month so that they can enjoy a reasonable standard of living, can own a home and pay for their children to go to school (Antara)

[Dita Ingatkan Buruh Perlu Otot Negosiasi - Metrotvnews.com. Rabu, 30 Oktober 2013. Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service.]

Real value of workers' wages has declined over last 15 years

BBC News Indonesia - October 29, 2013

According to a labour observer, although wages continue to rise, the real value of workers' wages has declined so workers are being impoverished structurally.

Airlangga University labour observer Hadi Subhan, who has been monitoring workers' wages since 1995, says that in the 1990s a workers' entire monthly wage could purchase 350 kilograms of rice, but in 2013 a wage of 2.2 million rupiah a month can only purchase 200 kilograms of rice.

"This means that over [the last] 15 years the real value of the minimum wage has declined by 50 percent. Take gold for example, one [monthly] wage packet in the 1990s was equivalent to 15 grams, now perhaps only 5 grams", Subhan told BBC Indonesia journalist Christine Franciska.

Because of this therefore, according to Subhan, using the reasonable living cost index (KHL) as the main component in determining the minimum wage – 2.2 million rupiah a month for 2014 – is in fact unreasonable.

The Jakarta provincial wage board has recently increased the KHL for the capital for 2014 at 2.2 million rupiah a month from the previous 1.9 million rupiah.

In response to this, workers demonstrated in front of the Jakarta city hall on Tuesday October 29 rejecting the KHL and calling for a wage increase of 3.7 million rupiah a month

According to Subhan, there are two problems with the system for setting the wages in Indonesia.

"The first error is with the legal umbrella, Ministry of Labour Regulation Number 13/2013 on the KHL is limited to just 60 components. I think that these components are not a reasonable index of living costs, no matter how it's surveyed just 60 components is still unreasonable.

"Second the system is also wrong, minimum wages for example are set for unmarried [workers], yet 80 percent of workers have families, the wages of one person are consumed by four people. So I think there is [a process] of structural impoverishment", he said.

[Pengamat: nilai riil upah buruh terus turun - BBC Indonesia. 29 Oktober 2013. Abridged translation by James Balowski for the Indoleft news service. The second part of the article covered remarks by employer representative Sarman Simanjorang arguing that a minimum wage of 3.7 million is too high.]

TNI expresses 'doubts' about democracy, desire to return to politics

Kompas Newspaper - October 28, 2013

Jakarta – Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad, Green Berets) commander Lieutenant General Gatot Nurmantyo has expressed doubts about the current course of democracy.

The statement provoked reaction from several circles who believe that his statement, as the commander of Kostrad, is controversial and indicates a desire on the part of the military to meddle in politics.

"Our democracy at the moment is populist and led by forces by means of the vote", said Nurmantyo speaking before hundreds of members of the Pancasila Youth (PP) at the PP's 54th national gathering on Sunday October 27 at the Jakarta International Expo in Kemayoran, Jakarta.

Nurmantyo continued by illustrating the determination of choice. His conclusion was that at the moment, something that is right is not always liked by the majority of people. "The many are not necessarily right", said Nurmantyo, who spoke for almost an hour.

According to Nurmantyo, Indonesia already has the [state ideology] of Pancasila as a basis for the state. Its implementation however is incomplete. He added that his presence at the PP event was because the PP was founded by the army (TNI AD) and it is hoped that members of the PP will spread the spirit of patriotism. "Whoever disturbs Pancasila, the PP and the TNI are ready to deal with them", he said.

Nurmantyo is aware of the fact that the military is not allowed to become involved in practical politics. However he is talking about the politics of the state, namely government policy. He wished to explain about the four pillars of nationalism so that society is vigilant. The PP is seen as a legal mass organisation (ormas) based on Pancasila.

[Golkar Party politician] and member of the House of Representative's (DPR) Commission I on Defense, Yoris Raweyai, who offered an image and message to the meeting, said that the Kostrad commander's speech needs to be considered as a basis for the PP. Raweyai said that the culture of guided democracy, namely the TNI and bureaucracy is still closely associated with the PP.

