How Positive Coverage Can Be Bought: An Insider Tells of Dirty Journalists

How Positive Coverage Can Be Bought: An Insider Tells of Dirty Journalists

Danu Pratama (not his real name) has worked as a journalist for nearly seven years, covering beats ranging from technology and politics to human rights and legal issues.

During that time he has also taken bribes from sources and others to “play up issues in the media,” essentially presenting deliberately biased or inaccurate news stories to benefit those paying him.

“We can play up any issue in the media, especially political, legal and economic issues, because politicians, law enforcement officials and businessmen are willing to spend a lot of money to attack their rivals through the media and make them look bad,” Danu told the Jakarta Globe on Thursday.

He said his demands for bribes ranged from Rp 7.5 million ($830) into the hundreds of millions, depending on the urgency of the issue, who the source was and whether they wanted an issue manipulated in print, broadcast or online media — or all three.

“I never play up an issue alone, because then it’d become obvious,” he went on. “I usually work with a team of five other journalists, where I act as the coordinator and make the deal with the source. I assure you that even the so-called cleanest media outlets have journalists who have taken part in this ‘mafia’ practice.”

As shocking as Danu’s revelation is, senior media figures say this culture of strings-attached reporting is the norm in Indonesia, fueled by a liberal official stance on bribery and a largely underpaid press corps.

“Government institutions and companies often allocate a portion of their budget to a media development fund that provides journalists with so-called transportation money,” said Nezar Patria, chairman of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI).

“They maintain a list of journalists covering their beats, whom they usually give anywhere from Rp 250,000 to Rp 1 million each. Unfortunately, this money is often accepted by journalists who work for less-than-credible media outlets that don’t pay them well.”

Nezar said AJI and the Press Council had for the past 15 years been campaigning against the practice of journalists taking bribes. “Indonesian journalists and the media have taken part in the fight because they understand the importance of not losing our sense of objectivity when reporting a story,” he said.

“That commitment can be seen in every media outlet, which all state that journalists may not receive any gifts or money.”

He added that this value was clearly enshrined in the journalistic code of conduct.

“Other than compromising a journalist’s objectivity, receiving a gift or a bribe will harm the wider profession because it needs to be understood that journalists are agents of information between the state and public,” he said. “A journalist must convey only the truth because society has a right to know the truth.”

Agus Sudibyo, a member of the Press Council, agreed.

“But we can’t accuse any journalists of doing this unless we have evidence, such as phone recordings,” he said.

“If the Press Council does receive evidence that a journalist has taken a bribe or a gift, we will notify the media outlet or their journalists’ association.”

Let’s Go Past ‘Vain’ Facebook: Official

Let’s Go Past ‘Vain’ Facebook: Official

Indonesia may have the highest number of Facebook users in Asia, but the Internet needs to be used for more than just cheap sensation and navel-gazing, an official said on Wednesday.

There were 38.6 million Facebook users in the country as of last December, according to the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology. It was just shy of the 39.7 million people it said had access to the Internet.

More recent statistics from independent analysts put the country’s current Facebook population at 40.8 million.

Ministry official Freddy Tulung said that although the high figure was “a positive thing,” Internet use in the country needed to be directed toward more substantial purposes.

“Are we willing to just keep using Facebook as a platform for cheap thrills and narcissism?” he said. “We want people to make much broader use of the Internet, which is about more than just chatting.”

In addition to having the second-biggest Facebook population on the planet, behind only the United States, Indonesia is also the No. 3 source for all tweets on Twitter, after the United States and Brazil.

A Nielsen report earlier this year found that 48 percent of the country’s Internet users accessed the Web through their cellphones, with almost 90 percent of tweets sent from mobile devices.

A business lobby, however, said more needed to be done to clear up the 3G cellular spectrum to improve mobile Internet access and services.

Mas Wigrantoro Roes Setiadi, from the Indonesian Telematics Community, urged the ministry to pass a long-awaited regulation on tidying up the 3G spectrum.

The regulation would require Telkomsel, the country’s biggest cellular operator, to shift its spectrum to line up more neatly with other operators.

