Jakarta rapes bring calls for renewed efforts to combat sexual assault

Jakarta Globe - September 25, 2011

Fidelis E. Satriastanti -- In the wake of the rapes of two female passengers on public transportation in recent months, the National Commission on Violence Against Women said the government had a long way to go in meeting its responsibility to protect citizens.

The commission, also known as Komnas Perempuan, outlined recommendations on Friday that ranged from improving security for women on public transportation to toughening the way sexual assault is treated under the Criminal Code.

Andy Yentriyani, head of public participation at the commission, said the legal system did not provide sufficient protection for women against sexual assault.

Jakarta protest over rape statements: don't blame the victim!

By Max Lane

On Sunday, September 18, around 100 women staged a lightning protest in Jakarta’s main thoroughfare, Jalan Thamrin, to protest statements by Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo in response to rapes that have taken place in public transport. He said: “Imagine if someone on board a mikrolet (minivan) sits wearing a mini-skirt, you would get a bit turned on”. Women, he said, “must adjust to their surrounding environment so that they don’t provoke people to commit unwanted acts”.

The statement came after reports of a number of rapes over recent weeks, including the gang-rape of a woman in a public transport minivan and the rape and murder of a university student. Three cases of rape in public transport have been reported during the last week. The National Commission on Violence Against Woman (KOMNASPER) has recorded 3753 rapes in 2011, while the Jakarta police have received 41 complaints, compared to 40 for all of 2010. KOMNASPER has also received 105,103 complaints of violence against women.

Solidarity Statement: Free Baba Jan and all political prisoners!

Free Baba Jan and all political prisoners!

Reparations for the victims of police violence!

Reparations for the victims of the landslide of July 4!

Last August 11, Pakistani police used live bullets against people demanding payment of compensation allowances following a devastating landslide which had happened a year before in the valley of Hunza, on July 4, 2010. This landslide, in the region of Gilgit-Baltistan, destroyed several houses and important roads. De local administration abanoned the affected community and pocketed compensation payments intended for several affected families.

On Tiaka Violence

Police launch investigation into deadly oil field riots
Jakarta Globe - August 24, 2011
Palu, Central Sulawesi -- Police in Indonesia say they have launched an investigation into the deaths of two demonstrators and wounding of five others, allegedly by police officers during an attack on the Tiaka oil field in Morowali, Central Sulawesi, over the weekend.
"We have to see if the actions taken by our officers were right or wrong," Central Sulawesi Police Chief Brig. Gen. Dewa Parsana said, adding that the investigation would be conducted by an independent monitoring team.

POLICE SHOOT PROTESTERS ON THE SITE OF TIAKA IN MOROWALI

On Saturday 20 August 2011

Peoples from several villages in Mamosalato and Bungku Utara sub district did protest action against Medco Energy, which  involve youth and students in the action, the so-called of this protest action is Student Alliance and Care for the People of North Bungku and Mamosalato with demands: The fulfillment of the rights of the community since the company (Medco)  manage oil and gas in this region, such as fund for Community y Development (CD), Local Workforce Empowerment and Educational Fund.

This action was followed by hundreds of peoples by taking the route from the village of Kolo Bawah in Mamosalato sub district towards the oil refinery in Tiaka which belongs to PT Medco Energy. Initially this action is safe to walk because the target of an action does not exist at all the security forces so that the protesters just doing speeches and requested to the PT Medco to engage in dialogue with the manager of PT Medco, the staff just said that their Manager is not in the area but in Jakarta. Because the public disappointed, they dismantle Security Postal and holding a company-owned Speed BOAD.

Indonesia risks downgrade of its democratic rating

Endy M. Bayuni*, Jakarta Post

 

Unbeknown to many in Indonesia, international public opinion of their country has taken a turn for the worse this past month following a series of media reports that could just lead to a downgrade of its credentials as the third-largest democracy in the world.

While it never exactly enjoyed a “Triple A” rating for its democratic standing, Indonesia has come 
a long way since the demise of the Soeharto dictatorship in 1998 to earn its place among democratic nations. 

