President's men chastise anti-corruption activists for 'inflaming the masses'

Detik.com - January 25, 2015

Elvan Dany Sutrisno, Jakarta – At a time when the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is in a precarious position with hundreds of pro-KPK activists calling on the ordinary people to unite and safeguard the fight against corruption, it is ironic that efforts by the ordinary people to save the KPK have in fact drawn criticism from government ministers and the political elite that support President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

This lop-sided view was conveyed bluntly by Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno who considers the speeches by pro-KPK activists to be provoking the ordinary people.

"Don't inflame the masses, call on the ordinary people, inflame the people. Come on we're not allowed to things like that, it's a childish position. [The KPK should be] independent, strong. The constitution will support it, not the bogus support of the ordinary people", asserted Purdijatno at the Presidential Palace on Saturday January 24.

Purdijatno is not alone. A similarly questionable view of anti-corruption activists was also conveyed by former State Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief retired General A.M. Hendropriyono, who is also among the ranks of President Widodo's supporters. This is also regrettable because Jokowi should be maintaining his commitment to eradicate corruption.

"I think all the demagogy by observers and paid demonstrators and the like who are sowing hate, hostility and always blaming others without having any real solutions, is just anti-establishment, they should be thrown in jail!", wrote Hendropriyono in a written message.

The Great Dictionary of the Indonesian Language (KBBI) defines the term demagogy (demagog) as a motivator (leader) of the ordinary people who knows how to incite and arouse the spirit of the people to gain power.

If Mr Jokowi does indeed have a commitment to eradicate corruption, why does he remain silent when the KPK is in such a precarious position while his own people join in inflaming the situation?

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was Ironi Aktivis Pro KPK Disebut Demagog hingga Rakyat Tak Jelas.]

Source: http://news.detik.com/read/2015/01/25/123923/2813162/10/ironi-aktivis-pro-kpk-disebut-demagog-hingga-rakyat-tak-jelas.

Pancasila Youth cooperate with police to harass striking workers

Solidarity Net - January 20, 2015

Fariansyah Bagenda, Bekasi – A protest action by striking workers from the company PT Metindo Erasakti which are affiliated with the Fraternity of Indonesian Muslim Workers  (PPMI) was blocked by members of the Pancasila Youth (PP) on Thursday January 15.

According to Solidarity Net's observations on the ground, scores of PP members and police were gathered along the length of a lane leading towards the factory in Narogong, Bekasi city.

The workers were holding the protest action because of the company's policy of refusing to acknowledge the PPMI as a trade union. Moreover, the company accuses the PPMI as being an organisation that is part of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Yet Law Number 21/2000 on Trade Unions guarantees workers the freedom to form and join trade unions.

When contacted on Saturday January 17, the chairperson of the PPMI's Karawang branch, Daeng Wahidin, said that they are not afraid of mass organisations (ormas) or non-government organisations (LSM) that are providing protection to the company.

"Previously, they (the Pancasila Youth – Ed) said they would support us, but later on the ground they defected to the company. But we had already anticipated this. It happens a lot", he said.

According to Wahidin, mass organisations and LSMs often intentionally encourage workers to strike or protest with promises of helping the workers' struggle in order that they are given "security service jobs" with the company.

"It's not impossible that a person will put their life on the line for a wage of just 150,000 rupiah [a month] to defend a company. So as long as we are in the right, we will continue to fight. All of the strikes and protests that we have held are in accordance with the law. If they are broken up, it means [they] broke the law. If anything happens, it is the police that are liable", he said referring to the money given by companies to company paid mass organisations.

The PP is a para-military organisation that that has sprung up again after being shown in two Joshua Oppenheimer films, Jagal (The Act of Killing) and Senyap (The Look of Silence).

In both films PP is seen taking part in the 1965 slaughter of communists in parts of North Sumatra. In Indonesia as whole, as many as 1 million people were killed, tens of thousands interned without trial and 10 of millions lost their political rights. The largest labour organisation at the time, the All Indonesian Central Labour Organisation (SOBSI) which was established on November 29, 1946, was also disbanded.

These days, workers are familiar with the PP often being used as a tool by employers to oppress workers. On October 31, 2013, when workers were holding a national strike to demand their rights, they were attacked by PP and other mass organisations. As many as 17 workers were injured, four of which were stabbed in the back, five slashed, one suffered serious injuries to their arm and seven other were beaten with iron and wood bars.

