Ahmadis’ Holidays Plagued With Fear in Indonesia

Ahmadis’ Holidays Plagued With Fear in Indonesia

Not all Muslims celebrated Idul Fitri with jubilance and excitement. For members of the Ahmadiyah minority sect, this year’s celebration is marked by heartache and fear.

Firdaus Mubarik, a spokesman for the Indonesian Ahmadiyah Congregation (JAI), told the Jakarta Globe on Wednesday that approximately 600 Ahmadis in Sukadana village in West Java’s Cianjur district had been banned from using their mosque for prayers.

“Ahmadiyah followers in Sukadana village were told by the village chief that they could not use their own mosque to hold a Idul Fitri prayer in case of a possible attack by the residents,” Firdaus said.

“For us, this is a threat.”

Instead, Firdaus said the group had to hold its prayers inside an Ahmadiyah Islamic school as guards from Cianjur kept watch.

Similar threats were also aired against Ahmadis in Makassar, who were recently attacked by assailants from the hardline Islamic Defenders Front (FPI).

“Even though our mosque was damaged by the FPI on August 13, thank God we could hold Idul Fitri prayers in our own mosque peacefully this morning wthout any disturbance,” Irza Rasid, an Ahmadi from Makassar, told the Globe.

“Unfortunately, we could not stay longer to gather and celebrate Idul Fitri among the Ahmadiyah congregation because we did not want the FPI to come and attack us,” he added.

Last month, FPI members attacked the Makassar office of the JAI, where Ahmadis had planned to hand out food and groceries to the surrounding community.

“The FPI often conducts raids on Ahmadiyah activities without any coordination with the police. Not only did they carry out raids, but also threats and intimidation towards us.” Irza said. “It needs to be understood that we do not want to fight back ... because we have our own motto, which is love for all, hatred for none.”

The JAI has recorded more than 160 cases of violence against Ahmadiyah communities in the last 10 years.

In Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, Ahmadis have been living in a rundown shelter for nearly six years after their village was attacked and ransacked by mainstream Muslim groups.

“We have lost our land, we have lost our homes. Some have even lost their lives, but we are thankful for we have you, Allah,” Ahmadi children sang after the community performed their Idul Fitri prayer on Wednesday.

Many cried as some 50 children sang the song remembering the violence that drove them away from one village to the next, destroying every possession that they owned.

More than 250 Ahmadis took part in the prayer, occupying a tiny room in the middle of the abandoned Transito building. The ceiling showed signs of collapsing on to the congregation, which had to use makeshift prayer mats made from recycled newspapers and torn sheets of plastic.

Community members prepared a simple chicken stew and rice cake.

“I know they are nothing fancy, but they remind me of home,” 58 year-old Siti Kalsum said.

City to Release Targets of Ramadan Crackdown

City to Release Targets of Ramadan Crackdown

The Jakarta administration will release more than 2,000 beggars, buskers and street children it deemed a nuisance during Ramadan and crammed into shelters.

Kian Kelana, head of the city’s social affairs agency, said on Wednesday that the people, known collectively as PMKS, would be released a week after Idul Fitri celebrations and had received “training” during their time in the shelters.

“We have rounded up more than 2,000 PMKS and have placed them in shelters in Kedoya, Cengkareng [both in West Jakarta] and Ceger [in East Jakarta],” he said. “During this time, we provided them with skills training, so they will have the skills to get a proper job rather than returning to the streets and panhandling.”

The government began rounding up the people on July 20, ahead of Ramadan, which began on Aug. 1. The move came in anticipation of an increase in the number of beggars and buskers who come to Jakarta from rural areas during the holy month.

Kian said most of the people put in shelters were not from Jakarta and would be sent back to their hometowns. “Most of the PMKS come from West Java and Central Java, and we’re coordinating with the provincial social affairs offices there to send them back to their families,” he said.

Those without families, he continued, would receive additional training over the next three weeks to improve their chances of finding employment.

Kian said the training provided at the shelters was intended to teach them how to repair air-conditioners and cellphones, and learn gardening, cooking and beauty salon skills.

“AC and cellphone repairs are our main focus because these two skills provide them with greater job opportunities and allow them to be their own bosses,” he said.

Last year, the administration arrested 2,500 PMKS ahead of Ramadan, 50 percent fewer than in 2009. Though the raids this year officially ended on Sunday, public order officers rounded up at least 46 beggars on Tuesday night.

Data from the social affairs agency shows the number of street children in the capital has increased from 5,650 in 2010 to 7,315 so far this year.

Most of them work as panhandlers, buskers, illegal parking attendants or three-in-one “jockeys,” riding with motorists to allow them to skirt rules on the number of passengers required in cars on major thoroughfares during commute times.

FPI Threatens ‘Serious Action’ Over Film

FPI Threatens ‘Serious Action’ Over Film

A hard-line Islamic group has threatened to demonstrate outside the headquarters of a TV station on Saturday over its plans to air a controversial film.

Habib Salim Alatas, the leader of the Jakarta wing of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), claimed approximately 1,500 of its members would gather outside the SCTV offices to demand it cancel all plans to air the film on Takbir night.

The film by director Hanung Bramantyo, called “?”, studies the role and state of Islam in modern Indonesian society. The FPI’s goal is to establish Shariah law and it has used violent methods in the past.

“We do not understand why SCTV is willing to air ‘?’, while the Indonesian Council of Ulema [MUI] has clearly said the movie damages Islamic values and morale,” Alatas said.

The MUI issued a fatwa, or Islamic ruling, in April forbidding Muslims from watching the film, claiming it propagated the idea that there are paths to God other than Islam.

Alatas said SCTV knew people opposed the film, adding that it was not just the FPI. Other organizations affiliated with the Islamic People’s Forum (FUI) would join the campaign, he said.

“We will go to the SCTV studio in the afternoon and we will not leave until the SCTV staff comes outside and gives us assurances that they will not air the film,” he continued. “If SCTV still airs it, we will take serious action.”

He said his group had sent a letter outlining its proposed protest to the Jakarta Police.

