"Harmoni", Puncak Obsesi SBY

"Harmoni", Puncak Obsesi SBY

"Inilah puncak segala dambaan, obsesi, harapan dan cita-cita setiap pemimpin dari zaman ke zaman."

Presiden Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) melaunching album keempat bertajuk "Harmoni" di Jakarta, hari ini.

Dalam album terbaru ini, SBY menyajikan delapan buah lagu bertajukkan "Harmoni" yang mengusung tema alam, cinta dan kedamaian.

Dalam sekapur sirih album Harmoni: Alam, Cinta dan Kedamaian, SBY mengatakan harmoni adalah tatanan perdamaian yang terwujud dalam realitas kemajemukan.

"Perbedaan tidak menjadi sebab perseteruan apalagi perpecahan, tapi justru mematangkan kokoh simpul-tali persatuan. Latar belakang yang tidak selalu sama adalah pertanda khazanah kekayaan bukan potensi permusuhan."

"Inilah puncak segala dambaan, obsesi, harapan dan cita-cita setiap pemimpin dari zaman ke zaman. Dengan berbagai cara, seorang pemimpin akan berikhtikar menciptakan tatanan sosial yang harmonis bagi segenap rakyatnya tanpa kecuali."

"Harmoni yang saya ekspresikan dalam album ini tidak saja dalam hubungan antar manusia tetapi juga antar bangsa dan yang tak kalah penting adalah hubungan yang harmonis antara manusia dan alam semesta."

Dalam album keempatnya ini, Presiden SBY menggandeng beberapa penyanyi terkenal untuk menyanyikan lagu ciptaannya. Antara lain Rafika Duri, Harvey Malaiholo, Sandhy Sondhoro, Afghan, Joy Tobing, Rio Febrian, serta Jeffery Pescetto.

Presiden Pesan Lewat Lagu Agar Rakyat Tak Bosan

Presiden Pesan Lewat Lagu Agar Rakyat Tak Bosan

Dalam album keempat yang bertajuk Harmoni ini, SBY menyajikan delapan buah lagu yang mengusung tema alam, cinta, dan kedamaian.

Jero Wacik, Menteri Energi Sumber Daya Mineral (ESDM) mengatakan Presiden Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) menyampaikan pesan kepada masyarakat melalui lagu agar masyarakat tidak bosan.

"Presiden menyampaikan pesan melalui lagu agar masyarakat tidak bosan. Selain itu, melalui lagu pesan akan lebih mudah diserap daripada melalui pidato" kata Jero, saat ditemui usai acara launching album lagu terbaru di gedung teater kecil Taman Ismail Marzuki, Jakarta, hari ini.

"Orang Indonesia kan sudah tidak begitu suka dipidatoin. Rakyat sudah bosan dipidatoin," kata Jero.

Dalam album keempat yang bertajuk Harmoni ini, SBY menyajikan delapan buah lagu yang mengusung tema alam, cinta, dan kedamaian.

SBY menggandeng beberapa penyanyi terkenal untuk menyanyikan lagu ciptaannya, antara lain Rafika Duri, Harvey Malaiholo, Sandhy Sondhoro, Afghan, Joy Tobing, Rio Febrian, dan Jeffer Pescetto.

Jero mengatakan bahwa tidak ada salahnya apabila seorang pemimpin bangsa menciptakan lagu karena presiden melakukan itu di saat waktu luangnya.

"Presiden hanya membuat menulis lagu pada waktu luang. Jadi, kalau sekali-sekali beliau menulis lagu, beliau menulis pesan bagi rakyat," pesan Jero.

"Perlu dipahami bahwa dalam menulis lagu tersebut beliau juga bekerja. Walaupun bukan setiap hari pekerjaannya hanya membuat lagu semata," kata mantan Menteri Pariwisata dan Kebudayaan itu.

Lagu SBY Jadi Pembuka dan Penutup Sea Games

Lagu SBY Jadi Pembuka dan Penutup Sea Games

Selain didedikasikan untuk SEA Games 2011 di Indonesia, juga untuk kerjasama dan persahabatan intra dan antar kawasan yang lain.

"Bersatu dan Maju" salah satu lagu dari album keempat Presiden Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) yang bertajuk "Harmoni", akan menjadi lagu pembuka dan penutup Sea Games.

Theme songs Sea Games ini nantinya akan dinyanyikan oleh Joy Tobing.

"Saya akan menyanyikan lagu Bersatu dan Maju sebagai Sea Games theme songs pada saat pembukaan dan penutupan Sea Games mendatang," kata Joy, ketika ditemui di gedung Teater Kecil, Taman Ismail Marzuki, Jakarta, hari ini.

Lagu "Bersatu dan Maju" tersebut diciptakan SBY di Bogor, 17 September 2011.

"Lagu ini pertama-tama saya dedikasikan untuk acara SEA Games 2011 di Indonesia. Tetapi sebetulnya juga berlaku untuk kerjasama dan persahabatan intra dan antar kawasan yang lain," tulis SBY, seperti dikutip dari sekapur sirih album "Harmoni".

Sebelumnya, SBY tercatat sudah pernah menelurkan tiga album, Rinduku Padamu (2007), Evolusi (2009), dan Ku Yakin Sampai di Sana (2010).

Hard-Line Faith Draws Indonesia’s Youth: Author

Hard-Line Faith Draws Indonesia’s Youth: Author

Islamic fundamentalism is getting a foothold in Indonesia, home to the world’s largest number of Muslims, mainly through its younger generations, a Japanese author said.

Hisanori Kato, who has lived in Indonesia and studied Islamic fundamentalism here, said the country’s youth can be easily lured by fundamentalism as they try to determine a sense of self.

“I say that fundamentalism in Islam has a strong influence on youths because many of them are still in the process of seeking their identity and giving a meaning to life,” Kato said.

Fundamentalists, he said, have been actively reaching out to younger generations with their Islamic teachings.

“In searching for identity and the meaning of life, they [the youth] can find answers to their questions in Islam,” Kato said.

He added that many Muslims in Indonesia lack a deep understanding of their religion, so they may be more susceptible to fundamentalist teachings.

Islamic fundamentalism has a long history in the country, Kato said, but it was repressed in the past and could not propagate so freely — especially during more than three decade’s of rule under former authoritarian President Suharto.

Religious restrictions were lifted during the reform era, and fundamentalists today have more freedom to gather and spread their teachings, he said.

Kato wanted the international community to understand that Islam has many interpretations, so he decided to write a book on the subject.

“The Clash of Ijtihad: Fundamentalist Versus Liberal Muslims: The Development of Islamic Thinking in Contemporary Indonesia,” sheds light on the various interpretations of Islam among Muslims in Indonesia.

The 214-page book, which Kato wrote in four years, is meant to help readers understand that Islamic teachings cannot be viewed in any single way, and that different practitioners throughout the country possess different beliefs about their religion.

“Through this book, I want people to know that there are many interpretations of Islam so that non-Muslims can understand that this is the case in Indonesia,” he said.

Kato, a Buddhist, first became familiar with Islam when he came to Indonesia to work as a teacher at an international school here.

He became interested in the pervasiveness of Islam in everyday life, so he took a postgraduate course about democratization in Indonesia and its relationship to Islam.

Dunia Perlu Tahu Banyak Tafsir Islam

Dunia Perlu Tahu Banyak Tafsir Islam

Hasil penelitian Kato tuangkan ke dalam suatu buku yang berjudul The Clash of Ijtihad Fundamentalist versus Liberal Muslims: The Development of Islamic Thinking in Contemporary Indonesia.

"Dunia perlu mengetahui bahwa banyak penafsiran terhadap ajaran Islam." Demikian kata-kata pengamat Islam di Indonesia asal Jepang, Hisanori Kato, tentang kehidupan masyarakat muslim di Indonesia.

Bagi Hisanori Kato, seorang warga negara Jepang yang beragama Buddha, Islam dan Indonesia merupakan sesuatu yang sangat misterius dan perlu untuk dipahami secara mendalam. Bermula dengan kepindahanya ke Indonesia pada tahun 1991, Kato menemukan suatu perilaku masyarakat yang sangat dipengaruhi oleh agama, dalam hal ini Islam.

