KNPB calls on West Papuan people to boycott Indonesian elections

Tabloid JUBI - March 21, 2014

Arnold Belau, Jayapura – The West Papua National Committee (KNPB) is calling on all West Papuan people from Sorong to Samarai to boycott both the legislative and presidential elections that will be held on April 9 and July 9.

KNPB spokesperson Bazoka Logo said that Indonesian democracy only hypnotises the West Papuan people through each regional and national election.

"Democracy ala Indonesian neo-colonialism has been hypnotising the West Papuan people for 50 years in each and every general election. But this effort will never succeed in guaranteeing the West Papuan people's political freedom to determine their own future", Logo told journalists at Expo in Waena on Friday afternoon March 21.

According to Logo, the aim of the Indonesian festival of democracy in Papua is very clear: first to strengthen the agents of colonialism, second to strengthen the Indonesian colonial system and third to strengthen the hegemony of Indonesian neo-colonialism.

Logo also said that the colonial democratic system has cause the Papuan people's way of life to fall apart and created a discriminative social order.

"Because of this therefore, the KNPB is calling on all West Papuan people to boycott the legislative and presidential elections for as long as West Papua's political status remains unresolved", he asserted.

According to Logo, West Papua's political status must be resolved through an international mechanism, namely a referendum; whether or not the Papuan people wish to remain part of Indonesia or wish to manage themselves.

Not long ago meanwhile, the chairperson of the West Papua National Parliament (PNWP), Buchtar Tabuni also called on the West Papuan people not to take part in the festival of democracy or great people's festival that is held every five years in Indonesia. (Jubi/Arnold Belau)

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service.]

Source: http://tabloidjubi.com/2014/03/21/knpb-serukan-boikot-pemilu-2014/.

Students slam bourgeois elections as contest of criminals and rights violators

KRjogja.com - March 20, 2014

Tomi Sujatmiko, Yogya – Demonstrators from the Student Struggle Center for National Liberation (Pembebasan) held a protest action at the zero kilometer point near the central post office in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta on Thursday March 20 opposing the legislative and presidential elections.

Pembebasan general chairperson Arie Nasrullah Lamondjong explained that they are rejecting this year's elections because they are bourgeois elections and those taking part are criminals, corrupt political parties, people who are anti-worker and counter-revolutionary.

"The 2014 bourgeois elections are just a contest between criminals, human rights violators, those who promote discrimination, who are anti-poor. So we reject them", he explained.

In addition to this, according to Arie, the existing democratic system is only a procedural democracy. There is no free space for constituents to withdraw their vote when the legislators they elect fail to carry out their mandate.

"It's only partial democracy, involving the ordinary people only when there are elections. So we reject it", he added. (Den)

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service.]

Source: http://krjogja.com/read/209086/pembebasan-tolak-pemilu-2014.kr.

Protesters reject 2014 elections, say Jokowi just a puppet

Viva News - March 13, 2014

Dedy Priatmojo, Syahrul Ansyari – Scores of demonstrators from the Alternative Political Committee (KPA) and the People's Liberation Party (PPR) held a demonstration in front of the General Election Commission (KPU) offices in Central Jakarta on Thursday March 13, where they trampled on pictures of political figures including Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo or "Jokowi".

On of the protesters, Surya said that Jokowi does not originate from the movements. He said that the track record of the former mayor of the Central Java city of Solo is problematic because he has failed to provide decent wages to workers.

"Jokowi has only played a role in the administrative and management sector, not in any substantial area", said Surya.

Jokowi, continued Surya, has become popular because all of the current political figures are old establishment figures. Although Jokowi is a new arrival on the national political scene, the demonstrators said that it is not yet clear if he is any good and whether he will work for the ordinary people.

"Jokowi is just a puppet. If he wants to be courageous he should be against foreign [domination of the economy] and give workers decent wages", he exclaimed.

Surya and his colleagues are also critical of the 2014 legislative and presidential elections because they are overly dominated by pro-capitalist issues.

He also criticised several figures and leaders from the political parties, one of which was Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) patron and presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto. "It was with ease that he formed a [political] party yet he has been embroiled in human rights cases", he said. (ren)

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service.]

Source: http://nasional.news.viva.co.id/news/read/488399-puluhan-demonstran-di-kpu-injak-injak-gambar-jokowi.

