United People Committe in Yogyakarta launches street petition campaign

Harian Jogya - April 27, 2012

Komite Rakyat Bersatu: 164 Warga Jogja Dukung Kenaikan Harga BBM - Harian Jogja. Jumat, 27/4/2012.

Akhirul Anwar/JIBI, Jogja -- Scores of people from the United People's Committee (KBR) held an action in front of the Beringharjo Market on Jl. Ahmad Yani in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta on the afternoon of Friday April 27.

The protesters brought a banner with the message: "Plenary Meeting: Lies, the price of fuel and staple goods will still go up, people of Indonesia, let's unite and seize power for prosperity", referring to the House of Representatives meeting last month that postponed the planned fuel price hikes.

2 percent control 56 percent of Indonesia's national assets

Kompas.com - April 26, 2012

Konflik Agraria: Dua Percent Penduduk Indonesia Kuasai 56 Percent Aset Nasional - Kompas.com. Kamis, 26 April 2012 <>

Khaerudin, Nasru Alam Aziz, Jakarta -- The disparity and gap between those who are rich and poor in Indonesia is clearly illustrated by data on the control of national productive assets.

Only 2 percent of the Indonesian population controls 56 percent of the country's productive national assets. Of this 56 percent, eighty-seven percent is in the form of land.

Proletarianisation of rural communities gathering pace

Kompas - April 14, 2012

Proletarisasi di Pedesaan Terjadi - Kompas. Sabtu, 14 April 2012

Jakarta -- Because the government has failed to fulfill its promise of agrarian reform, the process of rural proletarianisation continues unabated. Rural communities, the majority of whom are farmers that once owned land, have begun to loose their source of income because they no longer have control over land.

Power of men blamed for death of women in labor in Indonesia

Jakarta Globe - April 12, 2012

Dessy Sagita – The strong prevailing patriarchal culture is being blamed for the country's high maternal death rate, with some pregnant women missing out on urgent medical care because of a need for consent from a male relative.

Wendy Hartanto, the deputy chief for population control at the National Family Planning Coordinating Board (BKKBN), said that many pregnant women who needed emergency assistance did not receive help because they could not get approval from their husband or father fast enough.

Women struggle to survive sexual violence in Indonesia

IRIN - April 10, 2012

Survivors of sexual violence in Indonesia face an uphill battle in recovery as a result of an inadequate legal system, police inaction and prevailing societal attitudes that tend to be suspicious of victims, activists say.

Survivors are often reluctant to come forward because of attitudes within the family. Herna (not her real name), 27, was abused by her mother's partner between the ages of 9 and 16 but her family did not fully understand her trauma.

Solidarity with journalists in Sri Lanka, defend democratic rights!

Democratic freedoms are increasingly under attack in Sri Lanka. In a climate of intense chauvinism, critics of the government and its increasingly authoritarian and repressive policies are more and more threatened. Even journalists who have already been forced into exile are targets of threats and smear campaigns. Government members have personally called for violence against media personnel that have raised criticism of the Sri Lankan government or that have drawn attention to violations of Human Rights in the country.

Minister Mervyn Silva, in a public rally, threatened to 'break the limbs' of government critics Sunanda Deshapriya, Nimalka Fernando and Pakiasothy Saravanamuttu. He also claimed responsibility for an attack on the former president of the Sri Lanka Working Journalist Association (SLWJA), exiled journalist Poddala Jayantha, who was abducted and had both legs broken by his abductors. On a later occasion, Silva suggested that 'traitors should be executed'.

Compilation of news & analysis on the drama of fuel price hike

Subsidized fuel rocketed will kill people and people will weight war

Price of fuel in Indonesia may still be going up

Jakarta Globe - April 2, 2012

Agustiyanti, Rizky Amelia, Arientha Primanita & Ezra Sihite -- Indonesia can increase the price of subsidized fuel as early as next month if the Indonesian Crude Price hits $135 per barrel in April, ministers said on Sunday.

The House of Representatives on Friday rejected the plan to raise the price of
Premium subsidized fuel from Rp 4,500 to Rp 6,000 (50 cents to 65 cents) beginning on Sunday, but instead approved a conditional increase.

News compilation of the people's resistance against fuel price hike

Protesters in front of Parliament, Jakarta, 30th March 2012

Fuel price-Protests continue, Makassar still on alert

Jakarta Post - April 1, 2012

Medan/Makassar -- Rallies against the government's fuel-price plans continued in several cities across the country on Saturday with the protesters targeting
lawmakers.

The fuel-price hike that prompted nationwide rallies by university students and other civic groups over three consecutive days will not take effect on April 1 as initially sought by the government.

However, the protesters appeared to be irritated by the prospect that the hike would probably be unavoidable after lawmakers concluded their plenary session after midnight on Friday.

The protesters in Medan and Makassar were adamant on Saturday they rejected the hike, now or in the future. "We're against the fuel-price hike at any time. That's nonnegotiable," rally coordinator Jumeida said in Medan.

Military wins in government's reversal on conflict bill

Jakarta Globe - March 30, 2012

Markus Junianto Sihaloho -- The government has added a last-minute provision to the bill on social conflicts that would give the military a greater role in resolving such issues, reversing an earlier pledge to curtail the military's
involvement in this regard.

Eva Kusuma Sundari, the chairwoman of the House of Representatives special committee deliberating the bill, said on Thursday the proposed article was introduced just as the committee ironed out two final points of contention ahead of the bill's expected passage next week.