"Ketika saya pindah ke Indonesia untuk bekerja sebagai seorang guru di salah satu sekolah internasional di Jakarta, saya tidak tahu menahu tentang Indonesia dan Islam," kata Kato, kepada beritasatu.com, di Jakarta, Sabtu (29/10).

"Selama tiga tahun tinggal di Indonesia, saya melihat sebuah fenomena dalam masyarakat di mana orang dapat berperilaku berdasarkan agamanya seperti orang berpuasa selama satu bulan lamanya," tutur Kaito. "Saya tidak habis pikir mengapa orang dapat melakukan hal tersebut hanya karena agama?"

Kato mengatakan bahwa sejak saat itu, ia mulai memiliki ketertarikan terhadap Islam dan Indonesia dan memutuskan untuk mengambil studi pasca sarjana mengenai demokratisasi di Indonesia dalam kaitannya dengan Islam.

"Saya mulai melakukan banyak penelitian dan saya mulai mengenal banyak tokoh muslim liberal seperti Gus Dur dan Ulil," ungkap Kato. "Namun pada saat yang sama, saya mulai melihat bahwa banyak kaum fundamentalis yang bermunculan sejak jatuhnya Soeharto dan saya ingin tahu pokok pikiran dan perilaku mereka."

Kato memberanikan diri untuk menghubungi tokoh Islam fundamentalis dan sangat terkejut ketika diterima dengan hangat mereka.

"Saya datang pada mereka dan saya katakan pada mereka bahwa saya bukan seorang Muslim tetapi saya ingin mengetahui tentang pokok pikiran mereka sebagai seorang Muslim Fundamentalis," tutur Kato.

"Saya sangat senang bahwa mereka cukup terbuka dan menerima saya dengan sangat hangat. Kehangatan mereka membuat saya bertanya, kenapa orang-orang Islam ini (liberal dan fundamentalis) memiliki pandangan sangat baik berbeda satu sama lain?"

Hasil penelitian Kato tuangkan ke dalam suatu buku yang berjudul "The Clash of Ijtihad Fundamentalist versus Liberal Muslims: The Development of Islamic Thinking in Contemporary Indonesia" yang ditulis selama kurang lebih empat tahun.

Buku setebal 214 halaman itu menyajikan berbagai interpretasi terhadap ajaran agama Islam di kalangan umat Muslim sehingga dapat memberikan kesempatan untuk memahami keanekaragaman di kalangan umat Muslim sendiri.

"Melalui buku ini, saya hanya ingin orang mengetahui bahwa ada banyak penafsiran terhadap ajaran agama Islam sehingga orang non Muslim dapat memahami bahwa adanya banyak penafsiran Islam," tutur Kato.

"Selain itu, meskipun banyak kaum Muslim di Indonesia masih banyak pula kaum Muslim yang belum benar-benar memahami tentang ajaran agama Islam itu sendiri. Karena itu, saya harapkan agar buku ini berguna sebagai sumber informasi."

Sementara itu, Kato mengatakan bahwa ajaran Islam fundamentalis sangat mudah untuk mempengaruhi kaum muda terutama bagi mereka yang tengah mencari jati dirinya.

"Saya mengatakan bahwa Islam fundamentalis memiliki pengaruh yang kuat terhadap kaum muda karena banyak kaum muda yang tengah mencari identitas diri mereka dan mencarai makna kehidupan." tutur Kato.

"Sehingga dalam pencarian identitas dan makna kehidupan, mereka menemukan jawaban atas pertanyaan mereka melalui Islam karena Islam telah menjawab semua pertanyaan tentang kehidupan dan jawaban tersebut menawarkan suatu solusi," papar dia. "Sehingga hal tersebut membuat Islam menjadi sangat menarik bagi mereka."

Kato menambahkan bahwa elemen fundamentalis di Indonesia sudah ada sejak lama namun kaum fundamentalis tidak berani untuk keluar dan melakukan aktivitas mereka yang mereka lakukan saat ini karena kuatnya pemerintah Soeharto.

Govt Calls for Private Sector to Work With It to Help Special-Needs Children

Govt Calls for Private Sector to Work With It to Help Special-Needs Children

The government and private sector must work together to create a more nurturing environment for children with special needs, officials said on Friday.

Linda Amalia Sari Gumelar, the minister for women’s empowerment and child protection, said the onus for looking after special-needs children should not be on the government alone.

“It is also up to the private sector to pay special attention to these children,” she said at the opening of a congress of parents of special-needs children.

“I believe this congress is a good step toward setting up a support group bringing together parents, carers and medical practitioners. It will also push the government and the private sector to do more.”

Wanda Hamidah, a member of the Jakarta City Council’s oversight commission on social and children’s affairs, said there needed to be better enforcement of the rights of special-needs children.

“We need to keep fighting for them because many of them are still being deprived of their most basic rights, particularly in terms of access to health care and education,” she said at the congress.

She added that the council had last week passed a bylaw on the protection of the disabled.

“The bylaw will provide protection for the rights of special-needs children to a proper education, health care, employment and accessibility in public places,” Wanda said.

“It also stipulates punishments, including fines and jail time, for those violating these rights. Our hope is that with the passage of the bylaw, special-needs children will receive better treatment and service.”

The councilwoman said one area that needed particular attention was education, with very few schools equipped or staffed to teach special-needs children.

“That said, the government has a fundamental obligation to provide access to education for all,” she said.

She added that sufficient funding to meet the needs of special-needs children could easily be found, but only if the political will to do so was there.

“Jakarta’s annual budget is huge,” she said. “If we could just allocate Rp 50 billion [$5.7 million] to training teachers, we would have enough to teach all special-needs children,” Wanda said.

There are an estimated 500,000 special-needs children across Indonesia, according to the parents’ group.

Negara Tanpa Agama Sama Saja Malapetaka

Negara Tanpa Agama Sama Saja Malapetaka

Malapetaka akan timbul bila negara tidak memiliki acuan nilai moral dan etika yang kokoh.

KH Masdar Farid Mas'udi, Ketua Pengurus Besar Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) mengatakan, negara dan agama saling membutuhkan. Sebab, malapetaka akan timbul bila negara tidak memiliki acuan nilai moral dan etika yang kokoh.

"Negara merupakan institusi kekuasaan. Sedangkan agama merupakan sumber moralitas. Namun, hubungan antara keduanya harus didefinisikan sedemikian rupa," kata Kyai Masdar di Jakarta, Sabtu (29/10).

Menurut dia, untuk mewujudkan keadilan dalam kehidupan bernegara, agama tidak dapat dipisahkan dalam menjalankan kehidupan bernegara.

"Jangan sampai suatu negara mengikuti arus pikir legal formal keagamaan. Di mana suatu negara harus diatur secara rigid dan formil oleh hukum agama tertentu karena yang harus diinternalisasikan bukan hukum agama melainkan nilai moral dan etikanya," jelasnya.

"Namun, jangan pula sampai hubungan antara keduanya saling menyangkal," lanjutnya.

Dijelaskannya, ketika Islam berbicara mengenai negara terdapat dua hal penting yang harus dipegang. Yakni keadilan dan demokrasi.

"Pertama, negara harus menjadikan keadilan sebagai tujuan utama kehidupan bernegara," tutur dia.

Sebab, lanjutnya, keadilan berkaitan dengan hak segenap rakyat yang harus dilindungi dan dipenuhi. Sehingga, apabila rakyat tidak dapat memenuhinya sendiri maka negara harus proaktif untuk memenuhi hak warga negaranya.

"Kedua, secara jelas, Islam juga menegaskan bahwa metode untuk mewujudkan aspirasi keadilan sebagai cita-cita negara. Negara perlu mengimplementasikan metode syuro bainahumatau demokrasi," papar dia.

Demokrasi Indonesia Masih Dibajak Elit Politik

Demokrasi Indonesia Masih Dibajak Elit Politik

"Omong kosong kalau demokrasi tidak dapat mempercepat terwujudnya keadilan."

KH Masdar Farid Mas'udi, Ketua Pengurus Besar Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU) mengatakan, sesungguhnya dengan adanya sila ke-4 dan ke-5 dalam Pancasila, demokrasi Indonesia sudah sangat Islami. Namun sangat disayangkan, menurutnya saat ini syuro bainahum atau demokrasi itu telah dibajak oleh para elit politik, sehingga kehilangan jati dirinya sebagai metode untuk mewujudkan keadilan.