SCTV spokesman Uki Hastma said the station would take time to listen to the FPI but added that no decisions had yet been made about whether or not to screen the controversial film.

“I cannot say yet what other steps we will take. That will be decided after talks with the FPI,” Uki said.

The award-winning Hanung, who is known for exploring religion’s role in modern society in his movies, said he hoped SCTV would not give in to the FPI.

“As a television station, SCTV can only be controlled by the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission [KPI],” Hanung said, adding that the station could lose its credibility if it backed down.

“If SCTV gives in to the FPI’s demands, it will lose its credibility. I believe that SCTV will not risk their credibility easily.”

The enigmatically titled “?”, is a study of the role and state of Islam in modern Indonesian society. Released in April, the film stirred up heated debate and protests long before it ever reached a projection room or was shown in movie theaters.

A group called Banser, which operates as the youth wing of the country’s largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama, has been among the more vocal critics of “?” in the run-up to its launch.

The group objected to a scene in which young Banser recruits are seen being paid to perform tasks that would normally be in direct breach of a good Muslim’s duty to be charitable.

From Bikes to Buses, Mudik Migration is On

From Bikes to Buses, Mudik Migration is On

Nurfika Osman, Dessy Sagita, Elisabeth Oktofani & Arientha Primanita

Taking any mode of transportation available, residents of Jakarta have begun streaming out of the capital in what could best be described as an orderly crush.

Maya Puspitasari, who was heading to her hometown of Bengkulu with her cousins, took the quickest option of flying, but she found herself stuck in toll-road gridlock on the way to the airport on Friday — at 5 a.m.

The jam’s cause was a long line of cars entering the airport complex. Once inside Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Maya said the domestic terminal was unusually packed with people heading out of town. But even with the crowd, she said the mudik experience this year was more comfortable than previously.

“Fortunately, this year they provided more benches outside the departure gate,” she said. “Last year, I had to stand while I was waiting for my friends to show up.”

By 6 a.m., thousands of would-be passengers hauling heavy luggage had packed the check-in counters. “I can’t even move my trolley,” one woman told the Jakarta Globe. “It is still early in the morning but there are people everywhere.”

The waiting rooms at the boarding gates were also crowded, with many people forced to stand while waiting for their flight. Some were even sitting on the floor.

There were also more passengers than usual carrying cartons of donuts — a time-honored treat for passengers to take from Jakarta to their hometowns.

The Globe observed hundreds of people carrying the ubiquitous boxes. “I bought eight dozen donuts,” said Dyah, a college student. “There are no famous donut chains in my hometown.”

All Aboard

Those seeking an option cheaper than flying but without the hassle of traffic jams took the train, traditionally one of the more popular approaches to mudik.

Faozan Latief, who paid Rp 150,000 ($18) for a one-way ticket to his hometown of Tegal in Central Java, said the train was the best choice, assuming one could get a ticket.

“It’s the fastest way to get to Tegal,” he said. “It only takes six hours, but if you drove it’d take an additional two or three hours.”

The only hitch, he said, was getting tickets, which during this time of year tend to be scarce and expensive.

“I’d have preferred to take the executive train, but unfortunately tickets sold out quickly,” Faozan said. “It was either the business or economy class, because I wasn’t going to go by bus and get stuck in the heavy traffic.”

Armadita, a Yogyakarta native, agreed that mudik was best experienced by rail, having previously tried to make the trip by car and plane.

“I like trains the most because they’re more comfortable and affordable. Flying is faster, but on the train you enjoy the trip more because you can sightsee along the way,” she told the Globe.

However, she said she still expected state-owned railway operator Kereta Api Indonesia to improve the level of service for passengers.

“The seats are often damaged and not that comfortable, and the floors are often dirty,” Armadita said. “You also get panhandlers and hawkers on the economy and business-class trains.”

She also called on the government to better plan for mudik by cracking down on the practice of ticket scalping, which she blamed for exorbitant prices during the holiday period.

Surprisingly Orderly

For Cameron Bates, a Web editor at the Globe, the trip to his wife’s hometown of Pringsewu district in Lampung was a combination of driving and taking a ferry. The latter involved a marathon 10-hour wait for a ferry at Merak Port in Banten.

“I spent 16 hours nonstop in the car from Jakarta to Pringsewu and only used half a tank of gas,” he said after arriving on Friday afternoon.

He said there were thousands of cars waiting to board the ferries, which were arriving at 45-minute intervals. Despite the sheer number of travelers, he said the whole process was “surprisingly orderly,” thanks to the efforts of the port workers.

Once at Lampung’s Bakauheni Port, however, the Trans-Sumatra Highway to Pringsewu was heavily pot-holed and the normally hour-long trip stretched to three hours.

“It looks like they’ve purposely dug up the road. I’ve never seen anything like it in 10 years of driving to Lampung,” Bates said. “It seems like they’re purposely preventing people from arriving.”

He added that a friend who had left Jakarta a day earlier on the same route had managed to beat the rush.

Cheap, but Risky

Motorcycles are by far the most popular form of travel for mudik.

Rahma Yunita, a kindergarten teacher in East Jakarta, told the Globe it took her and her husband six and a half hours by motorbike to reach their hometown of Garut, West Java, last year.

“It costs less than taking the executive bus,” she said, adding that bus tickets cost Rp 85,000 per person. “We only spend about Rp 50,000 on fuel and we can overtake the cars whenever there’s a traffic jam.”

She added that she was aware motorcyclists accounted for the majority of casualties every year during mudik, but she stressed they took all necessary precautions for a safe trip.

“We got lots of sleep earlier because we can’t afford to be sleepy on the road,” Rahma said. “We also keep what we’re bringing to a bare minimum because when you’re riding a motorcycle, you don’t want to take any risks.”

Eager to Quash Breast Exam Reports, Garuda Tries PR Offensive in S. Korea

Eager to Quash Breast Exam Reports, Garuda Tries PR Offensive in S. Korea

Keen to scotch reports it was conducting medical checks on the breasts of potential recruits, airline Garuda Indonesia this week invited South Korean journalists to talk directly to flight attendant candidates from the country about what had occurred in their interviews.

