Army chief-of-staff warns against latent threat of communism in Indonesia

Viva News - September 30, 2014

Rendra Saputra, R. Jihad Akbar – Army chief of staff (Kasad) General Gatot Nurmantyo says that communist ideas are continuing to grow in the fatherland. This, he said, is because Indonesia is going through a period of development that creates space for the spread of such ideas.

"There is a new ideology, namely neo-communism that purports to prioritise democracy in daily life. For Indonesia, communism is a latent threat and [our] mutual enemy", he asserted during a break in a joint prayer with TNI (Indonesian military) members during the commemoration of Sanctity of Pancasila Day on Tuesday September 30.

In order to contain the growth of communism in Indonesia the commemoration of Sanctity of Pancasila Day is extremely important so that historical facts are understood and instilled [in society].

"It needs to be understood and instilled as historical fact, the bloody affair [the alleged coup in 1965 – JB] by a group of communists that [tried] to erase Pancasila", he added.

Nurmantyo hopes that by holding the commemoration, the dark history of communism in Indonesia can be understood by the younger generation, so the seeds of a new communism can be cut before they grow.

The joint prayer for the heroes of the revolution is being held by all members of the religious community that exist in Indonesia, which according to Nurmantyo clearly assert that Indonesia's ideology is the state ideology of Pancasila.

"This is important not just so that the facts are not buried and perverted, [but also] so to influence the next generation so that it does not happen again", he added. (one)

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

Source: http://nasional.news.viva.co.id/news/read/543605-kasad-ungkap-komunisme-terus-berkembang-di-indonesia.

Prabowo's coalition proposes end to direct election of president

Tempo.co - September 29, 2014

Tri Susanto Setiawan, Febriana Firdaus, Prihandoko, Jakarta – After abolishing the direct election of regional heads by the people, Prabowo Subianto's Red and White Coalition has initiated a discourse on returning to a system by which the president is elected by the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR, upper-house).

National Mandate Party (PAN) secretary general Herman Kadir argues that the direct election of the president by the people creates social disunity. "If direct presidential elections give rise to conflicts, I think they should be abolished", said Kadir when contacted on Monday September 28.

Kadir has said in the past that direct elections are a Western product. According to Kadir, democracy in Indonesia is represented through the parliament. "If necessary, the president could be elected again by the MPR", said the House of Representatives (DPR) lawmaker on September 12.

In the DPR, he once proposed an amendment to the 1945 Constitution so that the election of the president would be done through the MPR. "I was one of strongest proponents, but it got no agreement", he said. At the time, said Kadir, other DPR members rejected the proposal because it could become a 'blunder'. "It would be hard for us to put into practice", said Kadir quoting his colleagues.

Hayono Isman, a member of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Democrat Party, believes that the chances of the president again being elected by the MPR are wide open. "If the Red and White Coalition can control the DPRDs [regional legislative councils] and regional heads, they could also control the MPR. So, making an amendment [to the Constitution] would be easy", said Isman on Saturday.

Indonesian Institute of Science (LIPI) political observer Ikrar Nusa Bakti says that Isman's analysis makes sense. He added that the Democrats, along with the coalition of parties that backed Prabowo's failed presidential bid, control at least 352 votes in the MPR – more that half of the 592 seats. "It's not impossible that the mechanism for electing the president will be changed, because Prabowo knows all too well, that it would be difficult for him to be elected in a direct election by the people", said Bakti.

Golkar Party general chairperson Aburizal Bakrie asserts that the Red and White Coalition – which is made up of Golkar, Prabowo's Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), the United Development Party (PPP), PAN and the Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS) – was not just formed to back the Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa ticket in the July 9 presidential elections. One of its other roles is that the coalition aims to become counter to the government.

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

Source: http://www.tempo.co/read/news/2014/09/29/078610474/Koalisi-Prabowo-Usulkan-Pilpres-oleh-MPR-Lagi.

Leaked document alleges Prabowo's coalition promised MPR leadership to Democrats

Solo Post - September 29, 2014

Solo – A document detailing the division of parliamentary leadership positions allegedly agreed to by members of Prabowo Subianto's Red and White coalition and the Democrat Party has been circulating on Twitter. The upload of the photographed document reveals that the Democrats will be given the leadership of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR, upper house).

