Activists turned politicians yet to make their mark

Kompas - May 14, 2011

Generasi Baru Indonesia yang Belum Mewarnai – Kompas. 14 Mei 2011. <http://cetak.kompas.com/read/2011/05/14/04172876/generasi.baru.indonesia.yang.belum.mewarnai>

M Hernowo -- Case of human rights violations that took place around the time of the fall of the New Order regime have still not been fully resolved. Moreover President Suharto's decision on May 21, 1998 to release his grip on the reigns power, which he held for 32 years, has been taken advantage of by some groups.

Among those who benefited from Suharto's resignation 13 years ago were former activists who fought against the New Order regime. The political space that opened up during the reformasi era provided opportunities to these activists to move more freely, such as becoming members of the House of Representatives (DPR), political party leaders and member of the government.

Solidarity Message for Socialist Party of Malaysia 13th Congress

Dear comrades,

Let us extend our very warm regards to your 13^th congress. We hope this year’s congress will strengthen PSM struggle politically, organizationally and ideologically at national and international level.

This is a wonderful year for our common struggle to fight and build 21^st century socialism. It is in this very moment we are more and more convinced there will be no other way out of this crisis of capitalism unless the whole reorganization and transformation of the system and society undertaken in a radical way. We are more convinced that even a small reform needs political revolt; political mobilization of the people to enter and decide their own political interest.

Dear Comrades,

Somyot Prueksakasemsuk is a famous thai labour activist and a leading member of the Red shirts movement. The 30th of april, he has been arrested under the crime of Lèse Majesté by the Thai police.

He is now in jail and the Thai court denied him to be out on bail.

A campaign to free him and to repeal the drastic Lèse Majesté law has been launched by Australian Red Shirts.

We think this campaign should be supported and broadcast as wild as possible.

Labour based political parties failing to attract voters

Kompas - May 2, 2011

Apologies for late posting – JB.

Partai Buruh: Tidak Yakin Efektif – Kompas. Senen, 2 Mei 2011 <http://cetak.kompas.com/read/2011/05/02/02352989/tidak.yakin.efektif>

Yohan Wahyu -- If we look at the still sidelined state of workers and employees, the need to unite and organise oneself should be a big one. The historical facts in Indonesia however show the reverse, with political parties claiming to be based among workers not in fact "selling well" in the eyes of the voting public.

In all the elections held since the reformasi era (the reform era beginning in 1998), political parties that are specifically based on the interests of workers have never shown their fangs. Although they have won a number of seats at the regional level (Regional House of Representatives, DPRD), labour parties have had to acknowledge the low level of public appreciation with a vote share of 1 percent at the national level (at the regional level voters tend to know the candidates better).

Indonesian Mayday Roundup

Workers clash with police at Jakarta airport

Detik.com - May 1, 2011

Aksi Ricuh, Buruh Mau Masuk ke Bandara Soekarno Hatta - detikNews. Minggu, 01/05/2011 <http://www.detiknews.com/read/2011/05/01/142243/1629667/10/aksi-ricuh-buruh-mau-masuk-ke-bandara-soekarno-hatta>

Dira Derby, Jakarta – A clash broke out between workers and police at the rear entrance to the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Sunday when police refused to allow protesting from the Indonesian People's Opposition Front (FORI) from entering the airport.

Wearing red uniforms and carrying flags, banners, posters and megaphones, the workers gave speeches along the length of the road leading to the airport. Despite being blocked by police the demonstrators were determined to continue the demonstration inside the airport.

When the workers came face-to-face with the police blockade a clash broke out with demonstrators and police pushing and shoving each other and the two sides coming to blows. The scuffle did not last long however and protest leaders and the police were eventually able to calm the protesters down.

MAYDAY 2011: UNITE!

Labor Day: Workers can't afford to quit despite complaints

Jakarta Globe - April 30, 2011

Elisabeth Oktofani -- Mulyadi is 25, but he's lost count of how many times in the past three years he has switched factories.

He works in one for a few months before moving to another, all within Jakarta's massive Kawasan Berikat Nusantara industrial estate in the Cakung-Cilincing area.

Thousands of contract factory workers are employed at the KBN in any given year. Some of those workers have worked within the KBN for more than a decade, despite regulations aimed to prevent it.

"I work mostly for garment factories. The money's the same everywhere at KBN. I earn Rp 1.38 million [$160] per month," Mulyadi told the Jakarta Globe.

"Why do I move around? Not by choice, I can tell you. They'll just give me a three-month contract or a six-month contract. That's a lot pressure for us [to turn down the offer], because we know how hard it is to get jobs nowadays," he said on Friday, two days before May Day demonstrations are expected to hit the capital's streets.

Land conflicts between the TNI and the people rooted in 1965

lKompas - April 25, 2011



Reformasi TNI Belum Tuntas - Kompas. Senin, 25 April 2011


Jakarta -- Conflicts between the Indonesian military (TNI) and the people shows that internal reform within military as an institution is not fully complete. The security approach, like the era of Suharto's New Order regime, is still being used by the TNI, particularly when confronted by problems.


Speaking in Jakarta on Sunday April 24, The Indonesian Institute researcher Hanta Yuda said that the conflicts that have occurred between the TNI and the people are evidence that a number of agenda items still remain in the reform of the TNI. "The indication being that the TNI still uses violent methods to overcome problems, as it did during the previous New Order era", said Yuda.

Indonesia: Military open fire on protesting villagers in Central Java

http://fppks.blogspot.com/

Asian Human Rights Commission Urgent Appeals - April 18, 2011

Urgent Appeal Case: AHRC-UAC-079-2011

Dear friends,

Since Saturday April 16, 2011 several farmers have been injured by military violence in Kebumen regency, Central Java. The actions of the military personnel included beating, kicking and shooting, allegedly with rubber bullets caused several persons injured. Ten villagers were arrested after they protested against the occupation of their land by the military. On April 16, 2011 several villagers joined a procession to the graves of child victims of past military exercises in the area. Provocation by the local military escalated the situation. Some of the victims were brought to hospitals and many left the area due to fear of further violence by the military and police. The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) is concerned about the ongoing arrests and sweeping operations in the area.

Indonesian government blamed for religious violence

By James Balowski, in Jakarta

Direct Action. The gruesome murder of three members of the Ahmadiyah religious sect by an Islamist mob  has left Indonesia’s image of pluralism and religious tolerance in tatters. On February 6, a mob of 1500 people attacked 21 Ahmadiyah members in Cikeusik, a village in Banten province in Java, killing three and seriously wounding five others. Around 30 police officers were present but did little to stop the attack. An amateur video posted on YouTube shows the gruesome beating of the men with wooden sticks, hoes and machetes.


The public outcry was immediate and loud, condemnation coming from ordinary Indonesians, moderate Muslim leaders, NGOs and rights activists. Human rights NGO Imparsial condemned the police inaction: “Once again, the police, as a state apparatus, failed to guarantee religious freedom by protecting the Ahmadis from violence”. The Wahid Institute blamed President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono: “Violence against Ahmadis is an almost daily occurrence, yet the President does nothing to address this”.