Nationwide student protests slam Prabowo's anti-democratic Red and White Coalition

Solidarity Net - October 21, 2014

Sherr Rinn – On Monday October 20, the Student Struggle Center for National Liberation (Pembebasan) held protest actions in several Indonesian cities including Jakarta, Medan and Siantar in North Sumatra, Yogyakarta in Central Java, Tarakan in East Kalimantan, Palu and Poso in Central Sulawesi, Makassar in South Sulawesi and Ternate in North Maluku.

Pembebasan general chairperson Ari Lamodjong said that the simultaneous national actions were to oppose the return to Indonesian politics of the New Order (Orba) regime of former President Suharto.

"The return of the New Order can be seen from the enactment of the UU Pilkada [regional election law], which represents an attempt by the political elite remnants of the Orba to reawaken the values of the Orba", said the Bung Karno University (UBK) post-graduate student.

As has been reported, the UU Pilkada stipulates that regional heads are elected by regional legislative councils (DPR) instead of being directly elected by the people. In the House of Representatives (DPR), the political parties that make up former New Order general Prabowo Subianto's Red and White Coalition (KMP) that enacted the law, are now even planning to issue policies so the president is elected by the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) instead of directly.

Pembebasan believes that Prabowo and the KMP are a creation of remnants of the New Order because leading KMP figures are the political elite that were part of Suharto inner circle and their political policies are aimed at returning Indonesia to the anti-democratic era of the New Order.

"Because of this, students and the people must unite and consolidate to eliminate the KMP from all spheres of Indonesian politics. They cannot be allowed to rule. The people must hold the power through organisations and political vehicles that they themselves have built. Don't entrust the future to the [political] elite, including Jokowi [President Joko Widodo], much less Prabowo and the KMP who are clearly anti-democratic", explained Lamodjong.

In Palu, Pembebasan students who are part of the Central Sulawesi Student Movement (Gema) demanded that the KMP disband itself. Earlier on Thursday October 16 in Palo, the Tadulako University (Untad) Student Movement (GMU) called for the annulment of the UU Pilkada and called on the KMP to be expelled from the national parliament.

In Tarakan, Pembebasan protesters brought posters with pictures of the logos of the political parties that make up the KMP, Prabowo's Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), the Golkar Party, the United Development Party (PPP), former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Democrat Party, the Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS) and the National Mandate Party (PAN). The student said that these parties are the "betrayers of democracy".

In Yogyakarta meanwhile, Pembebasan and residents of the nearby coastal town of Parangtritis united under the banner of the Alliance of Oppressed Indonesian People (ARIT) to hold a free speech forum in the Jl. Malioboro shopping district. The protesters also distributed leaflets and brought banners with messages such as "Repeal the UU Pilkada".

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the article was Pembebasan: Singkirkan Koalisi Merah Putih dari Arena Politik Indonesia!.]

Source: http://solidaritas.net/2014/10/pembebasan-singkirkan-koalisi-merah-putih-dari-arena-politik-indonesia.html.

160 civil society groups reject return to Suharto's New Order dictatorship

Solidarity Net - October 16, 2014

Two thousand protesters from 160 civil society organisations that make up the People's Sovereignty Movement (GRB) demonstrated at the House of Representatives (DPR) building in Jakarta on Wednesday October 14 in protest against the political elite's about face and efforts to return to the New Order era of former president Suharto.

"One hundred and sixty organisations have joined this movement. We reject the UU Pilkada [law on regional elections that abolished the direct election of regional heads – JB] on indirect elections and reject the return to the New Order era", said one of the student protesters, Ari Lamodjong.

The number of organisation that make up the GRB has risen from an earlier 130 groups to 160 after a large number of student organisations also joined.

The protesters brought various kinds of paraphernalia that enlivened the protest led by action coordinator Ilhamsyah. The GRB opposes the return to the New Order dictatorship which muzzled freedom expression, freedom of the press, freedom of association and other civil rights.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the article was 160 Organisasi Tolak Kembali ke Jaman Orba.]

Source: http://solidaritas.net/2014/10/160-organisasi-tolak-kembali-ke-jaman-orba.html.

Bekasi workers reject policies seeking to return Indonesia to New Order era

Solidaritas.net - October 15, 2014

Sherr Rinn – Around two hundred workers from the Solidarity Alliance for Labour Struggle (GSPB) held an action opposing the recently enacted law on regional elections (UU Pilkada) at the offices of the Bekasi regent's office in the Jakarta satellite city of Bekasi on Tuesday October 14.