Commenting on the Kostrad commander's speech, the coordinator of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras), Haris Azhar said that Nurmantyo is entering into the political arena, which is forbidden. Democracy is a mutually agreed upon decision and because of this, cannot be questioned anymore.

Azhar said that he sees Nurmantyo's statement as an indication of the direction of the TNI's politics in 2014, namely that it will not support political parties that are strongly orientated toward democracy. He also said that democracy is fluid, and cannot just be seen from a the process of voting or consensus. The principle of democracy is to channel the aspirations and participation of everyone.

"Democracy requires a process, hopefully all parties are aware of this. Democracy cannot just be measured, what can be measured is education or healthcare", said Azhar.

A similar view was conveyed by International Binus University lecturer Anton Aliabas. According to Aliabas it would be better for the TNI elite to maintain a distance from and refrain from commenting politics in public.

The general chairperson of the PP's national leadership board Japto S. Soerjosoemarno said that a liberalisation of democracy has taken place. (EDN)

Notes

Pemuda Pancasila (Pancasila Youth) was established by the army in October 1959, ostensibly to uphold the state ideology of Pancasila, but under former president Suharto the organisation became an association of notorious thugs and petty criminals who carried out dirty work on behalf of the regime. The organisation still has close ties with various factions of the military and police, and has been linked to criminal activities such as racketeering and extortion and in recent years has been involved in a number of violent turf wars with other vigilante groups.

[TNI Ragu Demokrasi: Semua Pihak Diharapkan Bersabar dengan Proses - Kompas. Senin, 28 Oktober 2013. Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service.]

'There can be no mercy for communists' says Yogyakarta anti-communist group

Tribune News - October 28, 2013

Yogyakarta – Freedom of association in the era of reformasi (the reform process beginning in 1998) is, as it turns out, still little more than jargon.

The reason being that there are still many groups that act arbitrarily and discriminatively based on the stigma attached to other people. This is what was done by the Indonesian Anti-Communist Front (FAKI) in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta.

Yogyakarta provincial FAKI chairperson Burhannudin said that his group closed down an even by the families and children of former 1965 political prisoners (tapol) at the Santi Dharma Retreat at the Sidoagung Godean Dam on Sunday October 27.

"The event was a PKI (Indonesian Communist Party) cadre congress. It had to be closed down", insisted Burhannudin on Sunday.

Burhannudin said that they got wind of efforts at the formation of cadres in an event disguised as social gathering. Because of this, continued Burhannudin, it was their duty to close down the event. "There were hundreds who arrived earlier to close down the event", he explained.

According to Burhannudin there can be no tolerance for the PKI's activities in Yogyakarta. "There can be no mercy for communists that exist and hold meetings in Yogya. This is non-negotiable", he asserted.

Meanwhile based on information from Iriani, one of the managers of the Santi Dharma Retreat, the event was simply a discussion on how to improve the economic welfare of the families and children of former 1965 prisoners. One of the activities at the event was how to make fertilizer. "It was more about the empowerment of family members", he said.

As reported earlier, several FAKI members unexpectedly forced their way into the Santi Dharma Retreat where family members and children of former 1965 prisoners were planning to hold an event.

They tried to close down the event claiming that it was for the formation of cadres. During the incident, FAKI members assaulted several event participants including Ciptadi (62), a resident of Kroya Cilacap, Bayu Cahyadi (30), a resident of Sumpiuh Banyumas, Ardi Nugroho (23), a resident of Cilacap and Sukrisdiono (45), a resident of Purwoketo.

[FAKI Akui Bubarkan Acara Arisan Eks Tapol '65 di Yogyakarta - Tribunnews.com. Senin, 28 Oktober 2013. Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service.]

Pancasila Youth backs Fauzi's call for closer government ties with FPI

Tribune News - October 27, 2013

Wahyu Aji, Jakarta – It seems that not everybody has a negative assessment of Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi's appeal to regional governments to foster closer ties with the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) as a partner in development.