A posting on Monday morning, September 29 by an account belonging to 'buzzer' @PartaiSocmed shows a document signed by senior leaders of the political parties that make up the Red and White Coalition. The document shows the signatures of parliamentary faction leaders from the Golkar Party, the United Development Party (PPP), the Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS), the National Mandate Party (PAN) [and Prabowo's Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) – JB].

Visible at the end of the document are the signatures of M. Hidayat Nur Wahid from the PKS, Setya Novanto from Golkar, H. Ahmad Muzani from Gerindra, Tjatur Sapto Edy from PAN [and the leader of the PPP faction, presumably Hasrul Azwar as only the signature is visible – JB]. The document includes a number of interesting agreements, including Point 5 that reads:

In the event that the Prabowo-Hatta presidential ticket wins [the July 9 presidential election], then the RED AND WHITE COALITION approves, [and] agrees to give support to the Democrat Party to fill the leadership post in the People's Consultative Assembly and other leadership positions proportionally including 1 [Democrat Party] leader from the DPD [Regional Representatives Council].

Much of the document is difficult to read. Meanwhile the Twitter account explains that distribution of leadership positions mentioned in the document include:

• Golkar: DPR (House of Representatives) speaker, 5 chairs and 15 deputy chairs on DPR commissions (auxiliary bodies)
•  
• Gerindra: DPR deputy speaker, 4 chairs and 12 deputy chairs on DPR commissions
•  
• PAN: DPR deputy speaker, 3 chairs and 8 deputy chairs on DPR commissions
•  
• PKS: DPR deputy speaker, 2 chairs and 7 deputy chairs on DPR commissions
•  
• PPP: DPR deputy speaker, 2 chairs and 6 deputy chairs on DPR commissions
•  
• Democrat: MPR speaker.
•  

The account notes that the MPR will be strengthened or returned to its function as the institution that elects the president.

The document closes with the sentence: "This mutual agreement is a political document that is binding on the respective parties", and is dated July 2014.

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

Source: http://www.solopos.com/2014/09/29/pilkada-langsung-berakhir-beredar-dokumen-bancakan-parlemen-demokrat-disebut-dapat-jatah-ketua-mpr-540129.

PPP leader says Democrat walkout part of Prabowo's game plan

Tempo.co - September 26, 2014

Muhammad Muhyiddin, Jakarta – The walkout by 129 members of the Democratic Party faction just prior to the House of Representatives (DPR) vote on the Draft Law on Regional Elections (RUU Pilkada), which abolished the direct election of regional heads, appears to have been a political maneuver or game.

"The Democrat Party followed a game plan formulated by the Red and White Coalition", said United Development Party (PPP) Secretary General Pembangunan Muhammad Romahurmuziy when speaking with journalists during a PPP plenary meeting in Jakarta on September 26.

According to Romahurmuziy, the Democrats were playing a cunning political gimmick or maneuver so that they would not loose public sympathy.

In accordance with a design already agreed to within the Red and White Coalition of political parties that supported the Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa ticket in the July 9 presidential election, the Democrat Party faction would walkout in the early hours of Friday morning just before the vote. "This is in accordance with a Democrat Party pledge right from the beginning", he said.

By that time, the DPR members were already exhausted because the session had dragged on since the Thursday afternoon, September 25. The session had also been adjourned several times because of a failure to reach a point of agreement.

Romahurmuziy explained that it could well be that the Democrat Party faction had already planned the walkout for Thursday September 25 at 7pm. Because however there was a plot or political game in play, the walkout by the party established by former general Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was delayed until the early hours of Friday morning.

Romahurmuziy predicts that in five years time, the Red and White Coalition will maneuver to besiege the coalition of political parties in the DPR that back president Joko Widodo and vice-president Jusuf Kalla. "Perhaps if it is linked to religious issues, the PPP will do what the Democrat Party did this time round", he said.

Democrat Party chairperson Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has said that he will investigate the mastermind behind the walkout by Democrat Party members in the DPR. "This is [just] a maneuver, a component to complement the plot", said Romahurmuziy.

Romahurmuziy declined to say what kind of political agreement had been made behind the Democrat's position. Reports have been circulating that the Red and White Coalition will support Nurhayati Assegaf becoming the speaker of the DPR for the 2014-2019 period. Assegaf is the chairperson of the Democrat Party faction in the parliament who instructed Democrat members to walkout just before the vote on the RUU Pilkada.

Romahurmuziy invited journalists to ask the Democrat Party leadership about the reports, although he declined to confirm or deny their validity. "In politics there is never any verification, what exists is only reality", said the PPP politician who was a member of the Prabowo-Hatta presidential campaign team in July.