The protesters were calling on Regent Neneng Hasanah Yasin to join other regional heads in opposing the UU Pilkada, which abolished the direct election or regional heads.

"Through this action we want to see the Bekasi regent's commitment to democracy, considering that she was elected through a direct election", said one of the GSPB leaders Ata Bu.

The enactment of the UU Pilkada is part of a packet of political policies that are seeking to return Indonesia to the era of the New Order dictatorship of former president Suharto. Prabowo Subianto and his Red and White Coalition (KMP) were the ones most responsible for the enactment of the law.

In addition to this, the GSPB also demanded a 50 percent increase in the minimum wage in order to compensate for the rise in living costs over the last 17 years. They also rejected plans to abolish sectoral wages, demanded effective supervision by the labour office, the issuance of a regional regulation (Perda) to ensure the normative rights of workers and the establishment of an industrial relations court (PHI) in the Bekasi regency.

"The demands for welfare and democracy must be a single packet. The working class in fighting for its rights and interests clearly needs democratic space to assemble, mobilise themselves, including space for the working class to gather its forces in order to build its own political vehicle", said GSPB general chairperson Sulaeman.

These things are principal reasons why the GSPB is fighting for democracy and workers' welfare.

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

Source: http://solidaritas.net/2014/10/gspb-tolak-uu-pilkada-tak-langsung.html.

Prabowo's Islamic supporters call Zuckerberg visit a Zionist conspiracy

Tempo.co - October 14, 2014

Muhammad Muhyiddin, Jakarta – University of Indonesia political communications expert Ade Armando says that Prabowo Subianto's Islamic supporters are furious over Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg's visit to Indonesia.

Armando said he was disappointed by the attitude of supporters of the Greater Indonesia Movement Party's (Gerindra) patron Prabowo who said that the visit was only for commercial objectives.

"You can't think in such narrow terms. Not to mention linking Mark's visit to his Jewish heritage", said Armando when contacted on Tuesday October 14. "Don't keep provoking the nation, especially with racial issues", he said.

Armando added that the visit by Zuckerberg, a Harvard University drop out, should be taken advantage of because he wants to establish a service provider in Indonesia. So there will be an economic impact that can be felt by Indonesians. "Don't just see things through the prism of conspiracy", he said.

Armando cited remarks from the website VOA Islam (Voice of Al Islam – Voice of the Truth), which supports Prabowo. The VOA Islam website referred to Zuckerberg as wanting to implant Jewish influences in Indonesia. President elect Joko "Jokowi" Widodo is cited as being a member of the Rotary Club, part of the Zionist network.

Jewish international groups, wrote VOA Islam, have a strong interest in meddling in Indonesian affairs through Facebook. "The birth of a new government that is pro-Israel, that is their aim", wrote VOA.

Yesterday, Widodo said that he spoke about a variety of issues related to the internet with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, one of which was utilising the Facebook social network for campaign activities.

"Earlier [they] mostly talked about the use of Facebook during the [election] campaign", he said, although Widodo did not elaborate on this.

Widodo also said he conveyed Facebook's potential to Zuckerberg. Widodo explain that Indonesia has a population of 240 people with around 70 million Facebook users. "This is a potential market for him", said Widodo.

According to Widodo, Facebook can be utilised to stipulated the people's economy. One of the uses of Facebook is to stimulate micro, small and medium sized business. "Earlier we talked about how to utilise Facebook to speak to the people", he said.

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

Source: http://www.tempo.co/read/news/2014/10/14/078614173/Pendiri-Facebook-Temui-Jokowi-VOA-Islam-Berang.

Protest by Papuan students in Surabaya demands release of French journalists

Surabaya News - October 13, 2014

Masrul Fajrin – The Papua Student Alliance (AMP) in the East Java provincial capital of Surabaya held a protest action in front of the Surabaya Grahadi building (governor's office) demanding the immediate release of two French journalists who were arrested not long ago on charges of misusing their passports.

Under the close supervision of police officers from the Surabaya metropolitan district police, the Papuan students called for the immediate release of two French journalists, namely Thomas Dandois and Valentine Bourrat, who have been detained by the immigration office on charges of misusing their visas.

Before arriving in Papua, the two journalists landed in Jakarta to seek a permit to make a documentary on culture in the West Papua region. After they arrived in Papua however, on or around August 6 they were arrested on the grounds that the visas they were using were tourist visas not working visas.

In response to this, the Papua students said they hoped that the related institutions and officials would immediately release the two journalists.

"Neither are criminals but rather they were simply carrying out their journalistic duties to investigate the cultures that exist in West Papua, so based on this release them immediately", said action coordinator Werner.

