PPRM activists in Palu call on public to reject legislative elections

Tempo Interactive - March 30, 2009

Palu -- On March 30, activists from the Palu City
branch of the Union for the Politics of the Poor
(PPRM) in Central Sulawesi encouraged local
residents to reject next month’s legislative
elections.

Actions were held as several different locations
including the Masomba Market, the Inpres Manonda
Market, Birobuli, the Tua Market, the State College
of Islamic Religious Studies, the Muhammadiyah
Islamic University and the Tadulako University.

The PPRM appealed to the public not to trust the
political elite taking part in the elections. “Our
agenda is indeed to oppose the 2009 general
elections. So we have distributed 10 thousand
leaflets, containing shameful [information] about
the rotten politicians that are taking part in the
elections”, said Palu City PPRM spokesperson
Jamaluddin on Monday.

Similar actions, said Jamaluddin, will continue to
be held in the lead up to the April 9 elections,
adding that the current campaigns by the political
elite about bringing prosperity [to the people] are
nothing but a daydream.

The PPRM will be holding massive simultaneous action
against the elections in all parts of Indonesia on
April 5.

[Translated by James Balowski.]

Solidarity Appeal: Unite Against Capitalism and the Elite Elections

Solidarity greetings,

The current global capitalist crisis is already impacting upon the welfare of the working class in Indonesia. Earlier this month, Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo) said the economic downturn had already forced more than 237,000 people out of work, addingthat this does not reflect the actual number of layoffs as it fails to include temporary or contract workers. Many dismissals are also not being officially reported.

Thousands of other workers are facing reduced working hours or have to accept less than the minimum wage. Large numbers of workers are also loosing their jobs to outsourcing while others are being forced to have their status changed to contactworkers, meaning they can be dismissed arbitrarily without severance pay.

In addition to this, hundreds of thousands of migrant workers are also likely to loose their jobs, with an estimated 100,000 Indonesian laborers in Malaysia expected to be repatriated this year.

Papernas leaders sow illusions of radical change through the ballot box

By Zely Ariane

[The following article was written in response to an article by Kelik Ismunanto, a leader of Papernas (National Liberation Unity Party) titled “Indonesia: Tracing a path towards parliament” that was published in the December 3 issue of Green Left Weekly. Papernas was formed in July 2006 by the radical left People’s Democratic Party (PRD) to present a radical anti-neoliberal platform in this year’s Indonesian parliamentary elections. Zely Ariane is a former PRD secretary-general and now a leading member of the Political Committee for the Poor-People’s Democratic Party (KPRM-PRD). This party was formed in November 2007 by members of the PRD-Papernas expelled for disagreeing with a Papernas leadership decision to enter into an electoral coalition with one of the existing parliamentary parties. The article has been translated by James Balowski.]

Simply stating that the people’s movement in Indonesia is experiencing a period of stagnation, so a “political breakthrough” is required through the parliamentary road, is irresponsible, ahistorical and opportunist. It would be more honest just to concede that this parliamentary road is actually being taken by the Papernas leaders through the political parties left over from Suharto’s New Order regime and the fake reformists. This is because these are the only two groupings of parties that are currently able to contest the 2009 legislative and presidential elections — there is no third grouping.

It is this kind of parliamentarist tactic that is being undertaken by the People’s Democratic Party (PRD) and its former electoral vehicle, the National Liberation Party of Unity (Papernas) — subordinating themselves under the Star Reformation Party (PBR), one of the fake reformist parties. It is tactics such as this that are contributing to the current retreat of the left movement in Indonesia.

Time for the Palestinian people to unit under a third Intifada

Union for the Politics of the Poor (PPRM) Statement
- January 3, 2009

By Zely Ariane

In July 2008, Barrack Obama, now the United State’s
new president elect said: “If someone launches a
rocket at my home while my two sons are sleeping,
then I would make every effort to put an end to
them, and I hope that the Israeli people would also
do the same” (www.Solidarity-US.org).

On December 27, Obama’s hopes were realised through
an Israeli air attack that totally obliterated Gaza
and killed at least 280 people. Without pause, the
every effort referred to by Obama was demonstrated
by Israeli troops with the fruits of their success
being at least 429 dead and 2,000 others wounded.
United Nations representatives added that more than
half of those killed were civilians, while there
were at least four who died on the Israeli side
(Detik.com). Obama, up until this was written, has
failed to utter a single word.

Commemorating 60 years of the International Declaration of Human Rights

Oppose the 2009 elections of the political elite – an election of the human rights violators, capitalists, corruptors and opportunist!

It has been 60 years since the International Declaration of Human Rights, and on every December 10, people throughout the world commemorate the event and demand that their governments fully address all human rights violations, without exception.

In Indonesia, the problem of human rights violations will never be resolved because it has its roots in three principle obstacles, that are still deeply implanted: the ruminants of the old forces (the Golkar party as a manifestation of Suharto’s New Order regime); the military (TNI) and the territorial commands(1) and their controlling structures: (the Regional Military Commands (Kodam), Sub-Regional Military Command (Korem), the Sub-District Military Commands (Koramil) and Non-commissioned military officer posted in villages and wards (Babinsa); and the fake reformists who are cowards and will not stand up to the military.

Yet the ordinary Indonesian people and human rights activists have never taken a break from the struggle in the form of various demands, actions and legal mechanisms; continuing to demand that the government uphold justice for the ordinary people whose human rights have abused and for the perpetrators to be punished. By way of example, since 2007 the Solidarity Network for Victims and Families of Victims (JSKKK) has held no less then 88 actions every Thursday in front of the State Palace – pressure that has only so far recently succeeded in resolving the 2004 assassination of human rights activist Munir (with disenchantment over the results because they are felt to be unjust).