Not only today is it recognized as the largest democracy in the world after India and the United States, Indonesia has also come to be described as the largest democracy among Muslim-majority nations.

Indonesian activist in solidarity with Papuan demonstration in Jakarta.

Surya goes into the police van

The following essay by  Surya Anta was written in response to a series of questions, I emailed him yesterday, August 4, 2011 [Max Lane]

"I am here to give solidarity, not as a provocateur”* Surya Anta, Jakarta, Indonesia


On August 2, 2011 I and Kholis Annasir from the student group Pusat Perjuangan Mahasiswa untuk Pembebasan Nasional (PEMBEBASAN – LIBERATION) attended a meeting to organize an action on the issue of Papua. The action was being organized by the West Papua National Committee (Komite Nasional Papua Barat – KNPB). We were invited to attend by Okto, the coordinator of the planned action. I was representing the Peoples’ Liberation Party (Partai Pembebasan Rakyat – PPR). I learned from the aksi coordinator after I was released that we were the only ones there providing political and organizational solidarity. Tommy from the human rights group Kontras was there to monitor the action.The theme of the KNPB action was “In support of the High Level International Lawyers Conference for West Papua (ILWP) in Oxford, UK for the independence of the West Papuan nation.” The KNPB is an alliance of Papuan liberation groups formed in 2009. Its earlier name was West Papuan Peoples National Action Committee.

On the detention and released of our comerad Surya Anta

Surya Anta, a leading member of People's Liberation Party (used to be KPRM-PRD), was under arrest at Police Resort Metro Central Jakarta at noon 1st August 2011. He was arrested after given solidarity speech in protest action of West Papua National Committee (KNPB) this afternoon in front of Presidential Palace, Jakarta. This protes action was a support action to International Summit Conference of International Lawyers for West Papua: http://www.ilwp.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33:west-papua-the-road-to-freedom-2nd-august-2011-oxford-uk&catid=5:news&Itemid=9 , which will be held on August 2nd 2011, in London. The similar action was also held in several cities in Papua: http://westpapuamedia.info/2011/08/02/west-papua-indon-security-forces-fail-in-attempt-to-block-access-for-demonstrations-across-papua-militias-on-streets-in-jayapura/ today.

After at least 7 hours interogation Surya Anta was released at 09:41 PM Jakarta time. 

He was interrogated and also beaten as police found no basis for him to be detained. So he was put as witness and police warned him not to support any Papuan issues and actions anymore.  Police forced him to sign a letter for not making any provocation in Papua protest actions in the future. Surya himself has been more than 7 years involved in solidarity movement for democracy in Papua since he was still member of People's Democratic Party until now through People's Liberation Party-PLP. Together with other comerads in PLP, he participated in inititating several conferences and studies for Papua liberation and established solidarity group such as Solidarity for Aceh and Papua (2005), Solidarity for Papua (2010), etc.

We are glad he is being released and this will not happen without all supports from comerads (national and international level) especially comerads from The Commission for the Disappeared and Victims of Violence (KONTRAS) who have given him assistance during the detention.

 

Struggle continues for Papua people's liberation.

Thank you very much for you immediate response.

 

Zely Ariane

International Relation Coordinator

People's Liberation Party.

 

TNI to leave barracks to root out radicalism

Jakarta Post - July 26, 2011

Rendi A. Witular, Jakarta – Officials from the National Antiterrorism Agency (BNPT), the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police have agreed that the TNI must take the initiative domestically to curb religious radicals.

"We have demanded the TNI's participation through their vast network of territorial commands to persuade individuals or groups to abandon radical teachings," BNPT chief Ansyaad Mbai.

Activist urges reopening of probe into 'July 27' attack

Jakarta Globe - July 26, 2011

The statement by former general Slamet Singgih on Tuesday about a secret meeting to plan the infamous July 27, 1996, attack on the headquarters of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) was applauded by local activists.

Mugiyanto Sipin, the head of the Indonesian Association of Families of the Disappeared, said that the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) should follow up on the revelation.