"Saat ini, demokrasi sedang diagung-agungkan. Namun proses demokrasi ini justru membuat rakyat kecewa," kata Kyai Masdar, kepada wartawan di Jakarta, Sabtu (29/10).

Lebih jauh, Masdar melihat bahwa demokrasi yang seharusnya yang menjadi metode untuk mewujudkan keadilan, justru hanya dijadikan sebagai tujuan, sedangkan faktor keadilan justru diabaikan. "Misalnya, demokrasi dituangkan dalam prosedur memilih pemimpin, mengoreksi pemimpin dan sebagainya," sesalnya.

Melihat fenomena tersebut, Masdar mengatakan bahwa demokrasi di Indonesia perlu diuji, apakah (memang) demokrasi mempercepat terwujudnya keadilan. "Omong kosong kalau demokrasi tidak dapat mempercepat terwujudnya keadilan. Demokrasi akan dikutuk oleh dirinya, jika tidak mewujudkan keadilan atau bahkan mengabaikan keadilan. Demokrasi telah kehilangan jati dirinya sebagai metode untuk mewujudkan keadilan," paparnya.

"Oleh sebab itu, demokrasi harus diuji, apakah dia mempercepat keadilan atau tidak. Kalau tidak, berarti telah terjadi pembajakan atau distorsi terhadap demokrasi," imbuh Kyai Masdar pula.

Film Forecast: Showing as Scheduled

Film Forecast: Showing as Scheduled

Indonesian fans of Hollywood films need not worry, theater operators say. New Hollywood blockbusters will be screened here as scheduled.

Concerns have been aired that since the resumption of the supply of Hollywood movies in July, the flow of feature films to the country’s theaters has been little more than a trickle.

Catherine Keng, corporate secretary of Cineplex 21, one of the nation’s largest cinema operators, said Hollywood film distribution was proceeding “smoothly.”

“Some were postponed because we want to first screen several films that could not be screened a while ago,” Catherine said via text message.

She went on to say that most upcoming Hollywood blockbusters would be screened in Indonesia on time.

“ ‘The Adventures of Tintin’ and ‘Breaking Dawn: Part 1’ [of The Twilight Saga] will be screened as scheduled, but ‘Paranormal Activity 3’ will be postponed because the slots for films at the cinema are currently already full,” Catherine said.

Top film studios in the United States launched a boycott of the Indonesian market in February because of a dispute over royalties, but they resumed their exports in July.

Djonny Sjafruddin, who heads the Indonesian Cinema Companies Union (GPBSI), said films from the Motion Picture Association of America were being given screening priority.

“We are prioritizing films from the MPAA so that we are not left behind other countries. American indie films, we will delay,” Djonny said.

The MPAA represents many of the biggest Hollywood studios, including Warner Bros. and Disney.

He said that since the boycott was lifted, movie theaters were beginning to see their incomes return to normal levels.

He also said that although the members of his association remained committed to having Indonesian films account for 60 percent of those screened, the market did not appear to support those efforts.

“There may only be about 5 percent of all national film productions that are capable of drawing the market’s interest,” Djonny said.

He said Indonesian film producers and directors should seek input from public figures as well as from movie theater operators to see what kind of films the country’s movie-goers actually demand.

“Better quality Indonesian films would benefit all sides as national films would be popular among the public,” he said.

Komnas HAM Bentuk Tim Khusus Investigasi Papua

Komnas HAM Bentuk Tim Khusus Investigasi Papua

Tim tersebut nantinya akan melakukan investigasi, penyelidikan dan evaluasi yang dapat dilakukan dengan memanggil pihak-pihak yang terkait."

Komisi Nasional Hak Asasi Manusia (Komnas HAM) akan memberikan rekomendasi kepada Pemerintah Indonesia soal pemulihan keamanan di Papua. "Pemulihan keamanan merupakan hal yang paling utama untuk ditegakkan, sehingga dapat mencegah kejadian yang lebih berat," kata Wakil Ketua Komnas HAM Nur Kholis di Jakarta, Senin (24/10).

Untuk itu, ungkapnya, Komnas HAM segera berkoordinasi dengan Polri maupun Polda Papua. Tak hanya itu, Komnas HAM juga akan membentuk tim khusus untuk Papua yang akan bekerja selama tiga bulan.

"Tim Khusus untuk Papua akan memiliki kewenangan yang lebih luas, sehingga dapat mempercepat kinerja kami dalam mengungkapkan fakta. Apalagi, mereka bisa masuk ke dalam," tutur dia.

"Tim tersebut nantinya akan melakukan investigasi, penyelidikan dan evaluasi yang dapat dilakukan dengan memanggil pihak-pihak yang terkait." lanjutnya.

Menurut dia, hasil investigas di Papua juga akan disampaikan kepada masyarakat sebagai bentuk tanggung jawab publik.

Situasi di Papua semakin tak menentu. Bahkan, hari ini, sejumlah warga Papua yang tinggal di wilayah PT. Freeport Indonesia mendatangi kantor Komnas HAM untuk mengadukan keresahan mereka atas rasa tidak aman pascabentrok antara aparat keamanan dan karyawan PTFI, beberapa waktu lalu.

"Saya sudah bekerja di PT. Freeport Indonesia di tambang bawah tanah dan dulu selalu merasa aman. Namun sejak 2009, saya merasa terancam dan tidak merdeka untuk tinggal di negara saya," kata Sammy Rumbiak, salah satu wakil warga Papua yang mendatangi kantor Komnas HAM di Jakarta.

"Sampai kapan kami harus merasa tidak aman di tempat kami sendiri padahal saya warga negara Indonesia? Apalagi saya selalu dikawal ke mana-mana oleh orang bersenjata," imbuh Sammy.

Sammy menuturkan, sejak terjadinya peristiwa penembakan pada 2009, tidak ada satu kasus pun yang diungkap. Itu menyebabkan adanya kecemasan di tengah masyarakat.

"Kami ingin agar presiden SBY turun tangan langsung dan melihat apa yang terjadi sebab kami telah hidup di tengah terror dalam tiga tahun terakhir ini," kata Debby.

Film Tintin Segera Tayang di Indonesia

Film Tintin Segera Tayang di Indonesia

Jika distribusi lancar, film Tintin akan tayang sesuai jadwal.

Distribusi dan penayangan film-film Hollywood di layar perak Indonesia sudah tidak ada kendala lagi sehingga film-filmbox office baru bisa tayang sesuai jadwal.

"Beberapa memang diundur karena kami ingin menayangkan beberapa film yang tidak tayang beberapa waktu yang lalu," kata Catherine Keng, Corporate Secretary dari 21Cineplex, dalam pesan tertulisnya ke Beritasatu, Selasa (25/10).

"Namun sejauh ini, distribusi film Hollywood ke Indonesia lancar-lancar saja," tambahnya.

Lebih lanjut, Catherine mengatakan bahwa sebagaian besar film Hollywood tayang di Indonesia sesuai dengan jadwal.

"The Adventures of Tintin dan Breaking Dawn: Part 1 akan tayang sesuai dengan jadwal, namunParanormal Activity 3 akan ditunda karena penuhnya slot film di bioskop," tutur Catherine.

Rights Group Vows to Probe Timika Plight

Rights Group Vows to Probe Timika Plight

The national human rights body vowed on Monday to carry out a lengthy investigation into the deteriorating security situation in the Papua mining town of Timika, following complaints by local residents.

Nur Kholis, deputy chairman of the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), said the commission would set up a special team to conduct a three-month investigation into the complaints.

“The special Papua team will have wide-reaching authority and can speed up our investigation because they can go in there and call witnesses,” he said.

He added that the results of the investigation would be presented openly as a form of public accountability.

The announcement came as a group of representatives from Timika in Mimika district, which services the massive Grasberg gold and copper mine that is run by US-based Freeport-McMoRan, visited the Komnas HAM headquarters in Jakarta to complain about a recent spate of attacks that have claimed nine lives, including those of six Freeport workers.

On Monday, the police chief of the town of Mulia in neighboring Puncak Jaya district was reportedly assaulted and shot dead by unknown attackers.