Protesters call on people to opposes corrupt, pro-capitalist elections

Metro TV News - March 13, 2014

Yogi Bayu Aji, Jakarta – The Political Alternative Committee Alliance (AKPA) held a protest action at the General Election Commission (KPU) offices on Jl. Imam Bonjol in Central Jakarta on Thursday March 13 calling on the public to oppose the 2014 elections.

"What form it should take is up to the people. [Whether they] want to golput [abstain from voting], take to the streets, or go to polling stations but just perforate the ballot paper randomly [invalidate the vote]", said action spokesperson Surya Anta in front of the KPU building.

According to Anta, the elections remain little more than a lot of noise by the old pro-capitalist parties, who steal from the ordinary people and muzzle trade unions. "They're also corruptors and [legislative] candidates who are corruptors. The ordinary people cannot have any expectations in this", he said.

Even Law Number 8/2012 on general elections, continued Anta, needs to be amended because the elections do not favour the essence of democracy. The AKPA believes that this regulation only benefits the interests of the capitalist.

Prior to demonstrating at the KPU, the protesters gave speeches at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta. The AKPA is made up of a number of social movement groups including student organisations and trade unions such as the Solidarity Alliance for Labour Struggle (GSPB), the Indonesian Workers Federation of Struggle (FPBI) and the Progressive Liberation Federation (FPP). (Rrn)

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service.]

Source: http://news.metrotvnews.com/read/2014/03/13/218655/kpu-didemo-gerakan-lawan-pemilu.

Opposing 2014 elections, students say candidates can't be trusted

Detik News - March 8, 2014
 

Edzan Rahardjo, Yogyakarta – The elections will be held soon on April 9. For various reasons however, there are still many who are expressing their opposition to the five-yearly festival of democracy.

In the Central Java city of Yogyakarta, scores of students held a protest action opposing the 2014 legislative and presidential elections at the Sunan Kalijaga Islamic State University (UIN) campus intersection on Saturday March 8.

During the action they drew graffiti on the roads and campus fence with messages such as "Reject the 2014 elections" and set fire to red-an-white [the colours of the national flag – JB] T-shirts with pictures of a ballot box and the words "Reject the 2014 elections" printed on them.

Action coordinator Romel Masykuri said that the presidential candidates that have been nominated all have black records. Some are past human rights violators, others are involved cases of environmental destruction, while others lack the capacity or integrity as leaders.

"We don't trust the current crop of political actors. Don't let the people suffer again, reject the 2014 elections", he said in a speech.

Out of the legislative candidates that come forward, ninety percent are old faces who have been re-nominated. Their poor track records include frequently being absent from parliamentary sessions, producing legislation that sides with foreign interests and so forth.

In addition to this, the General Elections Commission (KPU) as the organiser of the elections is still not ready, with many people not yet registered on the final voter list (DPT), many duplicate names and numerous election violations being committed by the political parties. (rmd/rmd)

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service.]

Source: http://news.detik.com/read/2014/03/08/195316/2519982/10/tak-percaya-capres-dan-caleg-mahasiswa-yogya-gelar-demo-tolak-pemilu?nd772204btr.

Women activists in Yogyakarta commemorate IWD

KRjogja.com - March 8, 2014

Ivan Aditya, Yogya – Scores of demonstrators from the Central Java and Yogyakarta Province Advocacy Circle for Women (Link-AP) held an action to commemorate International Women's Day (IWD) at the Yogyakarta Monument on Saturday March 8.

"To this day case of violence against women still occur frequently and the handling of cases is still not maximal. Certainly there are laws that regulate acts of violence against women and children under the age of 18 but for cases involving adult women these are still often ignored and deemed to be an issue of mutual consent", said action coordinator Maria Suci during a break in the action.

In 2012 there were 303 recorded cases of violence against women in Yogyakarta and 326 cases in 2013. The action also sought to promote women legislative candidates in the 2014 elections who will be able pay attention to and struggle for women's rights.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service.]

Source: http://krjogja.com/read/207650/aktivis-peringati-hari-perempuan-sedunia.kr.

Commemorating IWD, women call for end to violence against women and children

KBR68H - March 8, 2014

Sasmito Madrim, Jakarta – Hundreds of women demonstrated in the vicinity of the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta to commemorate International Women's Day today on Saturday March 8.

