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.

Free Women condemn attack by Islamic Defenders Front against Q! Film Festival

Perempuan Mahardhika (Free Women) National Network Statement - September 28, 2010

The attacks by the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) against the two-week International Q! Film Festival which opened in Jakarta on September 24 is a violation of basic human rights and threatens democracy in Indonesia.

Since the process of reformasi or political reform that began in 1998, the upholding of democracy in Indonesia has continued to be pushed back. The right to organise, freedom of expression and opinion and the freedom of worship are increasingly coming under threat from reactionary civilian militia groups acting in the name of "eradicating immorality".

Restrictions on the freedom of sexual orientation in society through the construction of the normalisation of heterosexuality have explicitly emasculated the rights of the lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, which are a part of society whose rights must be acknowledged.

Asian Global Justice School in Manila 2010: Putting the Pieces of world's problems together, a socialist solution

By Zely Ariane*

The never ending traffic jams of Quezon City, Philippines, found its ‘compensation’ in the second Asian Global Justice School on August 2-21.

Representing the Political Committee of the Poor-People’s Democratic Party (KPRM-PRD), along with 10 other left activists from Taiwan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Japan and Pakistan, I participated in a three-week school in Manila organised by International Institute for Research and Education (IIRE)-Manila.

The participants came from a variety of revolutionary organisations and parties with different traditions, engaging in different areas of national struggle. Some were peasant organisers, labour and women's activists while others worked on rural issues or conflict areas.

Where We Will Go From Here?

A Reflection on Recent United Front Work in Indonesia

By Zely Ariane[1]

I prefer to consider this article as “a reflection on recent united front work” because it will probably not be able go into as much detail or history as I would like. So let this primarily be a reflection on our united front organisational work in Indonesia to date. But first, I would like to frame this within the strategic aims of our struggle, as a dynamic effort to achieve short and long term goals.

Why do we undertake united front work? Because for us it is a principal tactic by which to bring broader layers of the toiling masses; the poor majority, into the movement challenging the power of the ruling class. It is a tool to bring together and mobilise different forces and build consciousness on a common platform of struggle to increase the power of resistance. At the same time, for revolutionary forces, it is also an arena to propagate the strategic aims of the movement: that is socialism through overthrowing pro-capitalist and imperialist governments and its state and to establish a government of the working class and the poor.

Cross-religious solidarity action for freedom of religion, worship

Jatim News - September 19, 2010

Misti P., Mojokerto (beritajatim.com) -- Around 50 people from the alliance National Humanity and Anti-Violence Solidarity Concern (SPKKAK) will hold joint prayers in front of the Mojokerto municipal government offices on Sunday September 19.

The event, which will be accompanied with the lighting of 1 thousand candles, is an expression of solidarity over the recent stabbing of a Batak Christian Protestant Church (HKBP) elder.

Alliance spokesperson Hari Cahyono said that the action is being held as a form of solidarity and respect for religious freedom. "We will start at 7pm, with a joint prayer and speeches with a number of demands", he said.