The ministry has given Telkomsel until the end of the year to comply.

Greenpeace Cries Foul as Eviction Papers Are Served

Greenpeace Cries Foul as Eviction Papers Are Served

Environmental group Greenpeace has lashed out at the Jakarta administration’s decision to seal off its office for zoning violations, calling the move just the latest attack in a corporate-backed smear campaign against the organization.

Greenpeace Southeast Asia media campaigner Hikmat Soeriatanuwijaya said the group had been unfairly targeted.

“The continued attacks against Greenpeace started when we launched our global campaign against Asia Pulp and Paper by exposing evidence of APP forest destruction in early June this year,” he said.

He declined, however, to say who Greenpeace believed was behind the smear campaign.

“Although we know who it is, we don’t want to mention the particular company or party because we don’t have a capacity to investigate it,” Hikmat said.

The statements came as the Jakarta Building Control and Monitoring Office (P2B) said it had served notice to Greenpeace on Wednesday about the closure and would proceed with sealing off its office on Jalan Kemang Utara in South Jakarta next Monday.

Agus Supriyono, P2B’s head of enforcement, said the office had been built in an area designated for residential buildings only.

“Like any other building that violates regulations, we will have to seal off this building,” he said.

“We will only unseal it once the building owners have restored it as a residential property. So that means that come Monday, Greenpeace must stop all activities at its office.”

Agus denied that his office had been pressured by outside parties to move against Greenpeace, calling the matter a simple zoning issue. He added that an office building next to the Greenpeace office would also be sealed off.

However, several other office and commercial buildings on the same street have been allowed to operate as usual.

“We don’t have a problem with Greenpeace. We’re just doing our job, which is to enforce zoning regulations and take measures against violating buildings,” Agus said.

“If Greenpeace wants to relocate its offices, they’re welcome to do so, just as long as they do so in an area where it’s permissible.”

Widyo Dwiyono, head of the South Jakarta P2B office, echoed the point that the entire Kemang area was designated as a residential zone, making it imperative that Greenpeace move.

Kemang is also home to scores of restaurants, bars, nightclubs and shops, very few of which have ever been sealed off or cited for zoning violations.

Hikmat said Greenpeace found it humorous how its “persecutor” kept coming up with different ways of attacking the organization, including past allegations that it was funded by lottery money and that it was intent on stalling Indonesian economic development by attacking the country’s palm oil industry.

“We’re not against the palm oil industry, nor do we want to stop Indonesian economic development,” he said. “All we are asking for is responsible industrial practices by implementing sustainable industrial development rather than destroying and exploiting the rainforest.

“It needs to be understood that Greenpeace’s campaigns focus on saving the Indonesian rainforest, hence we continue to urge all companies to save the rainforest through sustainable industrial development.”

Hikmat added that Greenpeace was aware it faced opposition to its work, but said attacks and pressure would not stop it from campaigning for better environmental stewardship.

“We just hope that the media and society don’t get the wrong idea about our mission in Indonesia because we just want to save the Indonesian rainforest,” he said.

Last month, a Greenpeace UK forest campaigner was deported from Indonesia for reasons that were never made clear. That incident took place less than a week after the Greenpeace UK director was denied entry into the country despite arriving with a valid visa.

Nur Hidayati, head of Greenpeace Indonesia, said at the time that the group was “coming under attack in Indonesia because of our work to stop deforestation in the country.”

Lawmakers and religious leaders have publicly questioned the source of the group’s funding, while hard-line groups have claimed it is working in the country illegally because it is not registered with the Jakarta administration.

Critics of Greenpeace have also accused it of targeting APP while ignoring foreign companies that operate in Indonesia. APP, though, is foreign, being based in Singapore.

Kemang Bar Faces Questions After Fatal Stabbing of Youth

Kemang Bar Faces Questions After Fatal Stabbing of Youth

Elisabeth Oktofani, Ismira Lutfia $ Zaky Pawas

Following the fatal stabbing of a high school student at a nightspot in South Jakarta’s trendy Kemang area, a children’s rights activist demanded that the nightclub be held responsible and called on the victim’s school to evaluate its teaching practices.