One contract worker and two others were shot by unknown gunmen early on Friday. Several days earlier, five Freeport workers were killed — two by police trying to control a crowd and three by unknown gunmen.

Sammy Rumbiak, a member of the Timika delegation, said the climate of fear first descended on the area in 2009.

“I worked at the underground mine in Freeport and I always felt safe. But since 2009 I have felt threatened, without the freedom to live in my own country,” he said.

“For how long must I feel unsafe in my own land, even though I am an Indonesian citizen? Especially since we are led around everywhere by men with guns.”

Sammy said that ever since the first shooting incidents in 2009, widely blamed on the separatist Free Papua Organization (OPM), no single case had been resolved, resulting in heightened anxiety among the public.

“We want President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to roll up his sleeves and visit the site directly to see for himself what’s going on, because we have been living in terror for the past three years,” he said.

Nur Kholis said Komnas HAM would deliver a recommendation to the government following its investigation.

“Restoring security is the most important thing to do in order to prevent more serious incidents,” he said.

“Therefore, we are going to coordinate with the police, both the national and Papua branches [to work to make it happen].”

Oktavianus Kalilago, a resident of the neighboring town of Kuala Kencana, where Freeport’s operations are headquartered, said the people were fed up with the climate of fear that had “robbed them of their lives, freedom and sense of security.”

“We demand that concrete, firm and fair steps be taken immediately by the government to protect all those who live near Freeport,” he said, reading from a prepared statement. “We no longer want to live in constant fear of the threat of violence, terrorism or other acts that rob us of our dignity.”

Oktavianus also called for the swift resolution of all the shootings in the area and demanded that the perpetrators be brought to justice. He said that ultimately, the people of Timika, Kuala Kencana and other areas in Mimika district wanted to be able to live their lives in a climate of security and peace.

Shokilin, another resident, warned that the area was fast running out of badly needed food and medicine because of the blockade of the main access road there by Freeport workers who since mid-September have been striking for higher pay.

He said the blockade, in place since Oct. 10, had “severely impacted” the local population.

“It’s affected not just Freeport but also the residents, because the only way that supplies reach us is through Freeport, and now the only road leading to us is blocked,” he said.

Orpa Padwa, a resident of Kuala Kencana, confirmed that food and other supplies were quickly running out.

“We mothers can only cry and can’t do anything else,” she said. “Our children cannot go to school because we’re afraid [of the attacks].”

She said she hoped that the standoff between Freeport and the striking workers, as well as the spate of shootings and other attacks, could be resolved as soon as possible “because we want to celebrate Christmas peacefully.”

Protesters Rally Outside Australian Embassy to Demand Release of Children

Protesters Rally Outside Australian Embassy to Demand Release of Children

Human rights activists held a silent protest outside the Australian Embassy on Monday to demand justice for Indonesian minors currently incarcerated in Australia.

Febi Yonesta, from the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH Jakarta), said most of the underage prisoners came from impoverished fishing communities and were less than 15 years old. They were not aware of the risk of transporting illegal immigrants into Australia, he said.

“Dozens of them are currently being detained in adult prisons for allegedly being involved in people-smuggling syndicates,” Febi said.

“Fishing doesn’t pay enough, but working with people-smuggling syndicates offers far more money.”

He added that the problem was compounded for fishing communities in East Nusa Tenggara when an oil spill in the Timor Sea in mid-2009 spread over much of their fishing grounds and impacted their catches.

Eko Waluyo, from the organization Indonesian Solidarity, said it was unfair that the minors continued to be held in adult facilities while Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd and Prime Minister Julia Gillard could insist on the release of a 14-year-old Australian boy currently detained in Bali for drug possession.

“There is not one but rather more than 70 Indonesian youths, 15 years or younger, in Australian adult prisons or detention centers for working on boats carrying refugees in transit from Indonesia to Australia,” he said.

The Australian boy was moved out of Kerobokan prison in Denpasar on Saturday to a facility in Jimbaran, built specifically for foreigners, after newly appointed Justice and Human Rights Minister Amir Syamsuddin declared Kerobokan overcrowded and inhumane for underage inmates — despite the fact it also held nine Indonesian children.

Another official reiterated the fact that other underage inmates had to stay in Kerobokan since Bali did not yet have a good juvenile prison.

Abdul Kadir Wokanubun, advocacy and campaign director at the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), decried the people-smuggling charges leveled against the Indonesian youths in Australia, which could see them face a maximum of 15 years in prison and fined the equivalent of Rp 1.5 billion ($170,000).

He added that the Australian Embassy had not provided activists with information on what it planned to do with the youths, nor had there been any action from the Indonesian government.

“Australian officials handling the youths are not convinced that they are underage,” Febi said. “The lack of official documents was used as a basis for the Australian government to put them in adult facilities.”

He added that a team of lawyers from Australia would visit Indonesia next month to gather the documents needed to prove the youths’ ages.

He said they came from as far afield as East and West Java, East and West Nusa Tenggara and South Sulawesi.

Additional reporting by Ulma Haryanto

Komnas HAM Bentuk Tim Khusus Investigasi Papua

Komnas HAM Bentuk Tim Khusus Investigasi Papua

Tim tersebut nantinya akan melakukan investigasi, penyelidikan dan evaluasi yang dapat dilakukan dengan memanggil pihak-pihak yang terkait."

Komisi Nasional Hak Asasi Manusia (Komnas HAM) akan memberikan rekomendasi kepada Pemerintah Indonesia soal pemulihan keamanan di Papua. "Pemulihan keamanan merupakan hal yang paling utama untuk ditegakkan, sehingga dapat mencegah kejadian yang lebih berat," kata Wakil Ketua Komnas HAM Nur Kholis di Jakarta, Senin (24/10).

Untuk itu, ungkapnya, Komnas HAM segera berkoordinasi dengan Polri maupun Polda Papua. Tak hanya itu, Komnas HAM juga akan membentuk tim khusus untuk Papua yang akan bekerja selama tiga bulan.

"Tim Khusus untuk Papua akan memiliki kewenangan yang lebih luas, sehingga dapat mempercepat kinerja kami dalam mengungkapkan fakta. Apalagi, mereka bisa masuk ke dalam," tutur dia.

"Tim tersebut nantinya akan melakukan investigasi, penyelidikan dan evaluasi yang dapat dilakukan dengan memanggil pihak-pihak yang terkait." lanjutnya.

Menurut dia, hasil investigas di Papua juga akan disampaikan kepada masyarakat sebagai bentuk tanggung jawab publik.

Situasi di Papua semakin tak menentu. Bahkan, hari ini, sejumlah warga Papua yang tinggal di wilayah PT. Freeport Indonesia mendatangi kantor Komnas HAM untuk mengadukan keresahan mereka atas rasa tidak aman pascabentrok antara aparat keamanan dan karyawan PTFI, beberapa waktu lalu.

"Saya sudah bekerja di PT. Freeport Indonesia di tambang bawah tanah dan dulu selalu merasa aman. Namun sejak 2009, saya merasa terancam dan tidak merdeka untuk tinggal di negara saya," kata Sammy Rumbiak, salah satu wakil warga Papua yang mendatangi kantor Komnas HAM di Jakarta.

"Sampai kapan kami harus merasa tidak aman di tempat kami sendiri padahal saya warga negara Indonesia? Apalagi saya selalu dikawal ke mana-mana oleh orang bersenjata," imbuh Sammy.

Sammy menuturkan, sejak terjadinya peristiwa penembakan pada 2009, tidak ada satu kasus pun yang diungkap. Itu menyebabkan adanya kecemasan di tengah masyarakat.

"Kami ingin agar presiden SBY turun tangan langsung dan melihat apa yang terjadi sebab kami telah hidup di tengah terror dalam tiga tahun terakhir ini," kata Debby.

Warga Sekitar Freeport Kekurangan Suplai Logistik

Warga Sekitar Freeport Kekurangan Suplai Logistik

Warga hanya dapat membeli suplai makanan dalam jumlah terbatas karena supermarket hanya memiliki suplai yang terbatas pula.

Warga Papua di wilayah PT Freeport Indonesia mengalami kekurangan pasokan logistik dan obat-obatan akibat aksi pemblokiran jalan pascabentrokan antara aparat kepolisian dengan karyawan Freeport.