Yogyakarta activists, women workers commemorate Human Rights Day

Detik/Tempo Interactive - December 10, 2008

Yogyakarta -- Hundreds of students and non-
government organisation activists in the Central
Java city of Yogyakarta took to the streets on
December 10 to commemorate Human Rights Day. They
also demanded that the government revoke a joint
ministerial decree (SKB-4) limiting wage rises to
economic growth and end to the exploitation of women
workers.

Despite drizzling rain throughout most of the day,
actions were held at a number of locations and
shopping centres in different parts of the city. The
first action was carried out by scores of women
activists from the We Can Campaign Indonesia
alliance at the Serangan Oemoem (SO) March 1 Plaza
Monument. The second action was held by the United
People’s Committee (KRB) at the Yogyakarta Monument.

During the action at the Plaza Monument, which was
joined by women workers, some of which brought
children and infants, they unfurled banners with
messages such as “Stop violence against women”,
“Oppose the exploitation of workers”, “Fight for
women’s rights”, “Oppose and revoke the SKB-4” and
“Nationalise foreign assets”. The protesters also
sung patriotic songs such as “For You My Nation”,
“Mother Kartini” and “Struggle of Blood”.

Defeat the evil solutions by SBY - JK's regime

Defeat the evil solutions by SBY - JK's regime

(Buyback, Bailout, 9.5% Interest of Bank of Indonesia, 0% Number of CPO, SKB 4 of Ministers)!
Overthrow the Government of colonial agent; Change it into the Governance of Poors' Alliances!

Viva Liberation!

There is no democracy and peace in Indonesia, under the government of colonial agents (SBY - JK, the DPR / MPR, the elitists, the pro-imperialist political parties, and the military) within the capitalist economic system! That there are bankrupt companies, mass lay-offs, and very expensive price of fuels and primary materials.

Neoliberalism (Free Market), which is considered as a "panacea" from the global economic crisis and social gaps in post-crisis 1997, is in fact cannot realise its sweet promises that often campaigned by the pro-neoliberal economy supporters. Since the sign through Letter Of Intent due to the end of Soeharto's regime, it continues to be refined by the latter governments; Habibie, Megawati, Gusdur, and the SBY-Kalla with various regulations, but no "beautiful" dream of the so-called Trickle Down Effects is visible. The valley of poverty goes deeper. 

The 2009 general elections and illusions within the movement

September 10, 2008

By Budi Wardoyo(1)

In the lead up to the 2009 general elections, the political map of the movements appears to be undergoing a large polarisation, particularly a polarisation between the political decision to takepart in the elections as a contestant (by joining an existing political party) verses the political decision of refusing to become an electoral participant.

The decision to take part in the 2009 elections, which has been taken, by among others, by thePeople’s Democratic Party (PRD) and its affiliated organisations(2), has been motivated by thefollowing arguments:

1. That becoming an electoral participant will provide greater space for the movements to broadencampaigns on populist programs;

2. By broadening campaigns on populist programs, it is hoped that it will expand the people’s support (in the form of extending the structure of the movement);

3. Thus the people’s capacity and potential to struggle will grow even stronger;

4. If they make good in the elections, and in end succeed in obtaining seats in parliament, then thespace for such campaigns will be even broader again.

The Women’s Movement is the Key to Change

Kompas - September 29, 2008

Zely Ariane

”... although legislation represents an important
start, its role cannot be more than just a
beginning. It is political reform that will continue
to be sustainable and must be complimented by
economic, social and cultural reforms -- as a
comprehensive approach for problems that are
likewise comprehensive.” (Sarah Wagner, in Feminism
Changes Society, the Women’s Liberation Struggle in
the Venezuelan Bolivarian Revolution)

One more legal umbrella has been

added for the advancement of women in Indonesia. Law

Number 2/2008 on Political Parties, which bolsters

the political opportunities for women to take part

in thinking about the direction of the country and

the advance of its people.

The broadening of space for gender mainstreaming has

been realised, but it should not just be restricted

to formal equality in political, professional and

academic circles. It also demands the distribution

of economic justice for women who are poor,

dignified employment and improving knowledge, as

well as affordable, easy and quality education so

that women are no longer just become a reserve of

votes in the name of women representation in

politics.

The 30 percent figure is the minimum limit that has

been agreed to internationally to promote women’s

representation in both parliament as well as public

positions. The campaign for this quota is a form of

the continuing struggle by women following the

achievement of demands for women’s right to vote in

the early 20th Century.

FPN Protest Action Against Fuel Price Hike May 29 and June 1

Workers, students and housewives protest fuel price hikes
Metro TV News - May 29, 2008

Jakarta -- Around 500 workers, children and housewives protested at the offices of the Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare in Jakarta on Thursday May 29 against the recent fuel price hikes.

The protesters, who came from the National Liberation Front (FPN), started the action by gathering at the Grogol bus terminal in West Jakarta then moving off towards the Hotel Indonesia roundabout in Central Jakarta. They then marched back to the Welfare Ministers office and then on the State Palace on Jl. Medan Merdeka Utara in Central Jakarta.
In addition to opposing the fuel price hikes and the high price of basic commodities, they also called for cuts to government officials’ wages and the nationalisation of the oil and gas industry under the control of the people.