This does not yet include the many cases of PP acting as "security personnel" at factories, something that has become a public secret.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was Pemuda Pancasila Hadang Aksi Buruh PT Metindo.]

Source: http://solidaritas.net/2015/01/pemuda-pancasila-hadang-aksi-buruh.html.

Censorship board ban of Senyap reflects outdated New Order thinking

Hukum Online - January 5, 2015

The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) regrets and condemns recent incidents around the country in which film screenings of the film Senyap (The Look of Silence) have been closed down by certain mass organisations. The Komnas HAM believes that these closures have not just been approved by local police and military, but also by the Film Censorship Institute (LSF).

Komnas HAM member for education and information, M. Nur Khoiron says that the aim of the Senyap film screenings are in the context of resolving past human rights violation. It is hoped that the film screenings around the country can trigger discussions within society about cases of past human rights violations and the 1965 tragedy in particular.

"The Senyap film screenings are an attempt to promote and facilitate Komnas HAM's mandate to resolve past cases of gross human rights violations. As well as a reminder of the importance of reconciliation efforts", said Khoiron during a press conference at the Komnas HAM offices in Jakarta on Monday January 5.

The Senyap screenings around the country, said Khoiron, have the full support of Komnas HAM and the Jakarta Arts Council (DKJ). The [first public] film screening on November 10, 2014 [in Jakarta] was attended by hundreds of social, political and film industry figures. Khoiron condemned the closure of Senyap screenings around the country such those in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta and the East Java city of Malang.

Khoiron said that all parties should support the Senyap film screenings. The police and the military need to provide protection so that the screenings can proceed smoothly, not instead back the mass organisations that are closing them down. The irony is that the LSF has also given its blessing to the closure of these film screenings.

On December 29 for example, the LSF sent an official letter to the chief of police in the East Java city of Malang supporting the banning of Senyap film screenings. The letter was also set to Komnas HAM. "The LSF states that it is not appropriate to show the film Senyap in public", said Khoiron accusingly.

Khoiron believes that the LSF's actions fail to support the commitment by the government of President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla to resolve past cases of gross human rights violations as detailed in their Nawa Cita nine priorities agenda. Moreover the Department of Home Affairs and the Department of Education and Culture officially support the screenings.

"What has been done by the LSF is the same as the censoring of films during the New Order [dictatorship of former President Suharto] era, not supporting the upholding of human rights. We urge the LSF to revise the move and support the Senyap film screenings", asserted Khoiron.

Komnas HAM member and the coordinator for the handling of past gross human rights violations, Roichatul Aswidah, says that the Senyap film screenings around the country are aimed at promoting a discussion in society about Indonesian history in order that people understand the nation's history and can discuss it in a mature manner.

On these grounds, the women who's acquaintances call Roi admits that she was surprised as to why the LSF has banned the screenings. Yet the screenings are not for commercial interests but social, namely as a forum for discussion. "We will be asking the LSF why they banned the Senyap film screenings", she said.

DKJ chairperson Irawan Karseno asserts that they support the screenings saying that the film is an intelligent and cultural work that conforms with legislation.

Karseno said he regrets the actions by mass organisations, the police and military who have closed down Senyap film screenings around the country. "Their actions reflect the fact that they have inherited outdated ideas of the past. The 1965 tragedy should not be seen just from a political aspect but more importantly from a sociological and psychological [perspective", he exclaimed.

For Karseno it is appropriate that Senyap obtain room to be appreciated, especially domestically, explaining that internationally Senayp has been well received.

DJK general secretary Alex Sihar said that the LSF's authority to censor films is only valid for commercial works. Senyap meanwhile is not being shown for commercial purposes. Even if there are parts that are considered not to be in accordance with legislation, usually the LSF holds a dialogue with the owner of the film first. He is surprised as to why the LSF did not hold a dialogue before banning the screenings. "There was no dialogue, but the LSF went ahead and issued a document banning it", he said.

[Translated by James Balowski for the Indoleft News Service. The original title of the report was Larang Film Senyap, Komnas HAM Sebut LSF Seperti Orba.]

Source: http://www.hukumonline.com/berita/baca/lt54aaaf16ed1ef/larang-film-senyap--komnas-ham-sebut-lsf-seperti-orba.