On Wednesday, Garuda held the final entry test for applicants and invited seven local media outlets to meet the candidates.

“We feel very embarrassed and uncomfortable with the report on the breast-check allegations and that we were asked to be naked during the medical examination,” one of the applicants was reported as saying by Chosun, a Korean news Web site.

She said that if a breast check had occurred, they would have spoken out.

“We would not have remained quiet and said nothing, because we are not stupid,” said the applicant, who was not identified.

She added that during the health examination, doctors only checked their chests and all the aspiring flight attendants were wearing a brassier and hospital gown.

Previously, news agency Agence France-Presse reported that an applicant for a Garuda cabin crew position in South Korea, who requested that her name not be published, said dozens of candidates were required to strip down to their panties so a doctor, who was male, could check for tattoos and breast implants.

A spokesman for Garuda’s Seoul office said the medical tests should have followed routine procedures, which did not include breast examinations.

Ikhsan Rosan, a spokesman for Garuda, denied reports of breast checks.

“It needs to be clearly noted that we have never asked applicants to get naked for the health examination or the interview because we do not have any procedure for such a breast examination,” he said.

“Even if we had, we must follow the procedure where there should be no cause for sexual harassment, by, for instance, doing it by X-ray.”

Ikhsan declined to give details on the applicants, citing clauses protecting their confidentiality.

Garuda, he said, has started hiring foreign flight attendants to improve the airline’s service on international routes by taking on staff members with language skills that would make communication with passengers easier.

Since the start of last year, the airline has hired foreign flight attendants to assist on routes from Indonesia to South Korea, China and Japan, Ikhsan said.

Garuda, and its low-cost carrier offshoot, Citilink, are in the process of expanding their networks to other destinations.

FPI to Besiege SCTV Studio Over Controversial '?' Film

FPI to Besiege SCTV Studio Over Controversial '?' Film

The Islamic Defenders Front has plans to besiege the SCTV studio in Jakarta on Saturday for its plans to air the controversial “?” film on Takbir night.

Habib Salim Alatas, the Jakarta Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) leader, claimed approximately 1,500 of its members were going to gather outside the SCTV premises and demand it cancel all plans to air the film.

“We do not understand why SCTV is willing to air "?", while the Indonesian Council of Ulema (MUI) has clearly said the movie damages Islamic values and morale,” he said.

The film "?", by Hanung Bramantyo, is a study of the role and state of Islam in modern Indonesian society.

However, Hanung's bold portrayal of the religion has caused many critics and hard-line followers of the faith to call it blasphemous.

MUI issued a religious edict in April forbidding Muslims from watching the movie, saying “?” implied it was alright to abandon Islam since it showed the alternative paths to God.

Alatas said SCTV knows that demands were made for Mahaka Pictures to prohibit the controversial movie.

He added that the FPI would not leave the SCTV studio until they promised to take “?” off air.

He said the group has sent a letter outline their proposed protest to the Jakarta Police.

“If SCTV still airs “?”, we will take serious action,” he said.

SCTV spokesman Uki Hastma said the station would take time to listen to FPI.

"However, I cannot say yet what other steps we will take. That will be decided after we talk with FPI," Uki said.

Garuda Denies Breast Check Allegations

Garuda Denies Breast Check Allegations

Elisabeth Oktofani & AFP

Garuda Indonesia on Wednesday denied allegations by a South Korean job applicant that male doctors were examining aspiring flight attendants’ breasts to detect any implants.

Pujobroto, the flagship carrier’s corporate secretary, said the routine medical examination that formed part of the recruitment process did not involve a breast examination.

“It is not true that we have hired a … doctor to give breast examinations to check whether or not applicants have breast implants,” he said.

The applicant for a cabin crew position in South Korea, who requested that her name not be published, said dozens of candidates for 18 highly coveted female flight attendant positions with Garuda were required to strip down to their panties so a doctor, who was male, could check for tattoos and breast implants.

A Garuda official was quoted by South Korea’s Yonhap news agency as saying, “The breast examination by hand was done since those with implants can have health issues when air pressure falls during flights.”

He went on to say that cabin crew are banned from having tattoos, and workers hired oversees, including in Japan and Australia, were subject to a similar process.

A spokesman for Garuda’s Seoul office said the medical tests should have followed routine procedures, which did not include breast examinations.

“We are investigating the matter by questioning managers and the doctor who was in charge of the checkups,” Park Sung-hyun said.

“This is very embarrassing.”

But a Garuda spokesman, Ikhsan Rosan, denied all this, including the claim that applicants were naked during the exam.

“We’ve checked with our Korean office and they said such an examination never happened,” he said, adding that they would investigate further if deemed necessary.

Pujobroto also said the physical checks were performed by a trusted team of Garuda doctors from Indonesia.

“All doctors are assisted by a female Korean staff member during the examination,” he said, adding that five of the 27 Korean applicants failed the test. He did not give the reason.

The news has baffled industry peers and angered women’s rights groups, which called the process intrusive.

“We’ve never heard of or done such a checkup on flight attendants,” said a spokesman for Korean Air, calling the Jakarta-based airline’s tests “bizarre.”

“I wonder if that means passengers with breast implants should not fly also,” he said.
Mariana Amiruddin, editor in chief of women’s rights magazine Jurnal Perempuan, said such examinations were unwarranted.

“For me, this is such a weird and unnecessary medical checkup requirement,” she said.
Garuda is expanding its services to the North Asian country, which has a large number of expatriates living in Indonesia.

Passengers Now Free to Surf the Web As They Ride the Rails With Wi-Fi

Passengers Now Free to Surf the Web As They Ride the Rails With Wi-Fi

Taking the train has always been one of the travel methods of choice for those unwilling to spend hours stuck in gridlock for the annual Idul Fitri hometown trek known as mudik . But now there’s another reason to go by rail: a Wi-Fi Internet connection.