Aksi pemblokiran dilakukan di Mil 27 samping Bandara Mozes Kilangin Timika, sejak hari ini, setelah terjadi bentrok antar aparat kepolisian dan karyawan Freeport yang mengakibatkan tewasnya Petrus Ayamseba, karyawan PTFI.

"Pemblokiran jalan tersebut memberikan dampak yang cukup signifikan terhadap kami termasuk terbatasnya pasokan logistik," kata Sholikin, juru bicara wakil warga Papua dalam kunjungannya ke kantor Komisi Nasional Hak Asasi Manusia (Komnas HAM) bersama dengan sejumlah wakil warga Papua, hari ini, untuk menyampaikan pernyataan warga PT. Freeport Indonesia.

"Hal ini sangat mempengaruhi kehidupan karyawan PTFI dan masyarakat setempat karena akses distribusi logistik hanya melalui PTFI, sedangkan jalannya sendiri diblokir," kata Sholikin.

Orpa Padwa, 45, wakil warga Kuala Kencana, mengatakan bahwa warga hanya dapat membeli suplai makanan dalam jumlah terbatas karena supermarket hanya memiliki suplai yang terbatas pula.

"Kami, ibu-ibu, hanya dapat menangis dan tidak dapat berbuat apa-apa. Sedangkan anak-anak kami terpaksa tidak dapat bersekolah karena kami merasa ketakutan. " tutur Orpa mengadukan keprihatinannya dalam tangis.

"Saya mohon agar kasus ini dapat segera diselesaikan apalagi mengingat bahwa kami ingin merayakan Natal secara damai," kata Orpa.

Warga Sekitar Freeport Minta Jaminan Keselamatan

Warga Sekitar Freeport Minta Jaminan Keselamatan

"Kami menuntut segera dilakukannya tindakan nyata, tegas dan adil dari pemerintah Republik Indonesia..."

Warga Papua yang tinggal di wilayah PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) menuntut jaminan keamanan dan keselamatan hidup kepada Pemerintah RI, pasca terjadinya serangkaian tindakan teror di wilayah tersebut.

Sekitar 18 orang wakil warga Papua yang tinggal di Tembagapura, Kuala Kencana dan Timika, mendatangi kantor Komisi Nasional Hak Azasi Manusia (Komnas HAM) di Jakarta, Senin (24/10) siang, untuk meminta bantuan percepatan proses penyelesaian masalah Papua.

Oktavianus Kalilago, warga Kuala Kencana, mengatakan bahwa warga sangat menyesalkan adanya serangkaian tindakan teror yang telah merampas hak atas penghidupan, kebebasan dan keselamatan.

"Kami menuntut segera dilakukannya tindakan nyata, tegas dan adil dari pemerintah Republik Indonesia, untuk melindungi seluruh warga yang tinggal di wilayah kerja PTFI, agar kami terbebas dari rasa takut terhadap ancaman kekerasan, teror dan perbuatan lain yang merendahkan harkat dan martabat manusia," kata Oktavianus, membacakan pernyataan warga.

"Kami juga menuntut kejelasan dan pengungkapan seluruh kasus tindakan teror yang telah terjadi selama ini di wilayah kami, dan (meminta) segera menindak tegas pelakunya sesuai dengan hukum yang berlaku," tambahnya.

Lebih lanjut, Oktavinus juga mengatakan bahwa warga menginginkan adanya jaminan keselamatan hidup bagi masyarakat, sehingga dapat menjalani kehidupan yang aman, tentram dan damai di Indonesia.

Aktivis Kecam Australia Soal Penahanan 70 Remaja Indonesia

Aktivis Kecam Australia Soal Penahanan 70 Remaja Indonesia

Anak-anak Indonesia diperlakukan tidak adil. Mereka ditahan antara 1-15 tahun di dalam penjara dewasa.

Kelompok Lembaga Swadaya Masyarakat (LSM), yang terdiri dari YLBHI, LBH Jakarta, KIARA dan HRGW melakukan aksi diam di Depan Kedutaan Besar Australia, Jakarta, Senin (24/10). Aksi itu untuk mengecam Pemerintah Australia yang menahan sekitar 70 anak Indonesia di bawah 18 tahun.

"Aksi diam yang kami lakukan merupakan aksi solidaritas terhadap penahanan lebih kurang 70 anak Indonesia yang dituduh sebagai sindikat penyelundupan manusia lintas negara," kata Direktur Advokasi dan Kampanye, Abdul Kadir Wokanubun.

Menurut dia, anak-anak Indonesia diperlakukan tidak adil. Mereka harus melalui proses pemeriksaan gigi dan sinar x pada pergelangan untuk menentukan usia mereka. Tak hanya itu, para remaja Indonesia juga ditahan antara 1-15 tahun di dalam penjara dewasa.

"Kami berharap, aksi diam ini dapat memberikan tekanan pada pemerintah Indonesia dan Australia untuk melakukan upaya diplomasi yang tegas. Sehingga, mereka tidak ditahan di penjara dewasa," tutur Kadir.

Selain itu, lanjut Kadir, pihaknya juga mendesak Presiden susilo Bambang Yudhoyono untuk memberikan bantuan hukum. Serta melibatkan keluarga anak-anak tersebut dalam proses pembebasan dan pemulangnya ke Indonesia.

"Kami telah berupaya menghubungi pihak-pihak terkait, seperti KBRI. Namun kami belum mendapatkan tanggapan," jelasnya

Food Running Out as Freeport Mine Conflict Continues

Food Running Out as Freeport Mine Conflict Continues

Papuans living near the giant Grasberg mine operated by United States mining giant Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc say they are running out of food and medicine as Indonesian security forces maintain their blockade of the road leading to the mine.

Unknown gunmen killed three people in three separate attacks near the mine on Friday. Freeport has blamed strikers for several earlier incidents, including a clash with police that left two people dead and an alleged attack on a mine pipeline. Most of the mine’s unionized workers have taken part in the strike, which began on Sept. 15.

Sholikin, speaking at the National Commission of Human Rights (Komnas Ham) in Jakarta on Monday, said the blockade had “severely impacted” on the local population.

Orpa Padwa, 45, a resident of Kuala Kencana in Mimika district, said food was running out.

“We mothers can only cry and cannot do anything else,” Orpa said as she wept. “The children cannot go to schools because we are afraid.”

She said she hoped the problems could be resolved as soon as possible “because we want to celebrate Christmas peacefully.”

Pengelola Bantah Candi Borobudur Tidak Terawat

Pengelola Bantah Candi Borobudur Tidak Terawat

Sebagian candi Borobudur sempat ditutup untuk dibersihkan dari sisa abu vulkanik Gunung Merapi.

Balai Konservasi Peninggalan Borobudur (BKPB) membantah isu bahwa Candi Borobudur terancam akan dicoret dari daftar warisan budaya dunia oleh UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Culture Organization) karena kotor dan tidak terawat.

Kepala BKPB Marsis Sutopo mengatakan pada beritasatu, Minggu (23/10), bahwa pihaknya tidak pernah menerima teguran maupun rekomendasi dari UNESCO atas kondisi Candi Borobudur yang dikabarkan tidak terawat.

"Kami melakukan kegiatan monitoring dan evaluasi terhadap Candi Borobudur setiap tahun. Hasil evaluasi tersebut selalu kami jadikan sebagai bahan untuk membuat laporan tahunan yang kami kirimkan ke sidang UNESCO," tutur Marsis.

"Dari laporan terakhir yang kami kirimkan ke sidang UNESCO di Paris pada Februari 2011, kami tidak mendapatkan teguran atau rekomendasi dari UNESCO akan keadaan Candi Borobudur yang tidak terawat," tambahnya.

Lebih lanjut, Marsis menjelaskan bahwa Balai Konservasi Peninggalan Borobudur baru membuka kembali lantai delapan, sembilan, dan sepuluh untuk wisatawan pada 22 September lalu.

Sebelumnya, ketiga lantai tersebut ditutup untuk proses pembersihan abu vulkanik yang menempel pada batuan candi dari erupsi Gunung Merapi pada Oktober 2010 lalu.

"Erupsi Gunung Merapi pada Oktober tahun lalu telah mengakibatkan abu vulkanik masuk ke rongga stupa dan batu candi yang dapat mengakibatkan rusaknya batu-batuan candi," kata Marsis.