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

Source: http://www.tempo.co/read/news/2014/09/26/078609965/Pilkada-PPP-Demokrat-Mainkan-Skenario-Prabowo.

Prabowo: Ending direct elections a victory for Pancasila

Tribune News - September 26, 2014

Dany Permana, Jakarta – Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) board of patrons chairperson Prabowo Subianto says he is grateful that the mechanism for electing regional heads through Regional Legislative Councils (DPRD) has become a reality.

According to Prabowo, what has been struggled for by Red and White Coalition political party leaders in the parliament represents an achievement. "I'm grateful, this is an achievement for us in securing our democracy", said Prabowo at the Sultan Hotel in Central Jakarta on Friday September 26.

Prabowo, a former army Special Forces (Kopassus) commander, said that up until down Indonesia has held regional elections (pilkada) in which regional heads are elected directly as if it was democratic. But in reality, according to Prabowo, direct elections destroy the principles of the Indonesian nation.

"(Direct elections) destroy the morals and mentality of the Indonesian nation. What takes place is the buying and selling of votes", he said.

Direct elections also provide an opportunity for foreign forces to infiltrate Indonesia's political life. He gave the example of how a candidate was funded by foreign interests who gave out money and basic commodities [to buy votes]. (Regional elections through the DPRD) are a victory for [the state ideology of] Pancasila", he asserted.

Prabowo admitted that he followed the deliberations ending in the enactment of the regional election law (UU Pilkada) at the House of Representatives (DPR) the night before. According to Prabowo, he watched the plenary meeting that continued into the night on television.

Prabowo said he salutes the DPR members from the Red and White Coalition that persisted in struggling for regional elections through the mechanism of the DPRD. He conceded to feeling anxious witnessing the course of the meeting but was proud of the result.

"It was quite tense and made me quite proud. I, on behalf of myself and the Gerindra greater community express a salute and the highest respect to the leaders of the Red and White Coalition in the parliament", he said.

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

Source: http://www.tribunnews.com/nasional/2014/09/26/pilkada-via-dprd-prabowo-ini-kemenangan-pancasila.

Prabowo's 'Neo-New Order' coalition seeking to destroy democracy

Detik News - September 26, 2014

Nala Edwin, Jakarta – Prabowo Subianto's Red and White Coalition has succeeded in returning the election of regional heads into the hands of Regional Representative Councils (DPRD) as it was under the New Order dictatorship of former President Suharto.

As conveyed by Golkar Party chairperson Aburizal Bakrie, there are signals that they want to change the Constitution back the way it was along with 22 other pieces of legislation.

Jakarta Deputy governor Basuki T. Purnama or 'Ahok' has even suggested that in the future there is concern that the Red and White Coalition will change the Constitution so that the president is again chosen by the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR, upper house). What is the view of socio-political observers?

"Later their name will not be the Red and White Coalition but the Neo-New Order Coalition (neo-Orba)", said political observer Arie Sudjito from the Gadjah Mada University on Friday September 26.

Sudjito even suspects that there is a systematic effort underway by the Red and White Coalition to destroy the democratic order. An this is being motivated by purely pragmatic interests.

"If this is allowed to happen then bit by bit Indonesian politics will fall into a pattern of a new authoritarianism and be in conflict with democracy", he explained. According to Sudjito, in a situation such as this the administration of president elect Joko "Jokowi" Widodo will become a pillar of and a custodian of democracy in the context of stemming the rise of the Neo-New Order.

"If the parliament is controlled by neo-Orba groups then the challenge will be how can people's power be cultivated as a pillar to overcome anti-democratic forces. This cannot be considered of no importance because the effort to enact the law on regional elections [returning authority] to the DPRD may well be followed by strengthening the MPR to become the highest state institution that can be manipulated in order to return to the president being elected by [parliamentary] representatives. If this is the direction that the neo-Orba coalition is heading then only the power of civil society can prevent it", he explained.

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

Source: http://news.detik.com/read/2014/09/26/182424/2702672/10/semoga-koalisi-merah-putih-tak-jadi-koalisi-neo-orba.

Democrat Party lawmaker says Yudhoyono ordered walkout during crucial vote

Kompas.com - September 26, 2014

Sabrina Asril, Jakarta – Democrat Party (DP) politician and lawmaker Ruhut Sitompul claims that they decided to walkout before a vote on a draft law on regional elections after being ordered to do so by DP faction chairperson Nurhayati Ali Assegaf.