Action coordinator Mirah Sumirat said that they wanted to use the action to convey several demands to the government. One of these, she said, was an end to violence and discrimination against women workers and children.

"There are several issues that we want to convey in relation to International Women's Day. The first the elimination of discrimination against women workers and children. Then the second is raising the minimum wage by as much as 30 percent. Then we are also demanding the abolition of Article 21 of the Personal Income Tax Assessment for women workers, because male workers can claim deductions for their spouses but why can't women workers", said Sumirat at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle.

Sumirat added that the other issue that they want to highlight is violence against domestic workers, most of which are women. For example the violence experienced by PRT [domestic workers] in Bogor, West Java and Serpong in Tangerang that occurred not long ago.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service.]

Source: http://www.portalkbr.com/berita/nasional/3161969_4202.html.

IWD rally slams 'drastic rise' in sexual violence in Aceh

Detik News - March 8, 2014

Agus Setyadi, Banda Aceh – As many as 355 cases of violence against women occurred in 2013, one hundred and forty-three of which were cases of sexual violence.

This information was revealed by the Aceh Women's Movement (GPA) during a protest at the Simpang Lima traffic circle in the Acehnese provincial capital of Banda Aceh. The action, which was joined by scores of Acehnese women, was held to commemorate International Women's Day on March 8.

Action coordinator Destika Gilang Lestari said that the number of cases of sexual violence against women in Aceh has risen drastically compared with two years ago, when there were only 27 cases. In 2013 there were 143 cases of sexual violence, seventy of which were cases of sexual valence against young girls.

Nationally meanwhile, said Lestari, data complied by the National Commission on Violence Against Women (Komnas Perempuan) for 2012 found 4,336 cases of sexual violence against women. "This number is represents just the tip of the iceberg that is only seen from the surface, where [the number of] cases not reported is certainly higher", said Lestari on Saturday March 8.

According to Lestari, this is occurring because victims are reluctant to report cases and choose to remain silent because they are afraid of the impact upon themselves if the case is exposed publically. "This tendency has been increasing year by year, while various kinds of services and protections that should be provided to victims are not being fulfilled by the government", said Lestari.

During the action that began at around 4.30pm local time, the GPA urged the government to enact policies that can provide protection to and accommodate the needs of women victims of violence, specifically sexual violence. They also called on law enforcers to hand down maximum sentences to perpetrators of sexual violence.

"We are also asking the Aceh government to provide integrated service facilities in order to provide legal protection to women and children victims of sexual [violence] to fulfill their rights as victims", she said. (bpn/bpn)

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service.]

Source: http://news.detik.com/read/2014/03/08/195232/2519983/10/355-kasus-kekerasan-terhadap-perempuan-terjadi-di-aceh-143-diantaranya-kekerasan-seksual.

Student action slams elections as 'farce' perpetrated by political elite

KRYogya - March 5, 2014

Ivan Aditya, Sleman – A group of students calling themselves the Yogyakarta Indonesian Student Union (SMI) held a theatrical action opposing the 2014 elections at the Sunan Kalijaga Islamic State University (UIN) intersection in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta on Wednesday March 5.

The activists said that the elections, which are considered to be the climax of the festival of democracy, are little more than a farce perpetrated by the political elite in order to deceive the people.

Action coordinator Abdul Rahman said that none of the political parties taking part in the 2014 legislative and presidential elections is really fighting for the interests of the ordinary people. "All of the current political parties are filled with hordes of people with capital and money. So their policies are designed to protect and give priority to their own interests", he said.

The celebrations, which are referred to as a five-yearly festival of democracy for the people, are in fact little more than an arena to squander the people's money without producing quality leaders. The people are given sweet promises but after the politicians are sitting in parliament they forget what was said.

During the action the students held speeches and put up banners and posters. They also held a theatrical action in the middle of the intersection. As vehicles passed to and fro, two students played the role of legislative candidates appearing to squabble with each other, which a group of bare-chested students did push-ups under the intense heat of the sun.

"This depicts legislative candidates busy bickering with each other and taking care of their own interests while the little people are in fact being left to suffer. This is what is currently happening in our country", said Rahman.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service.]

Source: http://krjogja.com/read/207231/aktivis-mahasiswa-tolak-pemilu.kr.