"Apalagi mengingat bahwa abu vulkanik memilik sifat asam. Oleh karena itu, rongga stupa dan batu candi harus dibersihkan agar dapat dikunjungi," tambahnya.

Marsis juga menerangkan bahwa UNESCO membantu membersihkan candi dengan memberdayakan masyarakat setempat dengan petunjuk dari Balai Konservasi Borobudur selama membersihkan Candi Borobudur dari abu vulkanik Gunung Merapi.

"Kami masih perlu membersihkan dan memperbaiki lantai tiga, empat, dan lima karena terjadinya kebocoran lapisan kedap air di beberapa dinding candi yang dapat mengakibatkan adanya pelapukan bantuan candi," katanya."Kami berharap semuanya dapat diselesaikan pada akhir November mendatang."

Marsis menambahkan bahwa setidaknya negara mengalokasikan APBN sebesar Rp1 milliar untuk melakukan monitoring dan perawatan Candi Borobudur.

‘Treatment Like Beasts’ Not Uncommon in Papua, Local Priest Says

‘Treatment Like Beasts’ Not Uncommon in Papua, Local Priest Says

Agus Triyono, Banjir Ambarita & Elisabeth Oktofani

The violent crackdown on a pro-independence rally earlier this week that left six people dead is indicative of the government’s continued treatment of indigenous Papuans as no more than animals, an activist said on Friday.

Socratez Sofyan Yoman, a prominent priest from the restive province, said the security forces’ brutal actions came as no surprise because it was “something that we experience on a daily basis.”

“This republic truly treats us like beasts,” he said at the Jakarta headquarters of the National Commission for Human Rights (Komnas HAM).

Socratez called on the government to end its policy of repression against the Papuan people and instead engage in serious dialogue.

“If the government is serious about resolving the conflict, it must hold a dialogue with Papuans, both those in Papua and abroad, and invite international third-party observers because this problem has an international dimension,” he said.

“We have long asked the government to stop using violence in Papua, but it has never responded. To this day, many of our people continue to be hunted down and killed. I support the president, but I’m disappointed in him.”

Socratez spoke in response to the discovery on Wednesday of six dead bodies of participants from Tuesday’s Papuan People’s Congress, a rally held in a field in Padang Bulan, Abepura district, that was violently broken up by security forces. Ifdhal Kasim, the Komnas HAM chairman, said the rights body would immediately dispatch an investigation team to Abepura to probe the violence and the deaths of the participants, whose bodies were found behind the district military headquarters.

“We’ll try our best to have the team there by next week to look into everything, including the events leading up to the congress,” he said.

In the provincial capital, Jayapura, Acting Governor Syamsul Rivai said what made the congress the target of a crackdown was that it was “questioning the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia,” known as NKRI.

“If people want to gather and express their views, that’s fine, just don’t undermine the NKRI, infringe on the prevailing laws or attempt to set up a state within a state,” he said.

“If that happens, there will be severe consequences.”

He attributed the deaths of the activists to “excesses in the handling of the case” by security forces. “It’s something that we didn’t want but happened anyway because of the situation on the ground,” Syamsul said.

Papua Police Chief Insp. Gen. Bigman Lumban Tobing also blamed the demonstrators for getting out of hand.

“We were tolerant with them. We allowed them to hold their congress without a permit, but the next thing you know they’re hoisting the Morning Star flag and trying to establish their own country,” he said.

The flag, a symbol of the long-running separatist struggle in Papua, is banned. Raising it is considered treason and thus brings with it a lengthy prison sentence.

Bigman brushed off allegations that the six people killed had been shot by police, saying there was no evidence so far to prove the claims.

“If they really were shot, prove to us that it was the police who did it. We will process them accordingly,” he said.

In Jakarta on Thursday, a discussion of the issue by a group of prominent pro-Jakarta Papuans also laid the blame for the violence on the demonstrators.

Heemskercke Bonay, a Papuan women’s rights advocate, said previous iterations of the Papuan People’s Congress had also “sacrificed many of our people.”

“That’s why I call on the Papuan people not to be provoked by the issue of an independence referendum for Papua,” she said.

Ramses Ohee, the head of the Papuan chapter of the nationalist militia group Barisan Merah Putih, said: “We reject outright the results of the congress that call for secession from the NKRI and the declaration of a Papuan state.”

However, he conceded that the government in Jakarta was guilty of blaming the local populace over signs of unrest when it should be addressing the issue through dialogue.

Anti-Separatist Activists Say Rally Organizers 'Sacrificed' Papuans

Anti-Separatist Activists Say Rally Organizers 'Sacrificed' Papuans

Following Wednesday’s violent government crackdown on a peaceful pro-independence rally in Jayapura, some pro-Indonesian Papuan activists are saying the rally’s true purpose was a cynical push by its organizers for personal political gain.

“The Papuan Congress has sacrificed a lot of Papuan people, therefore, I am asking the people of Papua not to let themselves be provoked by the referendum [independence] issue,” said Heemskercke Bonay, an activist from West Papua in Jakarta.

“The referendum issue declared in the congress was pushed by elites [in the Papuan Customary Council] who claimed that it was on behalf of the people,” Heemskercke said.

He was referring to the reading of a Papuan declaration of independence at Wednesday’s gathering. That act, along with the raising of the separatist Morning Star flag, prompted police and military forces to attempt to disperse the large gathering by firing shots and beating and arresting dozens of people.

Six people have been confirmed killed in the aftermath of the rally. Military and police spokesmen have denied responsibility for the deaths.

Ramses Ohee, the Papuan chairman of the pro-Indonesia Red and White Troops (BMP), said his organization rejected the calls for a separate Papuan state.

“We firmly refuse the calls for an independent Papua declared during the congress,” he said.

Ramses admitted that there were many problems that the central government needed to address in the province, especially regarding development and local politics, but that separation from Indonesia was not the answer.

Mahasiswa Nilai Reshuffle hanya Kepentingan Koalisi

Mahasiswa Nilai Reshuffle hanya Kepentingan Koalisi

Mahasiswa nilai reshuffle kabinet hanyalah untuk kepentingan koalisi saja.

Mahasiswa se-Indonesia menilai bahwa reshuffle Kabinet Bersatu II dilakukan oleh Presiden SBY bukan untuk mewujudkan kepentingan masyarakat melainkan untuk kepentingan politiknya.

Muhammad Sayyidi, Presiden BEM Universitas Padjajaran Bandung, mengatakan pada beritasatu, Kamis (20/10), reshuffle Kabinet Bersatu II dilakukan hanya untuk meningkatkan kestabilitasan negara semata.

"Reshuffle kabinet yang dilakukan oleh presiden SBY lebih mengacu pada kepentingan partai politik dan koalisinya saja dan bukan bertujuan untuk meningkatkan kesejahteraan rakyat," terangnya.

"Selama tidak ada kepemimpinan yang kuat dari Presiden SBY dan Wakil Presiden Boediono, maka sesering apapun mereka melakukan reshuffle menteri belum tentu mampu untuk meningkatkan kinerja pemerintahan SBY-Boediono dan meningkatkan kesejahteraan masyarakat Indonesia," kata Luthfi Hamzah Huzein, Presiden BEM KM Universitas Gadjah Mada Yogyakarta di sela aksi mahasiswa turun ke jalan di Jakarta.

Lutfi menambahkan bahwa pemerintah perlu meningat bahwa pemerintah jangan menganggap remeh suara mahasiswa sebagai bagian dari masyarakat. Apalagi mengingat gerakan mahasiswa memiliki pengaruh yang besar dalam mewujudkan demokrasi di Indonesia.

"Pemerintah tidak dapat sewenang-wenang dalam menggunakan kekuasan mereka dalam memimpin negara. Oleh karena itu, kami mahasiswa tidak akan pernah lelah melakukan pengawalan terhadap kinerja pemerintah agar dapat mewujudkan kesejahteraan masyarakat," kata Sayyidi.

Students Protest Against ‘Poor’ Government

Students Protest Against ‘Poor’ Government

More than 500 students marched to the National Monument, near the State Palace, on Thursday to denounce the leadership of the president and vice president.

The students, protesting under the banner of the Alliance of Indonesian University Student Councils, said Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his deputy, Boediono, had failed the country.