Pancasila Youth (PP) central leadership board chairperson Japto Seolistyo Soerjosoemarno in fact supports Fauzi's statement that the FPI is a national asset.

According to Soerjosoemarno, mass organisations can be used to cooperate in a variety of areas, and thus should be taken advantage of.

"All mass organisations (ormas) are government partners, supporting and helping the government is social activities or other activities. Thus the FPI should also (become a partner) especially in religious matters", said Soerjosoemarno on Saturday October 26.

Soerjosoemarno explained that mass organisations in Indonesia a diverse. There are mass organisations that are active in sports as well as politics.

Nevertheless, continued Soerjosoemarno, the aims of all mass organisations are the same. "All ormas surely have an AD/ART [statutes/rules of association], and the preamble to the AD/ART can be seen, what kind of ideological direction the ormas has", he said.

For example, continued Soerjosoemarno, the PP has been forging a partnership with the TNI (Indonesian military) and the national police to safeguard the integrity of NKRI (Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia). The PP also often holds joint training with these two institutions. "We have long had close partnership ties [with them]", he said.

It is because of this that Soerjosoemarno is convinced that the FPI is also a mass organisation whose aims are clear because it has an ideology and is registered as a legal entity. "We are also their partners, because they are active in accordance with Islamic teachings. So no one should be allowed to criticise them", he asserted.

Notes

Both the Pancasila Youth (PP) and the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) have close ties with various factions of the military and police. The PP was established by the army in 1959 and under former president Suharto was used to carry out the regime's dirty work. Since 1998 it has diversified into racketeering and extortion racket and more recently has been mobilised against labour strikes. The FPI was founded in 1998 to counter student demonstrations following Suharto's overthrow and has since gone on to adopt a conservative religious ideological platform that is used as a camouflage to extort money from gambling and prostitution businesses.

[Ketua Pemuda Pancasila: Tak Ada yang Boleh Mengecam FPI. Tribunnews.com. Minggu, 27 Oktober 2013. Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service.]

Social gathering by victims of 1965 killings attacked by anti-communist group

Tempo.co - October 27, 2013

Pito Agustin Rudiana, Sleman – A social gathering by victims of the 1965 tragedy at the Santi Dharma Retreat in Godean sub-district, Sleman regency, Yogyakarta, was attacked by the Indonesian Anti-Communist Front (FAKI) on Sunday October 27. At least three people were injured during the attack and are reported to have returned to their homes.

"They said they were from FAKI, they attacked from all directions. We were surrounded", said event committee organiser Irina Dayasih when contacted by Tempo today.

Dayasih explained that the event was attended by families of victims of the 1965 tragedy. There were also young children who were experiencing financial problems. This was the first time they had held such an event. "We were discussing the question of how to alleviate their [financial] problems", said Dayasih.

The event was planned to start at 11am however by around 10.30am less than 10 people had turned up. It was around this time that three participants who had only just arrived on motorcycles were attacked without warning by several members of FAKI in the grounds of the building. They suffered injuries.

Prior to the attack, at around 8am, they were visited by officials from the police, village and regency administration. They were informed that a social group was planning to close down the event. Dayasih explained to the officials that the event did not represent any kind of threat.

"If you want to, feel free to sit down, see and listen to what we will be discussing", said Dayasih. The police, according to Dayasih, stated they would safeguard the event. It turned out however that they were not quick enough to prevent the attack from occurring.

Yogyakarta Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) director Syamsudin Nurseha said that the state had failed to protect its citizen's rights, bearing in mind that Indonesia has ratified the UN convention on civil and political rights, within which is right of citizens to gather and express themselves.

"The police must investigate the case and arrest the perpetrators. Don't let this kind of incident be repeated", said Nurseha.

[Acara Silaturahmi Korban 65 Diserang FAKI - Tempo.co. Minggu, 27 Oktober 2013. Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service.]

Workers say October national strike will 'paralyze Indonesian economy'

Sayangi.com - October 23, 2013

Sulistiyono, Jakarta – Labour Movement National Committee (KNGB) member Said Iqbal has confirmed that a national strike will be held in late October and will be joined by millions of workers and include, among other things, demands for the abolition of outsourcing.