Although there were not a large number of protesters, police were forced to work extra hard to avoid traffic congestion because the Papua students insisted on giving speeches on the shoulder of Jl. Gubernur Suryo Surabaya (rul/rid)

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

Source: http://surabayanews.co.id/2014/10/13/4614/aliansi-mahasiswa-papua-tuntut-pembebasan-2-jurnalis-asing.html.

Papua students in Yogyakarta call for release of French journalists

KRjogja.com - October 13, 2014

Agus Sigit, Yogya – The Papua Student Alliance (AMP) held an action at the zero kilometre point in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta on the afternoon of Monday October 13. During the action, scores of students called for the release of the two French journalists being detained in West Papua.

During the action, the students demanded the release of Thomas Dandois and Valentine Bourrat, who have been detained on charges of misusing their work visa. The two journalists have been accused of violating their stay permits and face five years in jail if convicted.

The students also called on the Indonesian government to be willing to provide freedom to journalists who wish to report on the Papua region.

One of the demonstrators, Sonny, said that through the action they hoped that the West Papua immigration office would release the two journalists immediately. "We are calling on the parties concerned to immediately release the two journalists because both are innocent of carrying out journalist activities in Papua", said Sonny.

The action in front of the central Yogyakarta post office proceeded peacefully. After conveying their demands, the students continued the action with a long-march towards the Papua dormitory under the escort of police.

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

Source: http://krjogja.com/read/233773/aliansi-mahasiswa-papua-desak-wartawan-asing-dibebaskan.kr.

Mass movement needed to fight forces wanting return to Suharto's New Order dictatorship

Solidarity Net - October 9, 2014

Jakarta – The Draft Law on Regional Elections (RUU Pilkada), which abolishes the direct election of regional heads and was successfully enacted into law (UU Pilkada) by the parties backing Prabowo Subianto's Red and White Coalition (KMP) is a threat to democracy.

The People's Sovereignty Movement (Gerakan Rakyat Berdaulat, GRB) has declared a state of emergency for democracy, which was with great effort struggled for during the New Order dictatorship of former president Suharto and has advanced over the last 16 years of reformasi (the post-1998 period of political reform).

The GRB is an alliance of 130 civil society organisations including, among others, the University of Indonesia Alliance for Democracy, the People's Liberation Party (PPR), the Student Struggle Center for National Liberation (Pembebasan), IndoProgress, Indonesian Human Rights Watch (Imparsial), the Jakarta Legal Aid Foundation (LBH Jakarta), the Indonesian Institute of Science Center for Political Studies (P2P LIPI), the Indonesian People's Struggle Union (SPRI) and a number of trade unions such as the National Trade Union (SPN), the Indonesian Transportation Trade Union of Struggle (SBTPI) and the Cross-Factory Labour Forum (FBLP).

On Wednesday October 8 on the grounds of the LBH Jakarta, the GRB held a free speech forum as warm up to an action planned for October 14. GRB activist Surya Anta from the PPR explained their opposition to the UU Pilkada and other anti-democratic regulations.

"We oppose the UU Pilkada and reject all legislation that is anti-democratic. We see that the democracy that we have struggled for and defended over the last 16 years, is now seen as something valuable, to be used as an opportunity by corruptors to get money and for transactional politics. The deficiencies in the current democracy should not be used [by the KMP] as grounds to return to the New Order, rather they should be answered by finding solutions and broadening this democracy", said Anta.

Anta also said that Prabowo and the KMP are taking advantage of democracy to return Indonesia to the New Order. "Prabowo was able to establish the Gerindra Party because of the existence of democracy in the era of reformasi. But after Gerindra succeeded in getting into parliament and becoming the third largest [party], now Gerindra wants to return to the very New Order that restricted the people's political rights", he said.

The political forces that want a return to the New Order, namely Prabowo and the KMP are consolidating. A number of pieces of legislation that limit the right to organise and the political rights of the people, such as the law on mass organisations, the social conflict management law, the UU Pilkada and the national security law, will become a packet of regulations that are ready to return Indonesia to the era of the New Order.

"So the democratic situation is in a state of emergency and requires a mass people's movement to fight it", he asserted.

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

Source: http://solidaritas.net/2014/10/grb-uu-pilkada-disahkan-darurat-demokrasi.html.

Activists congratulate SBY, Prabowo for restoration of New Order dictatorship

Satu Harapan - October 8, 2014

Kartika Virgianti, Jakarta – One hundred and thirty-two civil society and non-government organisations (NGOs) have expressed their concern over Indonesian democracy which will soon return to the era of the New Order dictatorship.

