INFID
INFID | TAPAK Ambon | AKUI
| PosKo Zwolle | Diverse Artikelen
INFID News INFID Annual Lobby 2002 The INFID Position Paper on CGI
2002: "Comprehensive Strategies Needed for Indonesia’s Recovery" is
now available at http://www.infid.be/lobby2002.html. An INFID lobby team will be visiting Europe
on June 30 – July 13, 2002. INFID XIII Conference Reminder: Information on INFID
Conference 2002: "Inequality, Poverty and Impunity: The challenges of
Indonesia in the Era of Democratisation and Globalisation" is available
at http://www.infid.be/conference/. Registration is possible until August 10,
2002. SNO Questionnaire Reminder: If you have not done so,
please return the completed form to infid@infid.be on July 2 at the latest. Lost the form? Download
it from our homepage www.infid.be. INFID Related Issues Military reform The Indonesian armed forces’ top
brass continues to openly object to the bill that grants voting rights to
members of the military and the police. After several remarks from the
military, at last the police also showed their reluctance. On June 23 the
National Police chief Gen. Da’i Bachtiar said that the police would exercise
their voting rights only if all quarters, both police personnel and other
components of the nation, were ready to accept their active participation in
general elections. He said the police had not exercised their voting rights
for so long and thus may need time and special preparations to make use of
their rights. Many people see the bill created
by Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno, a three-star army general
(retired), as an effort to extend the military’s dominant political role
beyond 2009. MPR Decree No. VII/2000 stipulated that members of the military
and the police have no voting right and no right to contest in elections. The
MPR also agreed that the military and the police would maintain their seats
in the House of Representatives (DPR) until 2004 and in the MPR until 2009. The
new bill, if accepted, will virtually reopen the door for the military to
re-enter politics after 2009. However, the move seems likely to backfire, and
if not handled properly it could not only reduce but end completely the
military’s political role five years ahead of schedule. Most people support
the move to grant voting rights to the military and the police in the 2004
general election, a survey found on June 26. At least 52% of the 1,250 people
polled by the Institute for Social and Economic Research, Education and
Information (LP3ES) said that the right to vote should now be restored to
servicemen and police officers. The survey showed that almost all supporters
of major political parties, except for the National Mandate Party (PAN),
backed the extension of the franchise to servicemen and police officers. "Indonesian army our of
political step": http://www.infid.be/armyout.html Sources:: JP 27/06, 24/06, 21/06,
AT 21/06 General News Jakarta governor election Dozens of supporters of the
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) expressed their
anger on June 26 at party chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri's support for
the re-election of Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso. They urged Megawati not to
betray the aspirations of the party, which had earlier proposed its city
chapter chairman Tarmidi Suhardjo as its candidate for city governor. Megawati
stunned cadres from her PDI-P party this week by backing current Jakarta
Governor Sutiyoso for a second term rather than one of her own legislators. Sutiyoso
was the Jakarta garrison commander when the military and others violently
attacked and seized control of the headquarters of the PDI-P in 1996. Some
analysts suspect she may have negotiated a political deal with Sutiyoso. Others
say by supporting a former military man Megawati tries to minimise opposition
during the 2004 election. But PDI-P legislators said such a move would cost
Megawati her grassroots supporters. Several PDI-P legislators have vowed to
defy party orders, at least in the Jakarta governor election, which is
scheduled for September 17. Sources: ST 27/06, JP 27/06 People’s representatives Indonesians cannot remember their
parliamentary representatives, legislators ignore their constituents. According
to a survey conducted by the International Foundation for Election Systems
Indonesia last April, only 4 percent of the 3,580 people polled nationwide
were able to name their representative in the national legislature. About 86
percent could not name even one legislator. A number of legislators admitted
on June 25 that they had largely ignored their constituents, but shifted the
blame for this neglect to Indonesia’s proportional electoral system. Under
the system, people vote for political parties, which choose their
representatives in the legislature. Sources:: JP 26/06, DPA 25/06 Regional News Aceh Indonesian Military Chief Gen.
Endriartono Sutarto said on June 26 that he did not see the urgency of
imposing martial law in Aceh. He also said that if the Free Aceh Movement
(GAM) wished to continue talks with the Indonesian government then the
Indonesian Military would support the dialog. However, he warned that the
military would take immediate stern actions against GAM if the latter used
the peace process for consolidation for future attacks. Since he was
installed as TNI chief, Endriartono has repeatedly urged the crushing of any
struggles against the government by military means. On June 24, members of
the House unanimously threw their support behind the military. Some quarters
have suggested that the military have embarked on a new military operation in
Aceh, since the Presidential Instruction No. 1/2002, which grants the
authority to the military and the police to do whatever they deem necessary
to restore law and order, will end in July. Human rights activists in Aceh
claim that the presidential instruction as well as the reestablishment of a
military command in Aceh earlier this year have failed to bring about peace
for Aceh, and even reduced civilian space to move around. Sources: JP 27/06, 25/06 West Papua The Indonesian military said on
June 25 that the murder of Papuan leader Theys Eluay was not politically
motivated. Military Police chief Maj. Gen. Sulaiman A.B. said the killing was
merely an ordinary criminal act and the nine suspected Army Special Forces
(Kopassus) officers involved in the murder would thus be tried through a
regular Military Tribunal next month. The pro-independence Papua Presidium
Council denounced the statement. The council's spokesperson, Willie Mandowen,
says the comment shows that the Indonesian government is covering up the
investigation. Meanwhile, another leader of the
Papua Presidium Council has died in suspicious circumstances. Yafet
Yelemaken, who was a senior chief in the Baliem Valley, was found dead at his
home a day after attending a dinner at the Wamena Tribal Council which was
protected by Kopassus. Human rights organisation Elsham says it is believed
that he was poisoned. United West Papua National Front for Independence
stated on June 24 that the murder marked the beginning of military sweep
recently announced by Indonesia’s new army chief Lt. Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu. They
said one hundred special commandos have been sent to West Papua recently with
a "state duty to cripple and paralyse the Papua independence
movement". Sources: Reuters 25/06, JP 25/06,
BWM 26/06, 25/06, UWPNFI statement 24/06 Links Not a Ticking Time Bomb: The
fundamental threat to Indonesia's future does not come from radical Islam but
from the government's inability to uphold law and order: http://www.infid.be/notticking.html. Abbreviations AT Asia Times Stichting TitanE |