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INFID News Ms. Emma Siamuljati Tjakradinata
has joined INFID as a Program Officer Debt Campaign since April 1’st, 2002.
She replaced Sugeng Bahagijo, who is now INFID’s Deputy Executive Secretary.
Welcome to INFID, Mbak Emma! INFID Related Issues Debt/Paris Club III The Indonesian government has
completed its Paris Club trilogy. Everyone left the building with different
feelings. The government hailed the results as if it was the deal of the
year. Rupiah jumped to its highest spot since September last year. Critics
still see the deal as a disaster. We tried to compile these reactions and
made them available for you. A rather lengthy compilation, a mix of English
and Indonesian articles and news, but we think it might be worthy to read.
See if any of the reaction appeal, or appease, you more. Visit: www.infid.be/opcclip.html Constitutional Amendment NGO Coalition in its statement
said that the process of constitution amendment must be pulled out of the
elite of People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR). If the amendment is still
carried out in the MPR’s old pattern, Indonesian people will only become the
guinea pigs of a an institution that has no consistent paradigm to bring the
direction of the state changes, Todung Mulya Lubis of the Centre for
electoral Reform (Cetro) said. In principal, the coalition warned all
elements of democracy to closely watch the coming back of the non-reformers
and the status quo in the form of rejection to the amendment of the
constitution. The Coalition also demanded formulation of new constitution
contains integrated democratic paradigm. It should also be formulated by an
independent commission through participatory, transparent, and accountable
process of public consultation. Activists said that the pro-contra
condition on the amendment was deliberately created by the pro status quo
group so that people would become more pragmatic and apathetic. Saldi Isra
from Andalas University predicted three steps how the problem would likely
develop. First, there will be two big groups of pro- and contra-amendment.
Second, there will be a deadlock scenario which will end in a presidential
decree to return to the original version of 1945 Constitution. Third, support
will be sought from outside, mainly from the military [to enforce the
decree]. Critical Review and
Recommendations on Amendments to the 1945 Constitution & Press Statement
NGO Coalition for a New Constitution on the commission for Amendment of the
1945 Constitution are available at: http://www.infid.be/jointstatements.html Source: Kompas, 16/04 Corruption A report from the Partnership for
Governance Reform revealed on Friday that almost two third of Indonesians are
victims of corruption. Traffic police are considered the most corrupt body,
followed by the customs department and the judiciary. Mosques, churches and
temples were seen as the least corrupt institutions, followed by the post
office, the mass media, non-governmental organisations and labour unions. The
respondents ranked corruption as the most serious problem, 70% termed it a
disease that should be eradicated. But fewer than 10% of corruption cases
known to respondents were reported to authorities. Some 71% said they did
know where to report. Another poll last month listed the country as the most
corrupt in Asia. Source: AFP 12/04 Regional News Papua Despite Washington’s official
stance on Papua, visiting US Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce met with officials of
the pro-independence Papua Presidium Council (PDP) and visited the grave of
former PDP chairperson Theys Hiyo Eluay. The ambassador said his visit was
aimed at seeing the development programme in the province under the special
autonomy. He said he also wanted to see the use of the US government’s
financial assistance to the province, especially in the education and health
fields. In a meeting with the ambassador,
the students of state-run Cendrawasih University lodged a petition that the
United States of America be held responsible for the prevalent human rights
abuses in the province since its ‘integration’ into Indonesia in 1963. They
also held a peaceful demonstration to protest the integration, calling a
democratic referendum to allow the Papuans to determine their own future.
They also called on the US government to take the initiative to set up an
international inquiry into Theys’ murder. Meanwhile, the arrival of Laskar
Jihad in the province has sowed fear among residents about sectarian conflict
like in other provinces before. Papua religious communities, ranging from Christian
churches to Muslim groups, are demanding that authorities put pressure on the
Islamic militia group to leave. Right activists say that the group is not
likely to leave the province that easily. Laskar Jihad spokesman Ayip
Syafruddin confirmed on April 11 that members were in West Papua to expand
the organisation’s wings and have set up six regency branches there. The
group claimed that its activities related only to religion and charity.
However, reports from Jayapura show that Laskar Jihad have begun inflammatory
preaching that pits Muslims and Christians, distributing leaflets with the
same message and even conducting combat training. John Rumbiak, chairperson
of the Institute for Human Rights Study and Advocacy (ELSHAM), also feared
the introduction of religious angle into demands for independence by some
groups there. He said that Christians were already being accused by security
forces as being behind the separatist movement. According to the Brussels-based
International Crisis Group, a Laskar Jihad leader said that its members were
trained under the guidance of members of Indonesian armed forces in their
private capacities. West Papuans fear the worst with
Islamic militant group: www.infid.be/papuafear.html Sources: JP 16-17/04, IPP 15/04 East Timor Xanana Gusmao won 82.7 percent of
the 378,538 votes cast on 14/04 ballot for East Timor’s presidency. His sole
challenger Francisco Xavier do Amaral, took 17.3 percent. Gusmao will be inaugurated
on May 20, when the U.N. transitional administration ends and East Timor, a
territory of 800,000, becomes the world's newest independent country. Congratulations! Source: AFP 17/04 Abbreviations AFP Agence France Presse Stichting TitanE |