Assegaf stated that DP chairperson Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) had sent her an SMS message instructing all members of the DP faction in the parliament to leave the room.

"[I] got the an SMS from [DP deputy chairperson] Max Sopacua that was the same as Ibu Nurhayati, yeah so it was over. (She said) it was from SBY, yeah that was it. What else (could we do)?", said Sitompul at the parliamentary building complex in Senayan, Jakarta on Friday September 26.

According to Sitompul, who is known as one of Yudhoyono's loyalists, he was just following orders. He added that the six DP faction members who opposed the instruction by remaining in the room were House of Representative (DPR) members that were unelected so they did not have any kind of burden.

When asked about Yudhoyono's disappointment with the DP's decision to walkout, Sitompul claimed ignorance. He also claimed to be surprised because in addition to Assegaf, Sopacua also said the same thing, that there was an SMS send directly from Yudhoyono.

As has been reported, the Draft Law on Regional Elections (RUU Pilkada) under which regional heads would be elected by Regional Legislative Councils (DPRD) instead of directly, was ratified at a plenary meeting in the early hours of Friday morning through a vote that was won by [Prabowo Subianto's] Red and White parliamentary coalition.

Prior to the vote, DP faction members walked out of the session on the pretext that a third option, namely the direct election of regional heads but with 10 conditions, were not fully accommodated in the draft law.

Notes

According to a report by Detik.com shortly after the walkout, Sitompul said that he was surprised at the decision because they had received no directive by Yudhoyono. "So during the meeting beforehand someone said it was on the directive of Pak SBY, but I received information that [DP board of patrons member] Pak Syarief [Hassan] said there was no directive from Pak SBY". "So I sent an SMS to Pak SBY, and he said 'sorry, I'll call you later'".

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

Source: http://nasional.kompas.com/read/2014/09/26/15043961/Kata.Ruhut.SBY.SMS.ke.Ketua.Fraksi.untuk.Walkout.dalam.Rapat.Paripurna.RUU.Pilkada.

Protest in Jakarta against anti-democratic electoral law ends in clash

Tempo.co - September 25, 2014

Persiana Galih, Jakarta – A protest action at the entrance to the House of Representatives (DPR) building in Central Jakarta opposing the Draft Law on Regional Elections (RUU Pilkada) ended in chaos. Hundreds of workers and students clashed with police after they blockaded Jl. Gatot Subroto on Thursday September 25.

"They forcibly broke up the rally because they said that we did not have a permit", said action coordinator Komeng. The protesters blockaded the road because not one DPR member was prepared to meet with them. Since 2pm they had been asking for assurances from the DPR that the RUU Pilkada [that would see the end to the direct election of regional heads] would not be ratified.

The blockade started at 2.30pm. Hundreds of protesters and a pickup truck took up the entire road so no vehicles were able to pass. The action continued for around 15 minutes up until the clash broke out.

The clash between the students and police occurred in the middle of the crowd and became increasingly chaotic after police deployed hundreds of officers to drive back the demonstrators. The protesters who initially blockaded the road were gradually forced beck in the direction of Grogol, West Jakarta.

"The police attacked first. I saw that this was the root cause of the clash", said Komeng. According to Tempo's observations, the demonstrators pelted the police with bamboo sticks and rocks, which forced the police to stop the flow of passing vehicles.

The clash ended at around 5.15pm after the action coordinator called on the protesters to follow police orders. After disbanding, several demonstrators were still furious, shouting and giving the police the fingers up.

Jakarta Metro district police chief Senior Commissioner Hendro Pandowo said that the protesters had to be forced back because they were obstructing the flow of traffic. "It was clearly a violation because they disturbed public order", he said.

According to Pandowo, police repeatedly asked the action coordinator to disband the demonstration by 5pm at the latest but they tried to argue for more time. "We have regulations, protest actions are not allowed after 6pm", he said. A request by the demonstrators to spend the night in front of the DPR building was also refused.

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

Source: http://www.tempo.co/read/news/2014/09/25/078609696/Unjuk-Rasa-RUU-Pilkada-di-DPR-Ricuh.