"Three million workers will take part in the national strike. The action is evidence that workers are not playing around and will struggle for their three demands", said Iqbal in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Iqbal added that the three demands are for decent wages, social security and the abolition of contract labour or outsourcing. "The government has not responded to dialogue despite the actions that have been carried out by workers", he said.

Moreover the government is insisting on limiting minimum wage increases to no more than 20 percent and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has issued Presidential Instruction (Inpres) Number 9/2013 on minimum wages.

"Three million workers will paralyze the Indonesian economy by halting production, paralyzing air and seaports, as well as centres of business and trade in Jakarta and the regions", he explained.

The national strike will take place over five consecutive days and be held simultaneously in 20 provinces and 200 regencies and municipalities. It will be joined by a number of labour organisations including the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI), the Joint Labour Secretariat (Sekber), the National Solidarity Committee (KSN), the Association of Independent Trade Unions (GSBI), the Metal, Electronics and Machinery-All Indonesia Trade Union (SPSI-LEM), the 1992 All Indonesia Workers Union (SPSI 92), the All Indonesia Workers Union Vanguard Front (Bapor SPSI) and the Indonesian Metal Trade Workers Federation (FSPMI). (sls/ant)

Notes

Presidential Instruction (Inpres) Number 9/2013 on minimum wages was signed by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on September 27. The instruction places a cap on minimum wages  increases for labor intensive industries based on the basic cost of living (KHL), economic growth and the labour productivity.

[3 Juta Buruh Ancam Mogok Nasional - Sayangi.com. Rabu, 23 Oktober 2013. Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service.]

Activists angered after police close down labour seminar in Semarang

Tribune News - October 18, 2013

Raka F Pujangga, Semarang – An Indonesian labour movement workshop at the Pandanaran Hotel in the Central Java capital of Semarang facilitated by the Trade Union Rights Centre (TURC) has been forcibly closed down by police who claim they did not have a permit for the event.

Six representatives were escorted to the Semarang metropolitan district police (Polrestabes) to explain the purpose and aims of the event. The six were Dono Raharjo (Central Java Federated Trade Union regional leadership board chairperson), Ilhamsyah (Indonesian Transportation Trade Union of Struggle spokesperson), Nanda (Semarang Legal Aid Foundation), Yovita Octaviani (TURC committee member), Rahma (TURC committee member) and Abu Mufathir (National Human Rights Commission researcher).

Octaviani explained that they had organised similar activities throughout Indonesia but had never had a problem related to permits. "We've held [similar] activities but never had an incident such as this", he explained to Tribune News East Java on Friday October 18.

Octaviani said that they were disappointed with the police's actions, who were arrogant and had no grounds to close down the workshop. "This shouldn't be the way to do things, the police should have an official document in order to close down [an event]. Arrests also should have an official warrant", he explained.

Dono Raharjo said that the police asked them to close the seminar and if they did not, it would be forcibly closed down. "We didn't want there to be any violence here. So I temporarily halted the activities immediately and negotiated first with the police", he explained.

East Java regional police headquarters intelligence and security agency chief Assistant Superintendent Wahyudi Triyono said that the even was closed down on the orders of his superior, namely the East Java regional police chief. However because it was held in an area under the jurisdiction of the Semarang metropolitan district police (Polrestabes) it was turned over to the metropolitan district police chief (Kapolrestabes).

"Notification about the planned activity should have been provided to the police before hand. [If] a letter of notification is made out then the event can recommence", he explained.

[Yovita Kecewa Lokakarya Buruh Dibubarkan Paksa Aparat - Tribunjateng.com. Jumat, 18 Oktober 2013. Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service.]

Thousands of workers take to the streets to oppose minimum wage cap

Kompas Newspaper - October 18, 2013

Jakarta – Thousands of workers from Jakarta and surrounding areas demonstrated demanding welfare improvements on Thursday October 17. The action created traffic jams between Jl. Jenderal Sudirman, Jl Thamrin, the Indonesia traffic circle and in the vicinity of the State Palace. Similar protest were held in West and East Java.

