Workers say no to law revision

Jakarta Post - October 27, 2010

Yuli Tri Suwarni, Bandung -- Thousands of workers from across West Java 
staged a rally in Bandung on Tuesday protesting a plan to revise Law No 
13/2003 on manpower, claiming it was planned to enhance the investment 
climate by satisfying businesspeople while sacrificing workers' rights.

The protest was held during a visit to Bandung made by Manpower and 
Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar to officially launch the one-
million job creation program in the province.

Protesters call out SBY on graft, rights, jobs, prices

National action on the failure of imperialist government and state, 20 October 2010. 

 These kind of actions were spreading out in many big cities in Indonesia. 

Here are some protest actions happening in several cities where we invloved and initiated.

Jakarta. KONTRAS 20 Oktober 2010

The banner is showed Indonesian map with TNC/MNC domination.
It said: "The power of Capitalists in Indonesia should be resisted through the unity of people struggle."

Jakarta. Joint Action Committe.

Jakarta. Joint Action Commitee
The banner said: "Not SBY-Boediono, Ministerial Resuffle or Political Elites; But Democracy and Welfare under People Power."

Adi Wibowo (centre) in front of Presidential Palace

The poster said: "Not SBY-Boediono, Ministerial Resuffle or Political Elites; But the unity of movement for Decent Wages."

Jakarta Globe - October 20, 2010

Bilhuda Haryanto, Jakarta -- High commodity prices, job insecurity, weak 
law enforcement and unresolved human rights issues were just some of the 
grievances aired on the capital's streets on Wednesday as hundreds of 
protesters braved the rain to have their say.

The demonstrations, concentrated outside the Presidential Palace in Central 
Jakarta, were held to mark the first anniversary of President Susilo 
Bambang Yudhoyono beginning his second term.

Wasteful 2011 budget ignores poorest students, activists claim

Jakarta Globe - October 18, 2010

Dessy Sagita, Jakarta -- Activists have slammed the government for not allocating more funds to aid poor students while preparing to spend billions on its vehicle fleet and laptops.

A coalition of NGOs that monitors the state budget said the Education Ministry had budgeted just Rp 17.3 trillion ($1.94 billion) for school operational aid (BOS) for 39 million elementary and junior high school students next year.

Workers say Yudhoyono little more than foreign puppet, time to step down

Indowarta - October 13, 2010

Jakarta -- The administration of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) and Vice President Boediono is already facing a heavy challenge as it approaches the first year of its second term in office on October 20.

The reason being that student, worker and urban poor organisations are already preparing to take to the streets to demonstrate at the State Palace with the demand "SBY step down!".

The Workers Challenge Alliance (ABM), according to coordinator Budi Wardoyo, has already carried out a series of consolidations to gather together workers to take to the street along with students and ordinary people to coincide with Yudhoyono and Boediono's first year.

Support Indonesian Workers!*

The newly-formed union SPK-PPBI (Security Workers Union, aligned with the United Movement of Labour Indonesia) is calling for solidarity from unions and individuals. The SPK was formed out of a labour dispute between security guards working at the Sapphir Square Mall in Yogyakarta who were sacked unilaterally  in late August by the outsourcing company, PT Primanusa, contracted by Sapphir management.

(see previous news: here)

The workers, many of whom had been working for Sapphir Square Mall for several years, were given no notice and were owed one and a half months salary as well as the usual Ramadan holiday pay. The workers took independent action shutting down Sapphir Square Mall for two days in late August and on September 2 a meeting was held between the United Movement of Labour Indonesia (PPBI) and the security workers to form a new union, SPK. Since that time the SPK-PPBI has been actively campaigning for PT Primanusa and Sapphir Mall management to meet their obligations to the workers.

Opposition to woman's leadership of district wanes

Jakarta Post - October 12, 2010

Hotli Simanjuntak, Banda Aceh -- Opposition by ulema and councilors in Aceh
to a woman becoming district head is reportedly weakening.

Anisa, who became head of Pelimbang district, Bireun regency on May 21,
2010, said the ulema and councilors had initially opposed her promotion
arguing that it was against Islamic law.

"[Opposition] has declined. Many public figures have come to me and
apologized for their previous resistance," she told The Jakarta Post in a recent interview.

Indonesian outrage over 'live bullets madness'

Jakarta Globe - October 12, 2010

Farouk Arnaz, Nivell Rayda & Susilo Wardhani, Jakarta -- Human rights
activists on Monday objected to a new National Police regulation allowing
officers to use live ammunition to control anarchic situations.

"This regulation is madness. It does not minimize police's excessive use of
force but instead increases police brutality further," said Poengky
Indarti, executive secretary of the Indonesian Human Rights Monitor
(Imparsial).

The new regulation, issued by outgoing National Police Chief Gen. Bambang
Hendarso Danuri, allows police officers to used live bullets to handle
rioters when they become uncooperative and start attacking officers.
However, officers are only allowed to shoot to immobilize, not to kill.

Women still targets of discriminatory bylaws, Women rights group says

Jakarta Globe - October 7, 2010

Dessy Sagita, Jakarta -- The National Commission on Violence Against Women 
(Komnas Perempuan) said on Wednesday there were still plenty of bylaws 
discriminating against women, despite the state's promise to eradicate such 
policies.

"After he was re-elected, [President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono] said 
eradicating discriminatory bylaws would be a priority," said Andy Yentriyani, a commissioner at the agency. "But instead of decreasing, the 
number of these kinds of bylaws is getting bigger," she said.

Last year, Komnas Perempuan criticized the state for its failure to repeal 
154 bylaws nationwide that were considered discriminatory -- 64 of which 
hampered women's rights to free expression and gainful employment.

Indonesia, the angry nation?

Jakarta Globe - October 6, 2010

Tasa Nugraza Barley -- Like any Indonesian, Endah Puspita, 27, was taught 
growing up that she lived in a nation of friendly and polite people.

Recent events, however, have made her question if this reputation still 
held true. "I'm extremely sad to see all these violent conflicts happening 
in this country," said Endah, who works as a project administrator for a 
multinational company in Jakarta.

She is not alone. More and more Indonesians are starting to become 
apprehensive about the prevalence of violent events in the news every day.

Gracia Cassandra, a public relations practitioner in Jakarta, feels the 
situation has gotten much worse. "I'm so angry with the current condition," 
she said, adding that many contentious issues need to be solved.

Indonesian radical groups 'can help security'

Jakarta Globe - October 7, 2010

Farouk Arnaz & Anita Rachman, Jakarta -- Despite public calls for the 
government to disband violent hard-line groups, the sole candidate to lead 
the National Police on Wednesday did not appear inclined to oblige.

"We should be close to all" societal groups, Comr. Gen. Timur Pradopo told 
journalists after meeting with the leadership of the House of 
Representatives. However, Timur, did not specifically name the radical 
Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), which has often been involved in violence.

STATEMENT ON ASEM AND G20

by South South Peoples Solidarity Network

Brussels, 6th Oct 2010

Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM) was held again in the beginning of October 2010. The forum was established   in bits first meeting in Bangkok, 1996. ASEM is an inter-regional forum consisting of the European Commission, 27 countries of European member countries, 13 members of ASEAN plus threes and as of 2008 India, Mongolia and Pakistan.

This ASEM is aimed at “helping” to prepare G 20 Summit to be held on  11-12 November 2010 in Seoul  South Korea. These talk shops are the avenue for powerful corporations and their proxy government to reaffirm their orgy of speculation in the expenses of the living standards of millions of people around the world and producing more catastrophes to the planet.