Arist Merdeka Sirait, the chairman of the National Commission for Child Protection (Komnas Anak), said on Sunday that the owners of SHY Rooftop should have had rules in place to keep out people under the age of 18.

“The nightclub owners should be held responsible for the stabbing of the Pangudi Luhur high school student because they didn’t enforce this law,” he said.

Arist said Pangudi Luhur students had a reputation for getting involved in brawls, indicating there was a need to evaluate the school’s teaching practices.

“As an educational institute, the school has to focus not only on its students’ academic achievements, but on molding their behavior,” he said.

However, whether the 17-year-old victim, Raafi Aga Winasya Benjamin, should have been allowed into SHY Rooftop may not be a clear-cut issue.

In Jakarta, the minimum age to be allowed into a nightclub is 17, and there is no age limit to enter restaurants.

Arie Budiman, the head of Jakarta’s Tourism and Culture Office, told the Jakarta Globe on Sunday that the permit given to the establishment classified it as a restaurant, bar and live music venue, meaning there is no restriction on who is allowed to enter.

He said the presence of a bar serving alcoholic beverages was part of the restaurant and there was a generally enforced minimum age limit of 17 to consume alcohol.

Yuan Kusuma, who manages several venues that operate nightclubs after 10 p.m., said the policy of keeping out younger patrons was in the hands of managers.

“You need to be 21 or over to get into one of my places,” he told the Globe. “However, before 10 p.m., anyone can dine at the restaurant and we check IDs before letting people in.

“I don’t know about other venues, but we drew up this policy ourselves and stick to provincial by-laws,” Yuan added.

He said that apart from checking IDs, his staff also frisk patrons and inspect the contents of their bags to check for weapons.

However, he admitted that the 21-and-over rule was difficult to enforce with women.

“Makeup can make a woman look older than she is,” Yuan said, adding that the rule was also flexibly enforced for women in a bid to drive up business.

“The more sugar there is, the more ants there are,” he said.

South Jakarta Police Sr. Comr. Imam Sugianto said officers were questioning 12 witnesses as part of its investigation into the circumstances behind the stabbing, which took place early on Saturday morning .

“The witnesses include patrons, friends of the victim, security guards and management personnel at the venue,” he said on Sunday.

Police are also studying closed circuit TV footage from the night. “We’re still analyzing the footage, hopefully it will give us more leads,” Imam said.

Raafi and about 20 friends arrived at SHY Rooftop at 11 p.m. on Friday for a birthday celebration. “They had drinks, but did not get drunk,” Imam said.

He added that at around 2 a.m. on Saturday, Raafi got into an argument with six other patrons at the venue.

“We’re still not sure whether Raafi or his friends knew the people he was arguing with,” Imam said.

The argument escalated into a fight and Raafi was stabbed in the stomach, presumably with a knife. Imam said that at about 3 a.m., Raafi’s friends took him to a hospital in Pasar Minggu, but he died from blood loss.

His body was taken to Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital for an autopsy.

“We’re still waiting on the official results,” Imam said, adding that police were also still searching for the murder weapon.

He criticized the management of SHY Rooftop for not notifying police of the incident immediately and said that by the time officers arrived, the scene of the crime had been cleaned.

“They had mopped up the blood and rolled up the carpet,” Imam said. “They have destroyed evidence, which is a crime.”

“They did not file a police report,” he added. “We only learned of the stabbing after being informed by Raafi’s friends.”

Imam said police would distribute a letter to the managers of all nightspots and would add a new clause to the permits of new nightspots.

“We’ll follow up on getting a clause in the permits of existing venues obliging them to notify police of such incidents,” he said.

Shy Rooftop Wajib Tanggung Jawab

Shy Rooftop Wajib Tanggung Jawab

Shy Rooftop seharusnya membuat peraturan yang ketat. Anak dibawah usia 18 tahun tidak dapat masuk ke tempat hiburan malam.

Pemilik Shy Rooftop Kemang wajib bertanggung jawab atas kasus penusukan siswa SMA Pangudi Luhur Raafi Aga Winasya Benjamin (17) hingga tewas. Sementara SMA Pangudi Luhur perlu melakukan evaluasi sistem belajar mengajar.