In speeches in front of the State Palace, protest leaders demanded the cancelation of Presidential Instruction (Inpres) Number 9/2013 on minimum wages, which they said sides with employers and restricts efforts to achieve decent wages.

Arriving on scores of busses, the workers marched from the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle towards the State Place, although police prevented them from approaching the Palace grounds. During the action the workers unfurled banners with demands rejecting low wages and calling for the abolition of contract labour (outsourcing).

The demonstrators filled Jl. Medan Merdeka Utara in front of the State Palace and spilling onto Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat in front of the Radio Republic Indonesia building. Scores of security personnel from the national police headquarters, the Central Jakarta Metro Jaya municipal police and Gambir sectoral police watched over the action.

Also on Thursday, in Tangerang, Banten, hundreds of workers employed by the company PT Wingoh Albindo from the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions (KSBI) also held a strike action making similar demands. They occupied the streets and closed the gates of the company located on Jl. Yos Sudarso in the Aster industrial zone in Rawa Bamban, Tangerang city.

The strike action and blockade was held because negotiation between the workers and company management had broken down over issues related to the social security program (Jamsostek), the municipal minimum wage (UMK) and other work agreements. The action proceed peacefully.

"The company is still refusing to come to an agreement with workers. The company's attitude gives the impression that they don't want to be responsible", said action coordinator Murdi. Related to this, said Murdi, workers have reported the company the Tangerang City Labour and Transmigration Office (Disnakertrans).

In the East Java provincial capital of Surabaya, thousand of workers also demonstrated rejecting Presidential Instruction Number 9/2013. "We are calling on the president to revoke the Inpres and that the 2014 UMK for the East Java 1 ring to be increased to a minimum of 3 million rupiah a month and by a minimum of 50 percent for other areas", said Jamaludin, the deputy secretary for the East Java Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI). The East Java 1 ring area covers Surabaya, Sidoarjo, Gresik, Pasuruan and Mojokerto.

In Sukabumi regency, West Java meanwhile, around 100 workers went to the Sukabumi regent's official residence to hold a dialog with the Regent Sukmawaijaya. Earlier, the Sukabumi regency wage board had set the reasonable living cost index (KHL) for 2013 at 1,560,000 rupiah a month. (PIN/INK/DEN/HEI)

Notes

Presidential Instruction (Inpres) Number 9/2013 on minimum wages was signed by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on September 27. The instruction places a cap on minimum wages increases for labor intensive industries based on the basic cost of living (KHL), economic growth and the labour productivity.

[Inpres soal Upah Ditolak - Kompas. Jumat, 18 Oktober 2013. Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service.]

Students use Car Free Day to protest high school virginity tests

Liputan 6 - September 15, 2013

Ahmad Romadoni, Jakarta – The momentum of Car Free Day along the length of Jl. Sudirman-Thamrin in Central Jakarta on Sunday September 15 was used by scores of students to call for actions rejecting the planned virginity test for high-school students that have been making the rounds of late.

The students, who came from the Women's Action Committee (KAP) started the action by marching around the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle and putting up banners rejecting the test.

This was followed by speeches in front of the Grand Indonesia shopping complex. The calls of opposition to the test attracted the attention of local people who were enjoying a Sunday out in and around the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle with many taking time out to watch and take photographs of the action, which was dominated by women activists.

Action coordinator Ara Koswara said that the action was prompted by feelings of concern about the virginity test as a condition for being eligible for education, which they deemed to be another form of discrimination against women, specifically teenage women.

"Women in Indonesia are still very much at the bottom and kept down, ridden by discrimination, sold, including teenage women. Many rogue elements take advantage of and exploit teenage women", said Koswara during a break in the action.

The group also said that the virginity test is a trick because not all women who are not virgins are so because of their own misconduct.

"Virginity tests have been carried out several times around the country. A women's virginity is tested, it turns out she's not a virgin, they she can't get an education. Yet, not being a virgin may well be because she is a victim of a crimes such as rape, for example. This is a trick", said Koswara.