Muhammad Sayyidi, president of the student council at Padjadjaran University in Bandung, said they wanted the administration to live up to its promises to improve the life of the nation.

“After two years of the Yudhoyono-Boediono government, we rate its performance as poor,” he said. “It has failed to improve prosperity or uphold the law.”

He also said students were angry that education standards had not been improved.

The “nine-year compulsory study” program had proven unsuccessful, he said, and students were waiting for the government’s next move.

The student demonstration, which began early in the day, included theatrical twists such as pocong (ghosts), caskets and headstones marked “education,” “health” and “law enforcement.”

Students said the symbols were intended to suggest that Indonesia was in mourning for the failed Yudhoyono-Boediono government.

The students also said the government was dragging its feet on providing social security. Elisabeth Oktofani

Ekonomi Kreatif Belum Berkontribusi Maksimal

Ekonomi Kreatif Belum Berkontribusi Maksimal

Sektor ekonomi kreatif memiliki potensi ekonomi yang tinggi

Mari Elka Pangestu, Menteri Pariwisata dan Ekonomi Kreatif, mengatakan bahwa sektor ekonomi kreatif merupakan memiliki potensi ekonomi yang tinggi namun belum memberikan kontribusi yang maksimal terhadap pendapatan negara.

"Ekonomi kreatif penting karena memiliki potensi yang luar biasa," kata Mari dalam pidato perdananya, di Kementerian Pariwisata dan Ekonomi Kreatif, Jakarta, Rabu (19/10).

Dengan input gagasan, menurut dia, potensi ekonomi bisa ditingkatkan hingga ke titik optimal meskipun harus menghadapi tantangan seperti perlindungan hak kekayaan intelektual, infrastruktur, serta pendidikan sehingga mampu mengembangkan creative mindset.

Mari menuturkan bahwa kontribusi ekonomi kreatif pada Pendapatan Domestik Bruto (PDB) mencapai 7,6 persen. Sementara terdapat 7,7 juta pekerja di sektor ekonomi kreatif yang menyumbang 7,5 persen pada angkatan kerja.

Ada pun ekspor ekonomi kreatif mencapai Rp 115 trilliun atau 7,5 persen dari total ekspor.

KIARA:Pemerintah SBY-Boediono Rampas Ruang Hidup Nelayan

KIARA:Pemerintah SBY-Boediono Rampas Ruang Hidup Nelayan

Pemerintah dinilai belum mampu melindungi dan menyejahterakan nelayan dan masyarakat pesisir.

Aktivis menilai pemerintah SBY-Boediono telah merampas ruang hidup dan sumber-sumber penghidupan nelayan dan masyarakat pesisir lainnya.

"Kami melihat adanya lima indikasi kuat terjadinya perampasan dan pengurasan sumber daya laut di wilayah Negara Kesatuan Republik Indonesia," kata Riza Damanik, Sekretaris Jendral Koalisi Rakyat untuk Keadilan Perikanan (KIARA), dalam Konferensi pers yang diadakan di Jakarta, hari ini.

KIARA mencatat dalam dua tahun masa pemerintah SBY-Boediono, pencemaran perairan Indonesia telah mencapai 23.281.799 hektar, di mana pencemaran tersebut terjadi di kawasan Teluk Jakarta yang mencapai 28.500 hektar, kawasan Perairan Laut Timor yang mencapai 9.000.000 hektar, serta kawasan Perairan Bangka Belitung yang mencapai 14.250.000 hektar.

"Meluasnya pencemaran yang terjadi di perairan Indonesia telah mengakibatkan adanya berbagai kesulitan bagi nelayan tradisional, karena dengan meluasnya pencemaran perairan Indonesia maka kerusakan ekosistem laut pun meluas sehingga berdampak pada menurunkan jumlah tangkapan ikan nelayan tradisional," kata Riza

"Sayangnya, pemerintah tidak berupaya serius untuk menangani hal tersebut. Justru yang terjadi adalah pemerintah memberikan dukungan terhadap praktik pencemaran ekosistem laut dan pesisir pantai dengan mengijinkan adanya aktivitas pertambangan, pemakaian alat tangkap trawl, konversi hutan bakau dan reklamasi di perairan nelayan tradisional," tambahnya.

Budi Laksana, 32, seorang nelayan asal Cirebon yang juga merupakan anggota Serikat Nelayan Indonesia mengatakan, bahwa pemerintah SBY-Boediono selama ini tidak memberikan bantuan yang tepat kepada para nelayan tradisional.

"Bantuan yang diberikan oleh pemerintah selama ini justru diberikan kepada industri perikanan atau nelayan besar, dan bukan nelayan tradisional. Sedangkan nelayan tradisional tidak mendapatkan bantuan yang sesuai dengan kebutuhan kami," kata Budi.

Menteri Baru Masih Sarat Kepentingan Partai

Budi menyatakan SBY berucap bahwa ia akan memajukan kehidupan nelayan dengan melakukan pembangunan infrastruktur, tempat pelelangan ikan dan memberkan asuransi kecelakaan kerja.

"Sayangnya ucapan SBY hanya sebuah pencitraan politik saja karena pada tahun 2010, pemerintah SBY justru meningkatkan harga BBM, sehingga jika sebelumnya kami hanya mengeluarkan biaya sebesar Rp 1 juta untuk melaut selama satu minggu, kini kami harus mengeluarkan uang sebesar Rp 1.5 juta," tutur Budi.

Lebih lanjut ia mengatakan, bahwa banyak nelayan tradisional Cirebon yang bekerja di kapal nelayan asing dan istri mereka harus bekerja di luar negeri sebagai pembantu rumah tangga karena semakin merosotnya tingkat kehidupan nelayan tradisional.

Selain itu, KIARA mencatat Indonesia telah mengimpor produk perikanan lebih dari 119.682 ton hingga April 2011.

"Impor produk periknanan telah meningkat hingga 35 persen dibandingkan tahun 2010. Di mana dari 40 dari 79 produk impor perikanan tersebut merupakan produk periknanan yang dapat ditemukan dan dibudidayakan di Indonesia," kata Riza.

"Hal ini menunjukkan bahwa koordinasi lintas kementerian dalam mengatur hajat hidup nelayan dan masyarakat pesisir semakin mahal. Bahkan pemerintah SBY-Boediono belum mampu untuk melindungi dan menyejahterakan nelayan tradisional dan masyarakat pesisir," tambahnya.

Sementara itu, langkah Presiden SBY untuk mengganti Menteri Kelautan dan Perikanan Fadel Muhammad dengan Tjitjip Sharif Sutardjo dalam reshuffle KIB II dianggap tidak serius untuk memperbaiki sektor kelautan dan perikanan di Indonesia, karena Tjijip dianggap tidak memiliki prestasi terkait dengan sektor kelautan dan perikanan.

"Kementrian Kelautan dan Perikanan miskin prestasi selama dua tahun terakhir ini, sehingga kementerian ini membutuhkan menteri baru yang professional," tandas Riza.

"Namun menteri yang baru masih sarat dengan kepentingan partai, " tutupnya.

Jero Minta Mari Elka Lanjutkan Programnya

Jero Minta Mari Elka Lanjutkan Programnya

Mari diyakini mampu mendorong industri pariwisata Indonesia dan menghasilkan devisa hingga USD 10 miliar pada 2014.

Mantan Menteri Kebudayaan dan Pariwisata (Menbudpar) meminta Menteri Pariwisata dan Ekonomi Kreatif untuk meneruskan programnya yang dijalankan selama tujuh tahun terakhir ini.

Dalam serah terima jabatan antara Jero Wacik dan Mari Elka Pangestu di Gedung Sapta Pesona, Kementerian Pariwisata dan Ekonomi Kreatif, pada hari Rabu (19/10), Jero meminta Mari untuk meneruskan program Kembudpar yang belum diselesaikan selama ia menjabat sebagai menteri.

"Saya minta kepada Ibu Menteri, agar program yang dilaksanakan itu dijalankan dengan baik. Kalau Ibu ada ide baru, silakan saja. Ini bukan intervensi tetapi harapan, karena kalau tidak dijalankan saya akan sedih," kata Jero, dalam sambutannya.