Arist Merdeka Sirait, Ketua Komisi Nasional Perlindungan Anak, mengatakan bahwa anak dibawah usia 18 tahun tidak boleh masuk ke tempat hiburan malam.

"Selain harus memahami sebuah tempat hiburan malam tidak boleh memekerjakan anak dibawah usia 18 tahun sesuai dengan Undang-Undang Ketenagakerjaan, tempat hiburan malam juga harus melarang anak dibawah usia 18 tahun untuk masuk ke tempat seperti itu dengan peraturan yang ketat," kata Arist, kepada beritasatu.com, hari ini.

"Oleh karena itu, dalam kasus penusukan siswa SMA Pangudi Luhur tersebut pemilik kafe wajib untuk bertanggungjawab karena tidak adanya peraturan yang ketat tersebut," imbuh dia.

Arist juga mengungkapkan selama ini SMA Pangudi Luhur memang terkenal sebagai sekolah yang sering berantem sehingga pihak sekolah wajib untuk mengevaluasi dirinya.

"SMA Pangudi Luhur kiranya perlu untuk dievaluasi kembali. Sebagai lembaga pendidikan, SMA Pangudi Luhur seharusnya tidak hanya mengedepankan prestasi akademiknya semata tetapi juga memperhatikan perilaku siswa," tandas Arist.

Ekstremisme Islam Muncul Karena Hukum Tidak Ditegakkan

Ekstremisme Islam Muncul Karena Hukum Tidak Ditegakkan

"Indonesia saat ini sedang dalam keadaan terpuruk karena hukum tidak dijalankan sebagaimana mestinya dan rakyat tidak dilatih untuk berperilaku disiplin," kata Ali.

Lemahnya penegakan hukum telah mengikis kedisiplinan rakyat Indonesia, dan situlah berkembang kelompok-kelompok ekstremis, demikian dikatakan Ali Mustafa Yaqub, Imam Besar Masjid Istiqlal, di Jakarta, hari ini.

"Indonesia saat ini sedang dalam keadaan terpuruk karena hukum tidak dijalankan sebagaimana mestinya dan rakyat tidak dilatih untuk berperilaku disiplin," kata Ali.

Sesungguhnya toleransi antar umat beragama di Indonesia sudah cukup bagus namun belum ideal, karena banyak oknum yang melakukan hal-hal yang dapat menyebabkan munculnya pergesekan antar umat beragama.

"Munculnya oknum-oknum yang melakukan hal-hal yang dapat menyebabkan adanya pergesekan antar umat beragama karena hukum tidak dijalankan dengan benar, ada orang salah namun tidak hukum. Padahal peraturan sudah ada namun pelaksanaanya belum dilaksanakan dengan benar," kata Ali.

Selain itu, Ali menuturkan bahwa munculnya kaum ekstrimis di kalangan Islam disebabkan karena oknum umat Islam tersebut belum mempelajari Islam secara utuh.

"Ada ajaran Islam yang mengajarkan bagaimana menghadapi situasi perang dan bagaimana menghadapi situasi damai. Kalau yang diambil hanya ayat tentang perang saja maka dapat menyebabkan seseorang menjadi ekstrimis," jelasnya.

"Sehingga umat Islam harus mempelajari Islam secara utuh dan jangan mempelajari Islam sepotong-sepotong saja. Dan ini kembali pada peran serta ulama juga," kata Ali.

Berebut Daging Kurban Fakta Kemiskinan Tinggi

Berebut Daging Kurban Fakta Kemiskinan Tinggi

"Tingginya tingkat kemiskinan tersebut merupakan masalah nasional yang perlu dihadapi bersama," kata Ali.

Fenomena berebut daging kurban di setiap hari Raya Idul Adha harus dicermati bahwa tingkat kemiskinan di Indonesia masih tinggi.

"Rebutan dalam pembagian daging kurban sering menjadi potret tahunan yang kita saksikan. Namun, potret tersebut harus dicermati dengan baik sebab potret tersebut menunjukkan masih banyaknya orang miskin di Indonesia," kata Ali Mustafa Yaqub, Imam Besar Masjid Istiqlal, di Jakarta, Jumat (4/11).