Koswara said that in addition to the action at the Hotel Indonesia, actions rejecting the test have also been held at several schools. Concerned students have invited their friends to be more concerned about themselves.

"They the students are also continuing to campaign against the virginity test. But [also] supporting a curriculum that teaches reproductive health. This is not to teach something that is wrong, but to teach teenagers to be concerned about their reproductive health and concerned about themselves", asserted Koswara.

[Aksi Tolak Tes Keperawanan Warnai Car Free Day - Liputan6.com. 15/09/2013. Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service.]

Cebongan trail fails to deliver sense of justice

Kompas Newspaper - September 10, 2013

Jakarta – The Civil Society Coalition for Security Sector Reform (KMSRSK) is calling for reform to military justice to be accelerated. The call came following the conclusion of the military tribunal hearing the case of the Cebongan prison attack in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta, which was seen as failing to fulfill a sense of justice in society.

"Military justice has failed in trying the Cebongan case. Perpetrators of premeditated murder are usually sentenced to death, but because we oppose the death penalty, they should be sentenced to life imprisonment", said Indonesian Human Rights Watch (Imparsial) program director Al Araf on Monday September 9 in Jakarta.

Yesterday, a number of non-government organisations gathered at the Imparsial offices to analyse the Cebongan trial verdict. Aside from Imparsial activists, also attending were activists from the Institute for Public Research and Advocacy (Elsam) and the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras).

Second Sergeant Ucok Tigor Simbolon for example was sentenced to 11 years in jail. Second Sergeant Sugeng Sumaryanto was sentenced to 8 years and First Corporal Kodik was sentenced to 6 years in jail. All three were dismissed from the TNI (Indonesian military). Meanwhile Sergeant Major Rokhmadi was sentenced to 4 months 20 days and immediately released from detention after being held since April 12.

According to Al Araf, sentences handed down against TNI members will always be disappointing as long as Law Number 31/1997 on Military Tribunals is used. "The government and the DPR [House of Representatives] must immediately revise the military tribunal law. It only needs to be resumed. Only six or seven articles remain for the final deliberation", he said.

Al Araf explained that the earlier deliberations on the law at the DPR were halted by the president [Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono]. "Perhaps at the time, the president wanted to take part in the 2009 elections. Yet the heart of TNI reform actually lies with reform to military justice. There should be no citizens who are afforded special treatment before the law, particularly if they are members of the TNI", he said.

Elsam deputy director for the development of human rights resources, Zainal Abidin, added that the military tribunal also failed to seek accountability from the soldiers' superior offices. "A paradox emerged during the trial where the Cebongan attack was initially [portrayed] as motivated by revenge then it was [portrayed] as combating thuggery", he said.

According to Abidin, during the trial the public support for the soldiers on trial could be interpreted as support within society for the eradication of thuggery. "However the other paradox was that during the trial there was intimidation against trial observers", he said.

Kontras coordinator Haris Azhar said that the military tribunal failed to present the complete facts surrounding the attack on the Cebongan prison. "The Yogyakarta regional police chief for example was not accommodated as a witness [to testify on] the transfer of the four victims to the Cebongan prison", he said.

Accepting the verdict

Former army chief of staff retired general Pramono Edhie Wibowo [Yudhoyono's father-in-law] has stated that the Cebongan trail verdict must be accepted. He noted that only a legal institution has the authority to resolve legal cases. "There isn't anyone who can satisfy all sides. Obviously there are those that are satisfied and those that are not. It should be left up to the legal institutions and the rules", he said.

Army Special Forces (Kopassus) commander TNI Major General Agus Utomo said that they plan to pursue legal channels in addressing the verdicts handed down against the Kopassus members that attacked the Cebongan prison. Utomo conceded that they are dissatisfied with the verdicts handed down and what took place was a bitter lesion. (RYO/ATO/OSA/ONG)

[Reformasi Peradila: Fakta Utuh Penyerangan Lapas Cebongan Gagal Disampaikan - Komaps. Selasa, 10 September 2013. Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service.]