The groups conveyed their good wishes to Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) and Prabowo Subianto's Red and White Coalition (KMP) for successfully taking democracy away from the people.

The remarks were made at a free speech platform organised by the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) under the theme "Democratic Emergency: Don't Let Democracy Die Peacefully, There is Only One Word... Resist!", which was held on the grounds of the YLBHI office in Menteng, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday October 8.

The groups said that the regime of former President B.J. Habibie left Indonesia with more peaceful elections, former President Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid left Indonesia with a culture of pluralism that can be felt to this day, and former President Megawati Sukarnoputri left Indonesia with more democratic space.

But SBY left Indonesia with the law on regional elections (UU Pilkada), the Legislative Institutions Law (UU MD3) and a number of other policies that clearly usurped democracy from the people.

According to the groups, the New Order regime of former President Suharto was a regime where power was held by a small group of people, a leadership of the oligarchy, where the people had no democratic space whatsoever to speak out.

The New Order was a time when activist from social organisations who struggled for democracy were tortured, abducted and injured. It was a time of low wages for workers when prices continued to rise and workers had no democratic space to speak out. It was a time when farmers were strangled by the high price of seed but had no opportunity to speak out against the government. It was a time of great bitterness and suffering for uncounted numbers of ordinary people.

Without intending to side with either camp, neither the KMP or president elect Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and vice president elect Jusuf Kalla, the 132 organisation stated that one of the achievements of democracy has been direct elections, where the ordinary people can participate directly, albeit limed to the polling booth.

But this democracy is far better than one which is owned by a handful of elite. It is most unfortunate that this is the outcome of 15 years of democracy that Indonesia struggled for.

"Congratulations to SBY who will organise the Bali Democracy Forum, congratulations to the Red and White Coalition which ensured the victory of the UU MD3 and UU Pilkada in the DPR [House of Representatives] and won the leadership of the DPR and the MPR [People's Consultative Assembly, upper-house]", said Surya Anta from the People's Liberation Party (PPR).

"Thirteen of our comrades fought for democracy against New Order, today who knows where their graves are, and are now being pissed on by forces that declare themselves for democracy. The KMP declares itself to be democratic, is it democratic when you destroy the achievements that that we won with blood, sweat and tears?", asked Anta.

Notes

The graves of the 13 comrades refers to 13 of the 23 activists abducted by the army's Special Forces 1997-1998 under the command of then General Prabowo Subianto who remain missing presumed dead.

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

Source: http://www.satuharapan.com/read-detail/read/sukses-kembalikan-orde-baru-132-lsm-beri-selamat-sby.

Yogyakarta activists organise to fight Prabowo's 'coalition of thieves'

Tempo.co - October 2, 2014

Anang Zakaria, Yogyakarta – Ten non-government organisations (NGOs) and student groups in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta are demanding the annulment of the recently enacted law on regional elections (UU Pilkada) that abolished the direct election of regional heads.

The groups have opened a coordinating post (posko) at the zero kilometer point at the southern end of Jl. Malioboro to collect photocopies of ID cards (KTP) from people as a form of support for the annulment of the law.

"This afternoon we opened the posko, which will stay open until the evening", said action coordinator Asman Abdullah on the afternoon of Thursday October 2. "Tomorrow (Friday) we'll open it again".

The protesters, who are calling themselves the Direct Election Support Committee, are made up of the Social Movement Institute, the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) and the Association for Elections and Democracy (Perludem). In addition to this, there are also students from Yogyakarta and regional campuses such as the Sunan Kalijaga Islamic State University, the Magelang Muhammadiyah University and the Wajo Student and High School Community.

According to Abdullah, in addition to setting up the posko in the Malioboro shopping district, the committee has also setup coordinating posts on two Yogyakarta campuses, the UIN Sunan Kalijaga and the Yogyakarta Muhammadiyah University. "We've already collected around 100 KTPs", he said.

Coordinating with their networks in Jakarta, he continued, the KTPs will be sent to the Constitutional Court as part of a petition calling for the annulment of the UU Pilkada. According to Abdullah, one of the key points in the UU Pilkada, namely the election of regional heads by regional representative councils (DPRD), poses a threat to the people's sovereignty.

On Thursday September 25, the House of Representatives (DPR) voted to enact the UU Pilkada. Five political parties, the National Mandate Party (PAN), the United Development Party (PPP), the Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) and the Golkar Party, supported the election of regional heads through the DPRD. The Red and White parliamentary coalition that backed the Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa presidential ticket in the July 9 presidential elections won by 256 votes.