"Tingginya tingkat kemiskinan tersebut merupakan masalah nasional yang perlu dihadapi bersama," kata Ali.

Pada Maret lalu, data Badan Pusat Statistik (BPS) menunjukkan bahwa jumlah penduduk miskin di Indonesia adalah sebanyak 30.02 juta orang pada tahun 2011.

BPS menetapkan bahwa seseorang dikatakan sebagai orang miskin apabila mereka memiliki tingkat pengeluaran sebesar Rp 211,726 per bulan atau sekitar Rp 7,000 per hari.

Sedangkan Bank Dunia menetapkan bahwa seseorang dikatakan sebagai orang miskin apabila mereka memiliki penghasilan sebesar 2 USD per hari.

"Kriteria penduduk miskin yang ditetapkan oleh BPS sangatlah rendah sehingga jumlah penduduk miskin nampak sedikit. Padahal, apabila kita menggunakan kriteria miskin yang ditetapkan oleh Bank Dunia maka jumlah penduduk miskin di Indonesia sangat tinggi," tutur Ali.

Ibadah Sosial
Ali mengatakan bahwa untuk mengentaskan kemiskinan yang ada di tengah masyarakat, diperlukan keterlibatan masyarakat pada umumnya termasuk umat Islam sebab Islam merupakan agama yang mengedepankan ibadah sosial.

"Meskipun Nabi Muhammad memiliki kemampuan untuk naik haji tiga setiap tahun, beliau hanya melakukan satu kali saja sebab beliau lebih mengedepankan ibadah sosia. Beliau lebih memilih untuk berinfaq ribuan kali sebagai wujud ibadah sosial," jelasnya.

"Namun sayangnya, hal ini belum banyak ditiru oleh umat Islam karena mereka lebih banyak memilih untuk umroh dan naik haji berulang kali daripada mengentaskan kemiskinan." kata Ali.

Ali mengatakan bahwa peran serta ulama sangat diperlukan untuk mengubah sudut pandang tersebut.

"Ulama harus memberikan contoh tentang perilaku Nabi Muhammad terhadap umat Islam. Hal ini dikarenakan orang awam tidak dapat memahami langsung teks hadis atau Al-Quran." Jelas Ali.

"Perilaku Nabi Muhammad adalah berhaji satu kali namun berinfaq ribuan kali." Imbuhnya.

Lebih lanjut, Ali menuturkan bahwa tak dapat dipungkiri bahwa masih banyak oknum ulama yang lebih mengejar kesalehan individual dengan berhaji berulang-ulang sementara potret kemiskinan ada di setiap sudut.

"Sekarang, banyak ulama yang memberikan contoh untuk mengejar kesalehan individual. Padahal Islam bukan agama yang demikian karena Islam lebih menekankan kesalehan sosial," ujarnya.

Ulama Komersial Perlu Dibina
Sementara itu, Ali mengatakan bahwa para ulama komersial yang akhir-akhir semakin marak muncul di berbagai media

"Ulama komersial tersebut sesungguhnya bukan seorang ulama karena seorang ulama hendaknya membimbing dan memberi contoh umat Islam untuk tidak mementingkan diri sendiri." Jelasnya.

"Memang tidak dapat dipungkiri bahwa sebagai seorang ulama memiliki kebutuhan pribadi yang perlu dipenuhi. Namun perilaku untuk menjual agama tidak dapat dibenarkan bahkan mereka perlu untuk dibina," imbuh Ali.

SBY akan Sholat Ied di Istiqlal

SBY akan Sholat Ied di Istiqlal

Panitia kurban telah menyiapkan kurang lebih 3.000 hingga 5.000 kupon pengambilan daging kurban bagi orang miskin.

Pemerintah telah menetapkan Idul Adha jatuh pada Ahad, 6 November 2011.

Sholat Ied di Masjid Istiqlal, Jakarta, akan diselenggarakan pada pukul 07:00 WIB, dipimpin oleh Ustad Husni Ismail.