Beberapa program yang ditinggalkan oleh Jero kepada Mari antara lain melanjutkan program pembangunan Taman Majapahit di Trowulan; program pembangunan Museum Pariwisata di tepi Danau Batur, Kintamani, Bali; program branding pariwisata Indonesia 'Wonderful Indonesia'; dan gagasan pembangunan bandara internasional di Bali Utara.

Selain itu, ada pula program pemugaran Komplek Purbakala Muaro Jambi, program menjadikan Belitung dan Lombok sebagai tujuan pariwisata internasional dan mengembangkan perfilman Indonesia.

"Saya sengaja membawa ini semua agar tidak ada yang membatalkan. Jika ada yang membatalkan, bisa ketahuan," kata Jero.

"Saya tidak mungkin terpilih menjadi menteri ESDM kalau saya tidak berprestasi sebagai menbudpar. Namun saya tidak akan berprestasi sebagai menbudpar kalau tidak ada yang mendukung saya," tambah Jero. Ia menambahkan bahwa dirinya optimis Mari mampu mendorong industri pariwisata Indonesia dan menghasilkan devisa negara hingga USD 10 miliar pada tahun 2014.

Ministers Take Posts With High Hopes

Ministers Take Posts With High Hopes

Arientha Primanita, Ismira Lutfia, Rizky Amelia & Elisabeth Oktofani

Pledges, promises and painful farewells concluded the month-long cabinet reshuffle saga with newly appointed ministers promised to form fresh policies while the outgoing ones pleaded with them to see their policies through to completion.

Law Enforcement

New Minister of Justice and Human Rights Amir Syamsuddin and his deputy Denny Indrayana pledged to end the ministry’s much-criticized policy of awarding corruption and terrorism convicts with remissions, parole and other privileges, a legacy that blighted the administration of the outgoing minister Patrialis Akbar.

“Remissions for cases of corruption, terrorism and organized crime will be stopped,” said Denny, a former presidential staff member for legal affairs.

Amir said his ministry would also focus on “de-radicalizing” terrorism convicts, saying that he would forge relationships with religious leaders as well as sociologists and counter-terrorism bodies.

The program was first introduced under former minister Andi Mattalatta, making convicts sit together with religious clerics in the hope that the discussion would correct their views on Islam.

But terrorism analysts say the program has been ineffective in preventing terrorists from reoffending. In fact, prison has proven to be an effective incubator for radical ideologies and recruitment ground for militias.

Patrialis, who shed tears as he bid farewell to his former subordinates, said he would become an academic. Some students from the immigration academy even read out a poem written as a tribute for the outgoing minister.

The students then lined up to escort Patrialis and his wife out of the building while some ministry officials sang farewell songs and others waved him goodbye.

Meanwhile, the newly appointed State Intelligence Agency (BIN) chief Lt. Gen. Marciano Norman said he would focus on creating “synergy” with other institutions.

“I will try all I can to synergize with all sides whether it is the BNPT [National Counter Terrorism Agency], the National Police or the TNI [military]. I must help the BIN to forge inter-department relationships,” he said.

Marciano said multi-institutional cooperation was the only way to go to bring peace and stability to the country.

Tourism to Energy

At the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry, outgoing minister Jero Wacik asked successor Mari Elka Pangestu continue his unfinished programs.

“If you come up with new ideas, go ahead. This is not an intervention but a request. If [the old programs] are not continued, I will be heartbroken,” he said.

Jero, who was appointed to be the new Energy and Mineral Resource Minister, said he still dreamed of restoring the Majapahit garden in Trowulan, Central Java, as well as making Belitung island an international tourism destination.

“I would not have been chosen as energy minister if I had achieved nothing as tourism minister. But I wouldn’t have been such a high-achieving tourism minister without anyone supporting me,” he told his former subordinates in an outgoing address.

The ministry has been renamed the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry. Mari said the creative economy aspect of her new role posed an exciting new challenge for her.

“It is something remarkable that we have a ministry that manages and develops a creative economy,” she said.

Mari, previously trade minister, said that a blueprint for a creative economy was devised in 2008, adding that the industry contributes around 7.6 percent, or Rp 140 trillion ($16 billion), to the economy.

She said that the industry also made up about 10 percent of Indonesia’s exports, employing around 7 percent of the country’s workforce of 110 million people.

Mari said her ministry would need to sit down with the Education Ministry, which has been renamed the Ministry of Education and Culture.

“We will discuss what will be the [education ministry’s] responsibility,” she said.

Research, Technology & Environment

Newly appointed Research and Technology Minister Gusti Muhammad Hatta said he would focus on horticultural technology and genetic engineering for agricultural products to boost Indonesia’s food resilience in the face of global climate change.

“Technological innovations are needed to respond to the looming global food crisis,” the minister said.

Gusti, who previously served as environment minister, said there needed to be research to produce a new rice variety that was more resilient in the changing climate. The current variety, he said, no longer suits rising temperatures, causing food shortages and famines.

His experience as an environment minister, he said, allowed him to learn that access to clean water should also be made a priority, particularly to areas prone to drought.

A technological breakthrough is needed to address the problem, he said, adding that the government had focused too much on short-term solutions of disaster mitigation and relief aid. “We have to work together to produce something useful,” he said.

Gusti’s position at the Environment Ministry was filled by Balthasar Kambuaya, a former rector of Cendrawasih University in Papua. Balthasar said that although his background was economics, he was confident he would be able to resolve environmental issues.

“You just have to believe in yourself. I am sure [environmental problems] will be resolved,” he said. Balthasar was the university’s dean of the economics faculty between 2001 and 2004 before being appointed as its rector.

Operators Told To Reconfirm Paid Services Subscriptions

Operators Told To Reconfirm Paid Services Subscriptions

The government says it will ensure mobile phone network operators reconfirm consumers’ subscriptions to premium SMS services and Ring Back Tones as police push ahead investigating allegations of phone credit theft.

“Services such as premium SMS and RBT will have to be reconfirmed to check whether customers wish to continue their subscriptions or not,” said Gatot Dewa Broto, a spokesman for the Communications and Information Technology Ministry.

The deadline for reconfirmation is today at midnight.

Some providers allow people to set music as an RBT. The government will not halt the services, Gatot said.

“This is certainly not going to disadvantage musicians. In fact, it will protect them,” he added.

Frustration over telephone credit theft gained public exposure when Feri Kuntoro, a man from East Jakarta, reported Telkomsel to the police two weeks ago for letting a content provider siphon off his credit.

Sr. Comr. Baharudin Djafar, a spokesman for the Jakarta Police, has reassured consumers that police were taking the phone credit theft allegations seriously.

Baharudin said digital forensics techniques would help tell whether a complainant had attempted to cancel a disputed subscription or not. “The important thing is that we explore first whether or not there is a criminal aspect to each case,” he said.

Baharudin added that police had only received three reports of alleged crimes from the public: those of Feri Kuntoro, Hendri Kurniawan and Daniel Kumendong. Those cases were being probed by the Jakarta Police’s cyber-crime unit, he said.

Feri presented further evidence to police on Monday, Baharudin said, handing over physical evidence to support his initial report made on Oct. 4.

The police have also taken the initiative to consult experts in the case, he said.

“We’ve contacted language experts, consumer experts, IT experts and even the Social Affairs Ministry — for cases where there’s a prize on offer, to check whether the competition is registered or not,” Baharudin said.

Network operator Telkomsel will be questioned this week in connection with Feri’s report, the spokesman said.

Feri’s attorney, David Tobing said public-interest lawyers were ready to report network providers that ignored a letter of instruction issued on Friday by the Indonesian Telecommunication Regulatory Body (BRTI).

“I, personally, along with NGOs, will monitor the implementation of the instruction. If there are any [network operators] that breach it, we’ll report them to police,” David said on Monday.

The BRTI’s letter of instruction was directed at 10 mobile network operators, requiring them to take various steps to protect consumers.

These include a ban until further notice on broadcast text messages, pop-up screens and broadcast voice messages. Information must also be prepared for consumers and any unfairly deducted credit be returned.

The Indonesian Cellular Phone Association (ATSI) has indicated its preparedness to comply with the instructions, its chief Sarwoto Atmosutarno told a news conference on Monday.

Sarwoto is also the president director of Telkomsel.