Demonstrators in Jakarta march on parliament in support of direct elections

Tribune News - September 25, 2014

Jakarta – Protesters from the People's Movement for Direct Elections (Gerpala) held a long-march from the TVRI building in Central Jakarta to the House of Representatives (DPR) building on Thursday September 25.

The action by the Gerpala protesters disrupted the flow to traffic. Upon arriving at the DPR building, they could be seen removing all of the banners supporting the election of regional heads by Regional Legislative Councils (DPRD) [instead of directly] that had been put up along the toll road fence and in front of the DPR.

After removing the banners, the demonstrators set fire to them. Another group of demonstrators could be seen sticking up banners and the flags of the organisations that joined the action.

A short interval later police officers arrived and put out the fires before they became too large. "We reject the election of regional heads by the DPRD. Sovereignty should be in our hands, all of the people", said one of the speakers from atop the command vehicle.

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

Source: https://id.berita.yahoo.com/massa-gerpala-bakar-spanduk-pro-pilkada-lewat-dprd-073603463.html.

Police seize luxury cars from FPI leader over money-laundering case

Kompas.com - September 15, 2014

Wijaya Kusuma, Yogyakarta – Investigators from the municipal police Special Crimes Detective Unit (Dit Reskrimsus) in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta have seized two luxury cars from the Yogyakarta-Central Java chairperson of the Islamic Defenders Front, Bambang Tedy. The seizure was in relation to a case of fraud involving the purchase and sale of land valued at billions or rupiah.

Dit Reskrimsus chief Senior Commissioner Kokot Indarto from the Yogyakarta regional police explained that the two cars that were seized were a Mazda Sport and a Mitsubishi Pajero. The Mazda Sport is currently being held at the Yogyakarta regional police headquarters.

"The seizure was related to a money laundering (TPPU) case involving the concealment of criminal proceeds", explained Indarto on Monday September 15.

Indarto said that Dit Reskrimsus investigators are still searching for an additional vehicle, a Hammer. The luxury car is believed to have been bought by the suspect Tedy from the proceeds of a [land] scam. He hopes that a witness will come forward who knows the whereabouts of the Hammer and that they will be cooperative and not attempt to conceal it. Indarto is appealing to anyone who knows the whereabouts of the vehicle to hand it over to investigators immediately.

"I hope [they'll be] cooperative. Yeah, if they intentionally conceal it, it's quite possible that person could be involved", he asserted. According to Indarto, anyone who conceals a vehicle obtained from the proceeds of money laundering could be charged under article 55 of the Criminal Code.

As reported, Tedy was arrested by Yogyakarta regional police on Wednesday September 6. the arrest was in relation to a case of fraud involving the purchase and sale of land valued at billions or rupiah. Tedy is alleged to have committed fraud, embezzlement and money laundering. Tedy could be charged under articles 378, 372 and 263 of the Criminal Code and articles 3, 4 and 5 of Law Number 8/2010.

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

Source: http://regional.kompas.com/read/2014/09/15/18444061/Polisi.DIY.Sita.2.Mobil.Mewah.Milik.Ketua.FPI.DIY-Jateng.

MUI opposes 'troublesome and detrimental' direct elections

Republika – September 15, 2014
 

Jakarta – The Indonesian Ulama Council (MUI) believes that the election of regional heads should be carried out by regional legislative councils (DPRD) because representative elections through the DPRD can minimalise the negative aspect of direct elections.

"The MUI believes that they [direct elections] bring nothing good and only cause trouble [mudharat] and are detrimental [mafsadah]", MUI chairperson Kiai [Islamic teacher] Ma'ruf Amin told Republika Online at the MUI's office in Jakarta on Monday September 12.

Amin said that the decision [not to support direct elections] was taken by MUI ulamas [Islamic scholars] based on a legal decision through the interpretation of the Koran [ijtihad] in 2012. The mujtahid [scholars certified to interpret religious law] held that the negative aspects of direct elections are greater than representative elections.

"The kiai were split, there was a grouping of cross-community figures, not to mention money politics, so the participants in the meeting at the time deemed that there was more mudharat", he said.

The MUI has appealed to society to trust in and leave the deliberations of the law on regional elections to the House of Representatives (DPR). "We [should] leave it up to those in authority to make regulations", he said.

Kiai Ma'ru believes that the focus of the MUI's deliberations were not on the democratic aspect but more on considering the mudharat and the mafsadah.