Rencananya, Sholat Ied tersebut akan dihadiri oleh Presiden Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) dan Wakil Presiden, beserta kurang lebih 200.000 umat Islam.

Sementara itu, Ali Mustafa Yaqub, Imam Besar Masjid Istiqlal, mengatakan Masjid Istiqlal telah menerima 70 ekor sapi dan 10 ekor kambing hingga Jumat siang.

Panitia kurban telah menyiapkan kurang lebih 3.000 hingga 5.000 kupon pengambilan daging kurban bagi orang miskin.

Unions Worldwide Back Papua Strike

Unions Worldwide Back Papua Strike

Unions both local and international have voiced support for their colleagues in Papua and defended wage demands by striking Freeport miners as justified, considering the mine’s remote location.

“We are one big family, and we fully support the struggle of our comrades, the workers at Freeport who are fighting for their welfare through fair and just wages,” said Subiyanto, general secretary of the e nergy, chemical and mining branch of the All-Indonesian Workers Trade Union (SPSI).

“A raise in Freeport workers’ wages to $7.50 per hour makes sense because of the high living costs in Papua,” he added, speaking in Jakarta on Wednesday.

The same sentiment was echoed by Dick Lin, the information and campaign officer at the International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers’ Unions (ICEM).

“A wage rise as desired by Freeport’s employees is reasonable because the mine is located in a remote area, which tends to have high living costs,” Lin said in Jakarta.

Subiyanto said that wages in Indonesia were frequently automatically based on regional minimum rates.

“The problem we must highlight is that an employee’s remuneration tends to be set with reference to the minimum wage in that district or city,” he said.

Since Sept. 15, around 8,000 workers at the Grasberg mine in Papua have been striking after failing to reach agreement on wages and working conditions.

The mine is owned by US company Freeport and jo int venture partner Rio Tinto, a British-Australian mining company.

The national branch of the SPSI has stressed that the government must play a constructive role in helping settle the dispute.

“We ask the government of the Republic of Indonesia as the mandated authority to quickly take action to end the strike by encouraging both sides to undertake constructive negotiations in good faith,” Subiyanto said.

Another union activist, Airan Koibur, said one reason an agreement had not yet been reached was that Freeport had not been sufficiently transparent with the Papuans.

“In previous negotiations, we asked management to be open with us about the company’s profitability, because for the duration of the past 16 joint work agreements we have not felt any improvement,” Airan said.

“We see our demands as very responsible because it relates to the workers’ welfare.”

He went on to say that the workers had lowered their demands as many as five times.

Initially, they had requested a wage hike to $35 per hour. They subsequently reduced the demand to $30, then $17.50, $12.50 and ultimately to the current level of $7.50.

“We don’t understand why they find this unacceptable and say they’ll only increase wages by 30 percent from the current level of $2.10 per hour,” Airan said.

According to the agreement made on Monday, striking workers will meet their bosses again next week on Nov. 7, with the government playing a monitoring and facilitating role.

Any potential agreement reached by negotiators will need to be voted on by all striking workers.

Kondisi Papua Dasar Kemenhan Susun RUU Kamnas

Kondisi Papua Dasar Kemenhan Susun RUU Kamnas

Purnomo mengatakan terdapat empat masalah yang terjadi di Papua.

Gerakan Separatis Papua menjadi salah satu alasan utama Kementerian Pertahanan untuk menyusun Rancangan Undang Undangan Keamanan Nasional (RUU Kamnas).

"Kami menyoroti masalah gerakan ingin memisahkan diri dari Negara Kesatuan Republik Indonesia karena terkait dengan keamanan nasional. Di mana, saat ini kami sedang mempersiapkan diri untuk membahas Rancangan Undang Undang Keamanan Nasional dengan DPR" kata Purnomo Yusgiantoro, Menteri Pertahanan, dalam pembukaan diskusi terbatas dengan tema 'Papua dalam Perspektif Keamanan Nasional' di Jakarta, hari ini.