State railway operator Kereta Api Indonesia said on Wednesday that it had outfitted all 82 executive-class trains serving its cross-Java routes with Wi-Fi. Seven key stations also have the facility.

“A working Internet connection is not an exclusive public facility anymore,” Sugeng Priyono, a KAI spokesman, told the Jakarta Globe.

“It’s become a necessity for people to get access to information. That’s why we wanted to improve our facilities by providing a Wi-Fi connection for passengers so they can have Internet access when traveling by train.”

Sugeng said that although Wi-Fi had been introduced for mudik, it would remain in place after the holidays as part of efforts by KAI to improve the commuting experience.

“It’s a long-term plan to improve our services to train passengers, and there’s a possibility that we’ll expand it to routes outside Java,” he said.

The railway operator introduced the Wi-Fi facility in cooperation with IM2, a private Internet service provider.

Indar Atmanto, president director of IM2, said the company had provided two wireless networks for the trains: IM2-KAI and INDOSATNet.

“The IM2-KAI network can be accessed for free by all users from any [Internet-enabled] gadget for Web browsing,” he said.

“However, it cannot be used to download files or watch or listen to streaming audio or video.”

The INDOSATNet option, meanwhile, has a higher bandwidth but is not free.

“INDOSATNet is a prepaid Internet connection, which costs Rp 0.5 per Mb, and it allows premium Internet connection facilities such as downloading,” Indar said.

The password to access the IM2-KAI network is indosatm2-kai. Those planning to use the INDOSATNet network need an existing IM2 account or they can buy a prepaid IM2 SIM card with Rp 10,000 or Rp 25,000 in credit.

The trains on which the service is already available are the Parahyangan line from Jakarta to Bandung; Sembrani and Bima (Jakarta-Surabaya); Taksaka (Jakarta-Yogyakarta); Argo Lawu (Jakarta-Solo); Sancaka (Surabaya-Yogyakarta); Jakarta-Semarang (Argo Muria); and the Argo Wilis line, from Surabaya to Bandung.

The participating stations are Gambir in Jakarta, Bandung Hall in the West Java capital, Tugu in Yogyakarta, Tawang in Semarang, Balapan in Solo and Turi and Gubeng in Surabaya.

For Many, Pawning Is a Smart, Not Desperate Move

For Many, Pawning Is a Smart, Not Desperate Move

In the days before Idul Fitri, the scene is always the same — long lines of people at pawnshops who want to get some quick cash to fund their annual trek to their hometowns.

This year, though, customers leave with a bit more sparkle in their eyes after pawning their jewelry as gold prices sit at an all-time high.

A gram of gold is now priced at about Rp 530,000 ($62) on the local market, a jump of more than 40 percent from going rate before Idul Fitri last year.

This means, for example, that 36-year-old Sumiatun can borrow as much as Rp 18 million from state-owned pawnshop operator Perum Pegadaian, in exchange for pawning her 25-gram gold necklace and 15-gram gold bracelet. A person can borrow a maximum of 85 percent of the estimated price of a pawned item.

The entrepreneurial woman, who works primarily as a cleaning lady, is holding much of her and her husband’s savings in the precious metal, and this is the first time she’s going to pawn them.

“I want to take advantage of the high price of gold now,” Sumiatun said while waiting her turn at the pawnshop in Keramat Raya, Central Jakarta.

“I am going to use the cash to go back to Tegal [Central Java] to celebrate Lebaran with my family, and I will buy traditional Muslim outfits in Tanah Abang and sell them back home,” she said, adding that she would use the profit from selling the clothes to redeem her gold jewelry after a couple of months.

Many Indonesians still lack bank accounts and access to conventional bank loans. At the pawnshop, they can borrow between Rp 20,000 and Rp 200 million — often enough to pay off bills or tide them over during a crisis.

In the lead up to Idul Fitri, extra cash is often needed to pay for the trek home, known as mudik , and to buy new clothes to flaunt during the celebrations. Irianto, a spokesman for Perum Pegadaian, said that the holy month usually sees a 5 to 10 percent increase in business.

Indeed, around this time every year, 43-year-old Indriyani can be found in the waiting room of a pawnshop. This year, she’s going to pawn her 15-gram gold bracelet.

“One thing that I like about the pawnbroking system is that it is quick, and I do not have to pay high interest,” she said.

Perum Pegadaian allows customers four months to pay back a loan, plus interest, or to extend it for another four months. Interest rates range from 0.75 percent to 1.3 percent per 15 days, depending on the amount of the loan, plus a 1 percent administration fee.

But aside from that, Indriyani says she feels it is a secure place to keep her precious assets while she is away.

“I just feel safer leaving my jewelry at the pawnshop rather than bringin g it with me, as I do not want it to be stolen on my way back home to East Java,” Indriyani said.

KAI Tries to Bring Order to Train Stations

KAI Tries to Bring Order to Train Stations

Camelia Pasandaran, Dessy Sagita & Elisabeth Oktofani

As the country entered the last week of Ramadan, when people traditionally start traveling back to their hometowns, confusion reigned at train stations where new policies were put in place.

Unlike in past years, train stations in the capital have prohibited passengers from waiting at the platforms until their trains are scheduled to arrive.

Mateta Rijalulhaq, a Kereta Api Indonesia spokesman for the Greater Jakarta area, said the new system had been created to avoid confusion and to help prevent passengers from boarding the wrong train.

“They will be called up an hour before their train comes, so they will know exactly which train they should take and they can wait more comfortably without the crowds,” he said.

“We want nothing more than to make the system more orderly. This is for the passengers’ own convenience.”

Mateta said many passengers had in the past camped at the stations for hours before their trains arrived. “Some even came a day before their scheduled train. They camp up here in the station and leave garbage strewn everywhere,” he said.

He conceded that while there had been protests from passengers on the first day its implementation, the new system would be strictly applied during the week leading up to Idul Fitri on Tuesday, and for 11 days after. “This system is expected to teach people to be more patient and to follow the regulations,” Mateta said.