There is pressure to change the mechanism of regional elections in the Draft Law on Regional Elections (RUU Pilkada). The Red and White Coalition is pushing for direct elections to replaced by elections through DPRDs.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was "Putusan MUI 2012: Pilkada Langsung Banyak Mudharatnya".]

Source: http://www.republika.co.id/berita/nasional/politik/14/09/15/nbxq8w-putusan-mui-2012-pilkada-langsung-banyak-mudharatnya.

10,000 workers demonstrate in Central Jakarta

Antara News - September 15, 2014

Jakarta – Around 10,000 workers from 30 labour federations that make up the Indonesian Trade Union Congress Alliance (KASBI) Confederation held a demonstration at the Hotel Indonesia (HI) traffic circle in Central Jakarta on Monday afternoon.

"This represents a national action by the KASBI Confederation from all across Indonesia. It represents our criticisms of the current government that has failed to bring prosperity to its people", said KASBI Confederation general chairperson Nining Elitos.

Elitos emphasised that the action is also input for the new administration of president elect Joko Widodo to give greater priority to the interests of the ordinary people, welfare, justice and law enforcement.

During the action the KASBI Confederation issued a series of demands called the SEPULTURA (10 Demands of the People). Included among this are the abolition of contract labour systems (outsourcing), the implementation of a reasonable national wage, protection for women workers and opposing the privatisation of [state-owned] industries.

"This action is also a warning to the new government. If our demands are not heeded, we will continue criticising, demonstrating and making demands of the government, regardless of who leads it", said Elitos.

At 11am the demonstrating workers wearing red uniforms held a 'long-march' from the HI traffic circle towards the nearby State Place. During the march they shouted demands and sung songs of labour struggle.

Traffic in vicinity of HI on Jl. Thamrin and adjacent to the National Monument on Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan in the direction of the State Place was closed to traffic.

The workers also stopped at the United State Embassy for around 15 minutes and gave speeches criticising US economic policies in Indonesia.

As of going to print, the demonstration was still continuing with workers slowly starting to move off towards the State Place. (rr)

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

Source: http://www.antaranews.com/berita/453647/buruh-demonstrasi-di-jakarta-tuntut-sepultura.

New wage system to be based on productivity, company profitability

Nefosnews - September 11, 2014

Jakarta – Starting in 2015, the wage remuneration system will be revised. Workers will be paid based on education level, productivity, length of employment, achievements and position. Demands for wage increases will only be implemented if a company is profitable.

The changes are currently be deliberated by the government through the Department of Labour and Transmigration (Kemenakertrans). The new system will compliment the existing stipulations on provincial, regency and municipal minimum wages (UMP/UMK).

Business groups have expressed support for the new system with Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) chairperson Suryo Bambang Sulisto saying that it is time for workers to be paid based on productivity.

"Don't let wages get more and more expensive but productivity remain the same. People (investors) will over time become increasingly reluctant [to invest] in Indonesia. What will we do if the country isn't competitive", said Sulisto at the Kartini building in Jakarta on Thursday September 11.

Meanwhile the Department of Labour's director general of industrial relations and social security, Irianto Simbolon, said that starting next year they will be using a system of "scaled wages".

There are several important points in this new scaled wages system. First, it will use indicators such as education, achievements, length of employment and position to determine workers' wages.

So wages will become very 'personal', unlike the determination of wages currently being used, which is based on the provincial and minimum wage.

Second, the scaled wage system will also be determined by employers by using company performance indicators, meaning that if a company's performance is poor or unprofitable, then workers will not have the right to ask for wage increases.

Third, companies will be obliged to pay non-wage income. Non-wage income means things such as holiday bonuses, bonuses related to religious affairs, compensation for employment facilities and the like.

Fourth, wage levels will be based on 84 components that make up the new reasonable living cost index (KHL). Under the old regulation, Department of Labour Decree Number 13/2012, the KHL is only made up of 60 components.

The additional components that make up the new KHL will include drinking water dispensers, washing machines, brooms made from sugar palm fiber, plastic cutting boards, mats, televisions measuring a minimum of 19 inches, deodorants, perfume, lipstick, hand and body lotion and mobile phones.

The fifth and last point is that the new wage system will adjust how often wage increases are set, changing from annually to once every two years. (anila/bim)

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

Source: http://www.nefosnews.com/post/ekbis/sistem-upah-buruh-2015-diubah-ini-dia-poin-poinnya.