"Rancangan Undang Undang Keaman Nasional mencakup ancaman keamanan publik yang selama ini ditangani oleh Polri, ancaman keamanan internal yang ditangani oleh TNI serta ancaman keamanan eksternal," kata Menhan.

Purnomo mengatakan terdapat empat masalah yang terjadi di Papua yang tidak memiliki keterkaitan satu sama lain.

Keempat masalah tersebut adalah masalah gerakan separatis Papua, masalah disparitas ekonomi, masalah Pilkada, dan masalah PT. Freeport Indonesia baik berkaitan dengan mogok maupun illegal mining yang terjadi di mile 34 dan 39.

"Sebetulnya, gerakan separatis yang terjadi di Papua tidak besar karena kelompok separatis yang melakukannya pun hanya segelintir saja," kata Purnomo.

"Namun karena keempat hal tersebut berkumpul menjadi satu maka masalah yang terjadi di Papua terlihat besar," imbuhnya.

Purnomo menjelaskan hal-hal yang terjadi di Papua merupakan ancaman keamanan publik sehingga apabila eskalasinya terus meningkat maka hal yang terjadi di Papua sudah termasuk menjadi kategori acaman keamanan internal.

Untuk itu perlu melibatkan TNI untuk menyelesaikannya.

Pemerintah Bantah Gugat New7Wonders

Pemerintah Bantah Gugat New7Wonders

Sudah putus hubungan sejak bulan Agustus lalu.

Pemerintah Indonesia tidak akan menggugat Yayasan New7Wonders pemilihan Taman Nasional Komodo sebagai salah satu New7Wonders of Nature.

"Kami tidak akan menggugat New7Wonders karena kami sudah memutuskan hubungan dengan mereka sejak bulan Agustus yang lalu," Kata Todung Mulya Lubis, penasihat hukum Kementerian Pariwisata dan Ekonomi Kreatif, pada beritasatu.com, hari ini.

Pernyataan ini disampaikan untuk membantah berita yang menyebutkan pemerintah akan menggugat secara hukum New7Wonders.

"Meski demikian, kami memang telah memilih law firm di Zurich untuk memberikan opini dan update terbaru berkaitan dengan yayasan New7Wonders dan bukan untuk menggugat yayasan tersebut," tuturnya.

"Lagipula, kami menunjukkan proses penunjukkan law firm tersebut telah berlangsung sejak lama," imbuh Todung.

I Gusti Ngurah Putra, Kepala Pusat Informasi dan Humas (Kopusformas) memaparkan, Indonesia bukanlah negara satu-satunya yang mengundurkan diri dari kegiatan yang diadakan New7Wonders.

Pemerintah Maldives telah mengundurkan terlebih dahulu sejak bulan Mei 2011 karena alasan serupa.

"Pemerintah Indonesia memutuskan untuk mengundurkan diri dari kegiatan yang diadakan oleh Yayasan New7Wonders karena kami tidak melihat adanya kredibilitas yang dapat dipertangungjawabkan oleh yayasan tersebut," tutur Putra.

"Mereka tidak konsisten dan tidak transparan dalam segi keterbukaan informasi mengenai jumlah suara yang diperoleh masing-masing finalis," katanya.

"Selain itu, alamat yayasan New7Wonders di Zurich pun tidak benar," kata Putra.

Lebih lanjut, Putra mengatakan, meskipun pemerintah Indonesia telah mengundurkan dari kegiatan kampanye yang dilakukan oleh yayasan New7Wonders sejak 15 Agustus lalu, pemerintah Indonesia tidak mengabaikan keberadaan komodo.

"Pemerintah telah berkomitmen untuk mengembangkan dan mempromosikan Taman Nasional Komodo sebagai konservasi dan destinasi pariwisata internasional di Indonesia," ujar Putra.

"Bahkan, hingga hari ini, kami masih melakukan promosi destinasi Taman Nasional Komodo dengan tema Real Wonder of The World," tambahnya.

"Selain itu, jika ada yang ingin melakukan promosi atau kampanye berkaitan dengan Taman Nasional Komodo, kami tidak akan dan tidak berhak untuk melarang."