Aida Wahyuningtyas, a 25-year-old university student, said she was happy with the state railway operator’s new policy. “I appreciate that KAI really cares about its passengers by providing us with chairs and newspapers outside the waiting area,” she said. “It’s so much better than all the passengers waiting inside.”

However, she said a better public announcement system was needed to alert people of when to board their trains.

Mardi, 56, and Parman, 64, two long-time Jakarta residents planning to head to Yogyakarta from Senen Station in Central Jakarta, were still without tickets about four hours before their train was scheduled to leave.

“We are usually able to get a ticket on the spot, but I do not know why it is taking longer this time,” Mardi said. “Other than that, I didn’t see any ticket scalpers around.”

Earlier on Tuesday, a spokesman for Vice President Boediono, Yopie Hidayat, said KAI had been ordered to better inform the public of its policy changes.

Boediono, Yopie said, had also asked Transportation Minister Freddy Numberi to work more closely with ship, train and flight operators over Idul Fitri.

Freddy said he had already warned three airlines about selling tickets above the government imposed price ceiling, but he declined to name the companies.

I Ketut Fery Utameyasa, a spokesman for Angkasa Pura II, which manages Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, said passenger numbers were up about 5 percent on Tuesday but expected traffic to peak on Friday.

Papuan Conflict Will Get Worse Without Development Unit: ICG

Papuan Conflict Will Get Worse Without Development Unit: ICG

The government must quickly set up a long-awaited body to oversee political and economic development in the restive province of Papua if it is to stem a rising tide of violence there, analysts said on Monday.

Sidney Jones, a senior adviser for the Brussels-based International Crisis Group, said it was crucial that the Unit for the Acceleration of Development in Papua and West Papua (UP4B), first proposed in the middle of last year, finally be realized.

“It’s not a guarantee that the situation will get better, but it will certainly get worse without a new approach from the central government,” she said.

A report on the conflict in Papua, which was released by the ICG on Monday, argues that current efforts to create a peaceful resolution are ineffective.

The situation on the ground, it says, in particular in the highland district of Puncak Jaya, remains fraught with conflict.

The report said the current policy of pumping more money and security forces into the province was not a comprehensive conflict resolution strategy, suggesting instead that the establishment of the UP4B had the potential to be more helpful.

“Initially conceived as an agency to implement ‘quick win’ development projects, it seemed by early 2011 to be gaining a wider mandate that could also allow it to address more sensitive issues related to land, conflict and human rights,” ICG said.

However, the draft decree to set up the UP4B has been stalled at the Cabinet Secretariat since May and still not been submitted to the president to sign.

“Without the new unit, the chance of any positive change is much diminished, allowing developments in Puncak Jaya to stand as a symbol for activists inside and outside Indonesia of everything that is wrong with Papua,” the report said.

The ICG said another way to reduce tensions was to ensure that perpetrators of state violence were brought to justice, in a bid to build confidence in the state among the indigenous community.

It also argued that security forces and other officials should be briefed on the complexities of Papuan ethnic relations, and that the series of indicators produced at the Papua Peace Conference in early July should serve as guidelines for public policy at the national and local levels.

“At least the indicators provide some ideas on how to move forward,” said Jim Della-Giacoma, the ICG’s Southeast Asia program director. “The challenge now is to make tangible changes that Papuans themselves would regard as progress.”

The ICG attributed the spike in insurgency-related violence in Puncak Jaya to “a complex set of factors,” including “a sense of historical injustice, harsh actions by security forces and competition and factionalism, sometimes clan-based, among the fighters themselves.”

“Violence there helps fuel local political activism and an international solidarity movement, which in turn fuels antipathy in Jakarta to any steps toward conflict resolution that involve discussion of political grievances,” the report said.

Creative Ideas Make Life Easier for Many

Creative Ideas Make Life Easier for Many

The idea may not be original but granting microcredits for housewives to develop businesses is proving to be a big help for poor families in rural areas.

The idea, which earned Bangladeshi economist Muhammad Yunus the Nobel Peace Prize, is being put into practice by a South Kalimantan community group.

For Ilah, 31, a housewife in Kertak Hanyar, the small loan helped her and some friends make extra cash by producing handmade Sasirangan batik, which is unique to the area.

She and nine other mothers joined local community development group Al Munawarah, which initially received Rp 10 million ($1,200) from the government.

Then last year, the group received a Rp 27.5 million loan under the National Community Empowerment Program (PNPM).

Banniah, 33, a mother of two, said she was able to earn Rp 1 million per month by making and selling batik. Before joining Al Munawarah in 2009, her husband was the sole breadwinner for the family.

“Now I have been able to save more money for my family,” Banniah told the Jakarta Globe earlier this month.

Al Munawarah chairwoman Masrupah said the group did not operate just for the benefit of its members, but also helped other women in the area.

“They can do part-time jobs such as knitting, especially during the peak season at the start of the school year,” she said.

“Sasirangan batik is very popular for school and office uniforms in South Kalimantan. Because we have so much demand every month, we need more people to work with us so we can meet our deadline,” she said.

State Funding, Community Decision

When the PNPM was introduced in 2007, many cities, including Semarang in Central Java and Surabaya in East Java, rejected the program because they feared it was little more than a disguised political campaign by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

But as public acceptance grew, the program’s budget increased from its initial Rp 3.6 trillion. The government earmarked Rp 13 trillion for the program this year, covering more than 6,500 subdistricts.

Under the program, the government provides financial assistance for communities to deal with jobs, roads, irrigation, water supply, health centers and schools. Since 2007, South Kalimantan has received Rp 6 billion in PNPM funding.

“Because the money is managed according to the community’s needs, it’s not the government who decides where the funding will go, but the community,” said Masadriansyah, a governement official in South Kalimantan.

In addition to community business loans, PNPM funding is also allocated for infrastructure development and job training in small community groups.

Better Water Supply

South Kalimantan’s capital, Banjarmasin, is known as “the city with a thousand rivers,” but water supply and sanitation infrastructure have long been major problems, as rivers become increasingly polluted.

