Fundamentalism, a challenge for the Left

An interview with Farooq Tariq, Labor Party Pakistan, on the importance of the fight against religious fundamentalism.

Zely Ariane

The idea of interviewing Farooq Tariq came from a lecture he gave during the Asian Global Justice School in Manila at the end of July 2012. I remember him stating firmly that Marxism is totally opposite of religion, particularly because the main basis of religion is private property, which is in line with class based society and capitalism. He also highlited the position of LPP towards religion, that they dont discuss religion nor make jokes about it, just as they oppose using religious arguments for socialism. At the same time, Farooq also gave inspiring examples of the role of  socialists to defend religious freedom in Pakistan. 

For my context in Indonesia, a majority Mouslem country which sees an increase of religious intolerancy and violence, this conversation was very important, especially concerning the attitude of the left.  I also took the chance to ask him on the recent left collaboration project in Pakistan.

Papua National Solidarity against militarism

NAPAS calls for Paniai police chief, military commander to be sacked

Kompas.com - August 23, 2012

NAPAS: Kapolres dan Dandim Paniai Sebaiknya Dicopot - Kompas.com. Kamis, 23 Agustus 2012

Aditya Revianur, Jakarta -- Speaking at a press conference in Jakarta, Papua National Solidarity (NAPAS) coordinator Martheen Goo called for the Panai district police chief and district military commander to be removed from their posts.

The call came following sweep operations by security forces in Paniai regency, West Papua, that have left the region in the grip of fear.

Pancasila Front & 127 anti-communist groups opposes any follow up on 1965 case

Pancasila Front opposes any follow up on 1965 rights commission report

Berita Satu - August 22, 2012

Wasekjen Golkar Minta Rekomendasi Kasus HAM 1965 Ditolak - Beritasatu. Rabu, 22 Agustus 2012

Ezra Sihite/Wisnu Cipto -- Mass organisations (Ormas) that are part of the Pancasila Front are ready to oppose any follow up on the recommendations by the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) on the 1965 killings.

Golkar takes jab at 1965 massacre survivors

Jakarta Globe - August 23, 2012

Ezra Sihite -- One month after Golkar Party deputy chairman Priyo Budi Santoso stirred controversy by asking the nation to forget the 1965 massacre, senior party official Leo Nababan called upon victims of the violence to stop seeking justice.

In July, after a four-year investigation, the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) labeled as a serious human rights violation and a crime against humanity the orgy of violence that shook the country in 1965 following a failed coup attempt blamed on the communists.

It is thought that up to 500,000 people died in the purge targeting the left, sparked by an attempt to overthrow the country's founding President Sukarno.

The PRD Diaspora, 16 Years On

Merdeka.com – July 24, 2012

Although this article is a little dated, I thought it might still be of interest to readers – JB.

Laurencius Simanjuntak -- The revolutionary ideals of the People's Democratic Party (PRD) founded 16 years ago were thwarted. The New Order regime of former President Suharto in a rage of fury obliterated the party only a few months after it was declared on July 22, 1996. PRD leaders and cadre in the regions were hunted down, abducted, tortured and jailed.

Several among them have never "returned home" to this day. They include Wiji Thukul, Petrus Bima Anugerah, Suyat and Herman Hendrawan, who were among the 13 people that were abducted by the army's elite Special Forces Kopassus in 1997-1998. However not all the stories of former PRD activists are as grim as Wiji Thukul and his comrades.

Government does not need to acknowledge 1965 crimes: NU youth wing

Kompas.com - August 15, 2012

GP Anshor: Pemerintah Tidak Perlu Akui Kejahatan 1965-1966 - Kompas.com. Rabu, 15 Agustus 2012

Aditya Revianur, Jakarta -- The chairperson of the Anshor Youth Movement (the youth wing of the Islamic mass organisation Nahdlatul Ulama), Nusron Wahid, says that the government does not need to acknowledge past gross human rights violations, particularly the humanitarian tragedy in 1965-1966.

NU, retired army officers reject apology to victims of 1965 killings

Kompas.com - August 15, 2012

PBNU Tolak Permintaan Maaf kepada Korban Tragedi 65 - Kompas.com - Rabu, 15 Agustus 2012

Aditya Revianur, Jakarta -- The Nahdlatul Ulama's Central Board (PBNU) with the support of retired army officers and mass organisations is strongly opposed any form of apology by the government or the Indonesian president for the 1965-1966 tragedy.

Independence Day commemoration celebrates sexual and cultural diversity

Our Voice - August 17, 2012

LGBT Yogya rayakan kemerdekan RI dengan upacara bersama - Ourvoice.or.id. 17 Augustus, 2012

Yatna Pelangi -- Marking Indonesia's 67th anniversary of independence, members of the transsexual, gay and lesbian community held an Independence Day commemoration in Ndalem Notoprajan in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta.

Starting with a reflection on the struggle for liberation and a sense of nationalism, the Yogyakarta Network for Human Rights and Diversity (Jamgaman) held a flag rising ceremony. Scores of Jamgaman activists, including members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LBGT) community, along with church leaders could be seen underneath the sun's intense heat singing and honoring the raising of the flag.

Who are benefited from Indonesia growth?

Strong economic growth not accompanied by rising living standards

 

Jakarta– In the midst of a global crisis, Indonesia's economic growth recorded a positive result. Economic growth for the second quarter of this year reached 6.4 percent compared with the same period last year.

Economic growth continued to be centred in Java Island contributing 57.5 percent. In cumulative terms, economic growth for the first semester of 2012 was an improvement on first semester economic growth for 2011, which was 6.3 percent.

Indonesian commission urges trials of military rights abusers

Two men await certain death – October 1965

By James Balowski, in Jakarta

After a three-year investigation and testimonies from 349 witnesses, Indonesia’s National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) has declared that the systematic prosecution of alleged members of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) when former president Suharto and the military seized power in 1965 constituted gross human rights violations. It urged that the military officers involved be brought to trial.

Speaking at a press conference on July 23, Nur Kholis, the head of the investigative team into what is officially described as a coup attempt by the PKI, said that state officials under the Operational Command for the Restoration of Security and Order (Kopkamtib) who served from 1965 to 1967 and between 1977 and 1978 should be tried for crimes including murder, extermination, slavery, eviction or forced eviction, deprivation of freedom, torture and mass rape. Kholis said that his team had handed over the 850-page report to the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) and “hoped that the AGO would follow up the report”.