Indonesian Student Union (SMI) director Eko Prasetyo said that the action is not in fact just to support the annulment of the UU Pilkada, but also to oppose the parties that make up Prabowo's Red and White Coalition. "The Red Axe Coalition wants to rebuild a political system like the New Order [dictatorship of former President Suharto]", he said.

The threat posed by Red and White Coalition could also be seen in pictures on the banners brought to the action. On one blue banner was written: "The Permanent Coalition of Thieves, Fight the Robbery of the People's Vote!".

According to Prasetyo, Prabowo's coalition has brought democracy in Indonesia to the brink of destruction and the political struggle cannot just be restricted to the parliament. "If civil society organisations do not take to the streets (democracy) will be in very grave danger", he said.

The action, he said, is part of garnering broader public support. Next month, a network of social organisations will gather for a conference titled the "Emergency Democratic Conference". "There will be a launching in 2-3 months from now", he said.

Notes

Permanent Coalition of Thieves – Koalisi Maling Permanen. A play on KMP, the acronym for Prabowo's Red and White Coallition, Koalisi Merah Putih.

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

Source: http://www.tempo.co/read/news/2014/10/02/078611530/Lawan-Koalisi-Kapak-Merah-Warga-Yogya-Buka-Posko.

Jokowi: Don't let the G30S/PKI affair happen again

Liputan 6 - October 1, 2014

Jakarta – Jakarta – President elect Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has called on the Indonesian people not to forget the G30S/PKI (30 September Movement/Indonesian Communist Party) affair that ending in the murder of seven generals in 1965.

According to Widodo the commemoration of this event is needed so that society does not forget the brutality of the affair.

"We must remember this day and the year 1965 so it does not happen again. What is important is don't let it happen again", said Widodo when he attended the commemoration of Sanctity of Pancasila Day at the sanctity of Pancasila monument at Lubang Buaya (Crocodile Hole) in East Jakarta on Wednesday October 1.

Widodo believes that as a sovereign nation with the [state] ideology of Pancasila, all Indonesian citizens are obliged to protect this ideology. Because, it is the idea of an ideology in a country that is important.

"An ideology for a country is important, an ideology for a country is important (sic). Because of this therefore don't let there be a repeat of what happened before", asserted Widodo.

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

Source: http://news.liputan6.com/read/2112711/jokowi-jangan-sampai-g30spki-terulang-lagi.

Employers association launches army-trained security unit to deal with strikes

Tribune News - October 1, 2014

Anne Maria, Batam – The momentum of a friendly gathering with Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) general chairperson Sofyan Wanandi at the inauguration of Apindo's Riau Islands provincial leadership board (DPP) was used by the new DPP chairperson Cahya to introduce the Bima Sakti Guard.

Not just any old security personnel, the Garda Bima Sakti is a unit made up of company security guards trained as Apindo's security team. The team even presented an 'attraction' for Wanandi. They were trained by the army's infantry battalion 134 Tuah Sakti.

"We are preparing these troops as Apindo [security] guards, if we are bothered or the target of demonstrations. If there is a demonstration at company A, we will send them there, because usually those demonstrating are not always legitimate. There are also mafia. We have formed and trained [the unit] not to fight, but we urge security personnel to carry out their duties sincerely", Cahya told Wanandi, who was accompanied by Apindo's Riau Islands review board chairperson Abidin Hasibuan and advisory board chairperson Chris Taenar Wiluan.

According to Cahya, the Garda Bima Sakti are part of Apindo's greater community, to sustain Apindo and fight for employers interests by creating a favourable business climate.

"Not long from now we're entering into deliberations on the UMK [regional minimum wages]. We don't want the UMK [deliberations] to end as they always do in demonstrations, depleting our energy. Earlier we conducted a survey between January and September. The results were that the KHL [reasonable living cost index] is only around 2,011,000 rupiah a month, 2,016,000 at the most. According to regulations, the highest UMK uses the KHL as a point of reference. Meanwhile at the moment, Batam's UMK is far [higher] than the KHL", said Cahya, expressing a complained often felt by employers.

Notes

Four members of battalion 134 Tuah Sakti were shot and injured by police during a raid on an illegal fuel storage facility in Batam on September 24. Speculation is rife that the altercation occurred because the soldiers were attempting to protect the owner of the storage facility.

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

Source: http://batam.tribunnews.com/2014/10/01/apindo-kepri-bentuk-garda-untuk-mengamankan-gangguan-dan-demo.