But with PNPM funding, an increasing number of residents are getting access to clean water.

“Previously, my husband and I had to either buy water or simply took water from the polluted river for showers, cooking and washing clothes,” said resident Fridah, 53. “Consuming water from a polluted river is dangerous; I often got sick using it. I am very happy now with the access to the clean water.”

Banjarmasin’s deputy mayor, Irwan Anshari, said local water provider PD PAL now provided more than 120,000 houses with access to clean water, and more than 5,000 houses were connected to the city water sanitation infrastructure.

“The existence of so many rivers is no longer a big help in terms of water supply because of pollution,” he said.

PD PAL is expanding its water sanitation and wastewater management infrastructure. At the moment, it doesn’t charge any fees to subscribers for the first six months. After that, they will have to pay for the service.

Marwanto Harjowiyono, Finance Ministry official, said the central government had allocated Rp 231 billion for clean water supplies and sanitation programs nationwide.

Australian Support

With Australia spending 558 million Australian dollars ($586 million) on help to improve the living standards of 110 million Indonesians living on less than $2 a day, the nation is the key supporter of the PNPM.

Of that amount, about 20 million Australian dollars is allocated to provide piped water facilities in poor urban communities around the country and to increase the number of households with sewerage connections.

This support provides 60,000 households with new connections to piped water and up to 10,000 households with sewerage connections.

“The Australian government is very proud to be the largest supporter of the PNPM program in Indonesia, outside the Indonesian government itself,” said Peter Baxter, director general of the Australian government’s Agency for International Development (AusAID).

“The PNPM program is a very good program for empowering the community and is a very famous program around the world as it has a direct impact on people’s lives.”

Honoring Indonesia's Everyday Heroes

Honoring Indonesia's Everyday Heroes

Dessy Sagita & Elisabeth Oktofani

Every Independence Day, a moment of silence is accorded to our national heroes, those who sacrificed their lives to make the country what it is today. But for each of those heroes remembered, thousands more are still selflessly toiling away to move this nation forward. Here are just a handful of those unsung heroes:

Paulus J. Agustinus, nurse

Paulus had wanted to become a health worker for as long as he could remember. His father, he said, found satisfaction in his work as a public nurse even though he only earned a meager salary.

“Despite his difficult life, my father passed away with such contentment on his face. I wanted that,” the 50-year-old told the Jakarta Globe. “That’s why I decided to follow his dream and become a nurse myself.”

He moved from his hometown on Kisar, a small island in southeast Maluku, to the bustling city of Ambon to enroll at a nursing academy. While most of his classmates opted for the comfort of working in big cities after graduation, Paulus went to work on Wetar island, about 50 kilometers from East Timor.

“It was 1983. The island was so big,” he recalled. “For that big island, I was the only health worker, serving 23 villages on my own.”

Although Paulus no longer works alone, with 18 other health workers now sharing the burden at the community health center in Ilwaki, Paulus has had to walk long distances to serve the communities he lives with. The island, even today, does not have a public transportation system, so he regularly makes his house visits on foot.

From Ilwaki to the nearest village, Paulus has to walk for at least four hours. If he were to make the rounds of the 23 villages, it would take him three months.

And even after reaching the villages, he still has trouble finding the residents.

“They are farmers, they spend most of their time working on the land, so I have to meet them one by one and ask if they have any health problems,” he said.

Like many other remote regions around the country, malaria is endemic on Wetar, as are health problems stemming from poor nutrition and poor sanitation.

But Paulus said he did not want to work in bigger cities. “I will continue serving here until the day I die, hopefully,” he said.

Achmad Syaiful Kahfi, firefighter

Whenever Kahfi hears a siren, his first reaction is to snap to attention and rush out to look for people in trouble.

“This is our job, rescuing people from fires,” the 42-year-old said. “We must respond very quickly. It’s all about speed, we don’t ever want to be late.”

Kahfi, who has been a firefighter since 1990, told the Jakarta Globe he was nearly killed in a fire in Pasar Baru. He managed to escape but watched the flames claim one of his superiors on the seventh floor of a burning building.

Only last week, he was among three firefighters who ran out of oxygen while rescuing nine people from a building overcome by thick, toxic smoke in Menteng, Central Jakarta.

But even with a job as risky as his, Kahfi has never burdened his wife or his children with the travails of his work.

“I usually only tell my family the good things about my job, especially how people thank us for a job well done in putting out fires,” he said. “It gives us a wonderful feeling to have helped someone. Even when they’ve lost their homes, they’ve lost all their stuff, they still thank us.”

Kahfi said that to make his job easier, people should not panic in the face of a fire.

“In order to effectively put out fires, we need everyone’s cooperation,” he said. “Therefore, the first thing you must do is call us on 113 so we can respond quickly. But you must keep your cellphone with you because we may call back for confirmation.”

For his dedication, Kahfi, a senior high school graduate, was granted a scholarship to complete a diploma at the Bogor Agricultural Institute (IPB) in 2002. In 2004, Kahfi undertook a bachelor’s degree at Sekolah Tinggi Teknologi Indonesia and eventually got his master’s degree from Mercubuana University in 2009.

Dwi Sari Tristiana Dewi, water and sanitation specialist

Fresh after finishing her environmental health studies in 2005, Dwi was dying for a little adventure before settling down and starting a career.

As it happened, a reverend from East Nusa Tenggara that she knew offered her a trip to Alor, a quiet island 250 kilometers northwest of the provincial capital, Kupang.

“I was young and bored. All I wanted to do was go traveling,” she said. “This reverend ran an orphanage in Alor and she asked if I wanted to meet the children. So I went there.”

Without thinking twice, she left her hometown of Ponorogo in East Java and headed off to the remote reaches of East Nusa Tenggara, which she now considers her home.

Touched by the plight of the children at the orphanage, Dwi decided to stay on Alor and use her knowledge as a sanitation specialist to help the island’s people, who are still grappling with poor nutrition and poor sanitation.