Sebelumnya, Jero Wacik, mantan Menteri Kebudayaan dan Pariwisata, mengungkapkan meskipun Taman Nasional Komodo telah mengundurkan diri dari kampanye pemilihan tujuh keajaiban alam-baru (N7WN) versi yayasan New 7 Wonders, namun Taman Nasional Komodo telah ditetapkan sebagai World Heritage oleh UNESCO pada tahun 1991.

SPSI Dukung Perjuangan Buruh Freeport

SPSI Dukung Perjuangan Buruh Freeport

Keluarga besar Federasi Serikat Pekerja Kimia, Energi dan Pertambangan Serikat Pekerja Seluruh Indonesia FSP KEP SPSI mendukung penuh perjuangan pekerja di Freeport.

Federasi Serikat Pekerja Kimia, Energi dan Pertambangan Serikat Pekerja Seluruh Indonesia (FSP KEP SPSI) mendukung perjuangan buruh PT. Freeport Indonesia yang memperjuangkan perbaikan kesejahteraan karyawan.

"Kami keluarga besar FSP KEP SPSI mendukung penuh perjuangan kawan-kawan pekerja di PT. Freeport Indonesia yang berjuang untuk perbaikan kesejahteraan dengan upah yang layak dan adil," kata Subiyanto, Sekretaris Umum FSP KEP SPSI, di Jakarta hari ini.

"Selain itu, kami juga mendukung perjuangan mereka untuk mendapatkan perlakuan yang bermartabat dari manajemen PT. Freeport Indonesia," tambahnya.

Subiyanto menyatakan bahwa FSP KEP SPSI meminta agar pemerintah Indonesia berupaya untuk menyelesaikan mogok kerja di PT. Freeport Indonesia melalui perundingan antar perusahaan dan buruh sehingga dapat membangun hubungan yang harmonis antara kedua belah pihak.

"Kami meminta agar pemerintah Republik Indonesia sebagai pemegang kekuasaan negara dan kedaulatan rakyat agar secepatnya mengupayakan penyelesain mogok kerja dengan mendorong kedua belah pihak untuk melakukan perundingan yang konstruktif dan didasari itikad baik," kata Subiyanto.

"Hal ini guna untuk membangun komitmen pelaksaan hubungan industrial yang harmonis, dinamis, adil dan bermartabat."

SBY Tries Lyrical Leadership Once More

SBY Tries Lyrical Leadership Once More

In a nation plagued by seeds of disintegration — as hard-line radicals spread intolerance and separatist clashes dominate news out of the archipelago’s east — there is only so much that policy prescriptions can do.

Perhaps realizing these limits, Indonesia’s uniter in chief has boldly cried for “Harmoni,” (“Harmony”) the title of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s fourth album, released on Monday.

“The president is sending his message across through songs, so the public won’t get bored,” said Energy Minister Jero Wacik after the album’s launch in Central Jakarta.

“Indonesians don’t respond well to speeches. People are getting tired of speeches.”

The president wrote all eight songs on the album and like his previous records, “Harmoni” features some of the nation’s well respected singers, such as pop legends Rafika Duri and Harvey Malaiholo, and up-and-coming stars Sandy Sandoro, Afghan, Rio Febrian and Joy Tobing.

“[Harmony] is the pinnacle of all aspirations, expectations, and dreams of every leader. In one way or another, a leader always aspires to create a harmonious social order for the people,” Yudhoyono wrote in the album’s foreword.

“The harmony I expressed in this album is not just that among humans, but also among nations and most importantly, the harmonious relationship between mankind and the universe.”

Jero said there is nothing wrong with the president’s penchant for lyricism. “The president writes songs in his spare time, so it’s OK for him to write once in a while. He is writing them for the people,” the minister said.

“You need to understand that by writing songs, he is doing his [presidential] work, although he doesn’t do this everyday.”

There is no telling whether Yudhoyono’s latest endeavor will enjoy the same moderate success as his third album, “Ku Yakin Sampai di Sana” (“I’m Certain I’ll Get There”). He released his first album, “Rinduku Padamu” (“I Miss You”) in 2007, followed by “Evolusi” (“Evolution”) in 2009 .

"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