Bandung protest slams election law as return to Suharto's New Order

Kompas.com - September 10, 2014

Rio Kuswandi, Bandung – An alliance of social groups from various sectors of society held a protest action in front of the Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) building on Jl. Diponegoro in the West Java provincial capital of Bandung on Wednesday September 10 to oppose the draft law on regional elections (RUU Pilkada). They also set fire to a bier at the front gate of the DPRD building.

"We emphatically reject the draft law on Pilkada by the House of Representatives, whether it be on the election of regional heads at the provincial, regency or city level", said the coordinator of the People's Action Movement for Direct Elections, Azhar Hariman, during a break in the action.

According to Hariman if the RUU Pilkada is ratified and the election of regional heads returned to regional assemblies, then it will eliminate the ordinary people's right to directly elect their local leaders.

"This does not conform with the spirit of democracy, if it is ratified and [the election of regional heads] returned to the [regional] assemblies, the democratic system in Indonesia cannot be said to have advanced, but retreated back to the New Order era [of former President Suharto]", he asserted.

If the draft law is ratified, continued Hariman, it would mean that the people's struggle to create a democratic country will have been for nothing. The people have already fought to the last for the ratification of Law Number 32/2004 on regional administration and direct elections by the people.

"Yes, we have gone to great lengths to build this democratic system, before we looked forward eagerly for some time and fought for the direct election of regional heads by the people, now suddenly they want to change it again", he complained.

Hariman added that the current democratic system has given birth to many benefits. "The direct election of regional heads has given birth to political maturity, we can sift through candidates for the national leadership", he said.

Police officers were on guard to watch over the protest action. After a short wait, members of the DPRD came out to meet with the demonstrators, including among others, Waras Wasisto, Surahman and Yunandar from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) faction, Abdul Rozak Muslim from the Golkar Party faction and Sunatra from the Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) faction.

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

Source: http://regional.kompas.com/read/2014/09/10/13320751/Tolak.RUU.Pilkada.Demonstran.Bakar.Keranda.di.Depan.DPRD.Jabar.

Yogya workers say ending direct elections huge step back for democracy

Tempo.co - September 9, 2014

Pribadi Wicaksono, Yogyakarta – The Yogyakarta Workers Alliance (ABY) has slammed the draft law on regional elections (RUU Pilkada) saying it will bring suffering to workers in the future.

"If the RUU Pilkada becomes a reality, workers' prospects will become even more uncertain, and we have agreed to reject it", ABY secretary general Kirnadi told Tempo on Tuesday September 9.

Kirnadi said that one of the impacts of returning to the mechanism of Regional Legislative Councils (DPRD) choosing regional heads would be a lost of control into the hands of those in power and the government in their commitment to improving the welfare of workers. "Regents or mayors who are chosen by the DPRD will no longer be bound to political contracts to fight for workers' interests", said Kirnadi.

Kirnadi said for example that under the direct election of regional heads, candidates can be bound to political contracts. If they succeed in being elected, the candidates have a moral obligation to fight for a better future for workers. "Such as revisions to the reasonable living cost index (KHL) in determining an ideal minimum wage", he said.

Aside from this, the workers also slammed the draft law because they predict it will only perpetuate executive transactional politics with the DPRD. "To date, those who have become regional heads, if they aren't [political] party members they're businesspeople with big capital recruited by the parties. They usually aren't pro-worker, but the opposite".

Kirnadi said that the RUU Pilkada was a huge step back for democracy. It also represents a muzzling of the political rights of marginal groups that need to fight for their interests. "Workers will no longer be able to put forward candidates that are suitable and fulfill a criteria, because it will all be taken over by the DPRD".

As a response to the RUU Pilkada, Kirnadi said they would be coordinating with trade unions around the country to reject the law with one voice and to push for a judicial review if the law is ratified. "We will be in the front line rejecting [the law] up until a challenge with the Constitutional Court. Dirty politics such as this cannot be allowed to happen", said Kirnadi

Yogyakarta city DPRD speaker Sudjanarko said that the RUU Pilkada is sure to attract strong criticism from the public at large. Like the recent presidential election campaign, he believes that huge numbers of people will become organised [to fight the law].

"Not just party [supporters], but members of the public will come out by themselves, because this process is an extraordinary step back for democracy", said Sudjanarko, who is also the chairperson of the branch leadership board of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

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

Source: http://www.tempo.co/read/news/2014/09/09/058605578/Buruh-Yogyakarta-Tolak-RUU-Pilkada.