“At first, I was like: ‘What have I done? This is a ghost town, jungle and sea everywhere, there’s nothing for me here,’ ” she said.

She started working as an administrator at a community health center in Kokar, which is in the northwest of the island, teaching villagers about hygiene. She has trekked up and down mountains and canoed to 20 islets around Alor to help people.

One of her aims is to get every family on the island to build their own toilet facility. Or at least get every three families together to build a shared facility.

This year, she was named the best health worker in East Nusa Tenggara, being granted the honor alongside 131 other health workers from across the country and invited to attend the official Independence Day ceremony at the State Palace on Wednesday.

“I do wonder sometimes why I stay,” she said. “The pay is peanuts and it’s so far away from my family. But I really can’t leave all those people that I love so dearly.”

Dwi said that no matter how poor they were, the villagers were always willing to share their meager harvests of corn, coconut or cassava with her.

Mira Rahmawati, doctor

When Mira graduated from the medical faculty at Trisakti University in Jakarta in the 1990s, she could have opted for a comfortable job in the city.

But she instead chose to return to Sambas in West Kalimantan, where she had done her internship. “I figured somebody had to stay in this remote place, and I didn’t mind finishing what I’d started,” she said.

Mira has since become the principal doctor and head of the Salatiga community health center for the district.

Now the 42-year-old’s home is eight kilometers down a bumpy, muddy path from the nearest main road.

“What worries me is that our health center doesn’t even have electricity,” she said.

Without electricity, she said it was particularly difficult to store medicine and use some of the equipment. The health center is also only able to provide very basic services, which is far from what is needed.

But Mira’s efforts to fight malnutrition in Sambas has nonetheless been recognized with an honorable doctor award this year.

“It’s not about being a hero, it’s about putting a smile on people’s face,” she said. “And it makes you happy as well.”

Former Antigraft Chief’s Lawyers Request Review of Murder Conviction

Former Antigraft Chief’s Lawyers Request Review of Murder Conviction

The legal team of former antigraft czar Antasari Azhar filed on Monday for a case review of his murder conviction, citing flawed legal reasoning by the judges and overlooked evidence.

Maqdir Ismail, a lawyer for the former Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chairman — who was sentenced to 18 years in prison in 2010 for the murder of businessman Nasrudin Zulkarnaen — said there were several issues raised at the trial at the South Jakarta District Court that subsequent appeal courts had failed to properly examine.

Maqdir raised the issue of the threatening text messages reportedly sent by Antasari to Nasrudin. An IT expert testified that Antasari never sent the messages, as alleged by prosecutors, but the judges concluded that he had, based on testimony from three people who claimed to have read the messages. The messages could not be accessed or read during the trial.

Maqdir voiced concerns about the conviction of Antasari for “participation in encouraging others” to carry out the murder, reportedly over a love triangle involving a female golf caddie.

“A conviction based on such a finding is unacceptable because the terminology ‘participation in encouraging’ is not recognized in the Criminal Code and cannot be used to convict a defendant,” the lawyer said.

The terminology for accessory to murder is “participation in a sinister conspiracy” to kill.

Maqdir said another key point was the court’s failure to oblige prosecutors to present the police reports on Nasrudin’s clothes and car during the trial.

“It was important because we could have used them to find out about the range from which the victim was shot. If it was at close range, then there would have been gunpowder on his car and clothes,” he said.

Maqdir also said that the trajectory of the bullet shot into Nasrudin’s head was not the same as the trajectory of the bullets fired into the car.

“This needs to be investigated,” he said, adding that testimony from a ballistics expert indicating that the weapon was broken and could not have been used was also overlooked by the judges.

The Judicial Commission has previously highlighted indications that the three judges trying the case may have willfully overlooked key evidence, and it has since called for them to face a six-month suspension and ethics tribunal. The Supreme Court has refused to act, though, arguing the judges are protected by judicial immunity.

ONE-Year Jail Asked for Suharto Relative

ONE-Year Jail Asked for Suharto Relative

Prosecutors on Monday sought a one-year jail sentence and a token fine for the great-granddaughter of former President Suharto, Putri Aryanti Haryowibowo, who is currently standing trial for drug use.

Trimo, a prosecutor who is trying the case, told the South Jakarta District Court that Putri, 22, should be found guilty and jailed based on the conclusive evidence, including the results of a urine test taken shortly after her arrest on March 19, which showed up positive for methamphetamine and ecstasy.

“The level of meth in her urine was the same as you’d see in an addict,” he said.

“Therefore, we recommend to the court that she be imprisoned for a maximum of one year, minus the time already spent in jail, and fined Rp 2,000 [20 cents] for court costs.”

Putri could have faced up to 12 years in prison and a Rp 8 billion fine under the country’s narcotics laws, but Trimo said there were several mitigating circumstances in Putri’s favor, including the fact that she confessed to using the drugs, that this was her first criminal offense and that she was still young and had exhibited good behavior throughout the trial.

However, Putri, who is the granddaughter of Suharto’s first son, Sigit Harjojudanto, recanted her admission two weeks ago, claiming she had signed the confession under duress after 24 hours of questioning by police.

Putri’s lawyer, Sandy Arifin, asked the court on Monday for time for his client to prepare a closing statement. Sandy said he would request rehabilitation for Putri rather than jail.

Four other suspects, including Eddi Setiono, a mid-ranking police officer, are awaiting trial after being arrested along with Putri at a South Jakarta hotel. Police seized a total of 32.4 grams of meth from the scene.

Accusations Fly as Govt Scraps Push For Komodo to Join ‘Seven Wonders’

Accusations Fly as Govt Scraps Push For Komodo to Join ‘Seven Wonders’

Indonesia lashed out at the organizers of the New Seven Wonders of the World competition and withdrew Komodo National Park from the running.

Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik said on Monday the decision to withdraw Komodo was taken “because the organizer of the New7Wonders Foundation has taken actions that are not professional, consistent or transparent.”

The ministry had been leading the charge to have Komodo crowned as one of the world’s new seven wonders of nature.

In 2009, the park was selected as one of 28 finalists from a total of 440 nominations from 220 countries.

Indonesia’s relationship with the organizers, however, quickly soured.

In 2010, Indonesia was chosen to host the announcement ceremony for the competition’s winner. But the agreement fell apart when the government claimed the organizing committee asked for a $10 million license fee, as well as $35 million to hold the award ceremony. The government claimed that the committee threatened to dump Komodo as a finalist for refusing to pay the fee.

However earlier this year, Eamonn Fitzgerald, the foundation’s head of communications, said the agreement with Indonesia to host the event was made “with the ministry fully aware of the investment requirements.”

Emmy Hafild, the chairwoman for P2Komodo, a community campaign to raise votes for Komodo, told the Jakarta Globe that the government did not have the authority to pull Komodo out of the competition because since February, the government was no longer the park’s official supporter in the New7Wonders campaign.

“The Culture and Tourism Ministry can’t end Komodo’s participation in the New7Wonders competition because Komodo has been voted on by the world. The government’s decision is very confusing,” she said.

She added that government support was not necessary for Komodo to win the competition, as long as the Indonesian people supported the park.

As of Monday night, the New7Wonders Web site still listed Komodo as one of the finalists.

Additional reporting from Antara.

Gas Station Fight Rolls on in W. Jakarta

Gas Station Fight Rolls on in W. Jakarta

Residents in West Jakarta said on Friday that they would continue to oppose a gas station being built in the neighborhood over fears about pollution.

A resident, Lenny Suandi, told the Jakarta Globe that the gas station, which is run by Total Oil Indonesia, was being built next door to homes in a residential complex on Jalan Panjang in Kebon Jeruk.

“We’ve rejected the Total pump station since the start because the location is right next to our homes,” the 50-year-old said. “We sent our objection in writing to the mayor, subdistrict head, urban ward head, Total’s management and the Jakarta energy and industry offices in 2010.”

The residents, however, believed the construction had been canceled after a notice board was taken down, she said. But then it resumed again without notice.

Another resident, who declined to be named, said leaks from underground gas tanks could contaminate the local water table and the gas station itself would turn the quiet neighborhood to a busy area for traffic.

Local authorities held a meeting with residents on the issue on Thursday.

Djunaidi, deputy for development and environment at the West Jakarta municipal office, said he could understand the residents’ objections but the gas station had met all the requirements.

“We explained in the meeting that the gas station has met all the requirements and it violates no regulation. Residents understood that in the meeting,” Djunaidi was quoted as saying by the Jakarta administration’s official news portal, Berita Jakarta.

Asep Warlan Yusuf, an environmental law expert from Parahyangan University in Bandung, said feasibility studies on the social and environmental impacts were needed to build new gas stations because such facilities carried risks such as traffic, water pollution and even explosions.

“Spills from the pumps and container leaks can pollute the soil, while the incoming vehicles will add to air pollution. Gas stations should be a safe distance from residential areas,” he said.

Representatives from Total Indonesia could not be reached for comment.

Firefighters Beat Traffic, Pull 7 From Jakarta Blaze

Firefighters Beat Traffic, Pull 7 From Jakarta Blaze

Elisabeth Oktofani & Arientha Primanita

Firefighters battling traffic as well as a fire managed to pluck seven people from a burning building in Central Jakarta on Tuesday.

The victims, pulled from the fifth to 10th floors of the blazing Adira building on Jalan Menteng Raya with the aid of a ladder truck, were rushed to the hospital suffering from smoke inhalation. They reportedly escaped serious burn injuries.

A firefighter was also treated for smoke inhalation.

As many as 28 teams of firefighters were deployed to battle the massive blaze, which began around 5:30 p.m. and ripped through five floors of the 13-story building.

Emergency services were reportedly kept from reaching the scene by heavy traffic.

Nira, an employee of leading automotive financing company Adira, said she worked on the fifth floor and was still at the office when the alarm sounded.

“We thought nothing was wrong,” she said. “But then my boss ran out and screamed ‘fire.’”

S even people were trapped during the evacuation and could be seen waving frantically through the windows amid billowing smoke before their rescue. They were identified as Sofian, Alan Maulani, Budi, Kuncoro, Landung, Denny and Hamdani. All appeared to be employees of Adira.

Paimin Napitupulu, head of the Jakarta Fire and Disaster Office, said the fire likely started on the fifth floor soon after office hours ended at 5:30 p.m.

“It could have been caused by an electric short-circuit, but we will investigate more thoroughly tomorrow to make sure,” he said.

He said the building had previously passed a fire inspection.

Now Go After Other Fugitives: Activists

Now Go After Other Fugitives: Activists

Anita Rachman & Elisabeth Oktofani

Two prominent corruption watchdogs applauded on Tuesday the arrest of high-profile graft suspect Muhammad Nazaruddin but questioned why law enforcers were slow to capture other fugitives.

Adnan Topan Husodo, deputy chairman of Indonesia Corruption Watch, said arresting Nazaruddin would have been much harder than going after other fugitive suspects, such as businesswoman Nunun Nurbaeti Daradjatun.

“Nunun still has family here. Her husband is here,” Adnan said. “She must be contacting them, and [the communications] could actually be traced.”

Adnan added that Nazaruddin’s arrest was the result of good collaboration between officials at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), the National Police and Interpol, as well as the use of sophisticated technology to pinpoint his exact location.

Attempts at similar cooperation had proved fruitless with Nunun, Adnan said.

Boyamin Saiman, chairman of the Indonesian Anti-Corruption Society (Maki), said that unlike Nunun, who has remained quiet, Nazaruddin chose to attack his colleagues in the Democratic Party, attracting the attention of the party’s leader, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Adnan questioned why Yudhoyono specifically instructed law enforcers to bring Nazaruddin back to the country but mentioned no other suspects in his speech.

Yunarto Wijaya, a political analyst from Charta Politika, said the government did not appear interested in arresting corruptors outside of Indonesia.

“What is required is political will from the government to enforce the law, which will pressure law enforcers to take prompt action,” he said.