1) MILITARY AMBITION IN INDONESIA –
ANALYSIS
2) Calls KNPB BOYCOTT ELECTIONS 2014
3) SICK YAHUKIMO RESIDENTS UNTREATED DUE TO HEALTH WORKERS SHORTAGE
4) KINGMI PRIESTS BANNED FROM MEETING FAMILY OF SHOOTING VICTIM IN
TIMIKA
5) PAPUA POLICE OFFICE DENIES CONDONING CLASHES IN TIMIKA
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1) MILITARY AMBITION IN INDONESIA – ANALYSIS
Heading into the 2014 election, Indonesian society is being faced with certain political figures, ranging from businessmen and office holders, to military background figures. However, given many election surveys, two prominent figures have emerged as the most likely to be the next Indonesian president, namely Joko Widodo and Prabowo Subianto. Joko Widodo, affectionately known as Jokowi, is Jakarta’s current governor, whereas Prabowo is the chief patron of the Greatest Indonesian Movement Party (Gerindra) as well as a former general of the late President Suharto. Recently, Jokowi has been announced as the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) candidate. Thus, the governor Jokowi and former military general, Prabowo will likely dominate the Indonesian political landscape prior to presidential election in September 2014.
After 15 years of democratic consolidation, the big inquiry is whether Indonesia still needs the military style leadership. In the last three general elections, the military candidates have always been involved to run for office. The current president is the former Suharto general who has been in office for two terms.
In this 2014 election, at least two former generals have announced their candidacies beside Prabowo, namely former Indonesian military commander Wiranto supported by his party, the Peoples Conscience Party (Hanura) and Sutiyoso, retired army lieutenant general cum Chairman of the Indonesian Justice and Unity Party (PKPI). The ruling party, Democrat, also is presenting former army chief of staff Pramono Edhie Wibowo as one of its presidential candidates. All of these generals, except Pramono Edhie, served during Suharto’s waning days. And these three generals are also widely believed to have been involved in human rights violations.
Ironically, on the one hand, Indonesian society is hoping to have clean and good leaders, such as Jokowi and Tri Rismaharini, the Surabaya Mayor.
Ironically, on the one hand, Indonesian society is hoping to have clean and good leaders, such as Jokowi and Tri Rismaharini, the Surabaya Mayor.
On the other hand, as a recent survey shows, many Indonesian voters still prefer a presidential or vice presidential candidate with a military background over a civilian. Three characteristics have been advanced for this preference, namely decisiveness, discipline and firmness. This tendency exemplifies the romance of the Suharto-backed military regime among Indonesians.
The military in Indonesia has two prominent reasons why they have to meddle in daily political life. First, the Indonesian military (TNI) still criticizes the current democratic system. As attributed by Indonesia’s army strategic command head, Lieutenant General Gatot Nurmayanto, Indonesian democracy is not always right for Indonesia. Accordingly, democracy based on popular vote does not always lead to the strengthening of the nation.
For some political analysts, this is the picture of a hard-line faction within the TNI to push for more military involvement in Indonesia’s daily politics.
Second, the TNI has doubted the ability of civilian government to govern. Corruption and immorality have become chronic diseases in the civilian government. As a result, certain political regulations can risk national stabilization, such as the current dispute over the legitimacy of Law No. 42/2008 on presidential and vice presidential elections. As former army intelligence head, Soleman B. Ponto argues, the potential of national chaos is high, given that the law was dismissed by the constitutional court in January 2014. If national chaos develops, the military will launch what Ponto calls a “constitutional coup”.
In addition, during my personal interview in 2012 with former Vice Chief Staff of Army, retired Major General Kiki Syanahkri, he expressed the same concern. He thought that the quality degradation of civilian government and intended to take political steps necessary to return to the original version of the 1945 constitution. To support his idea, Kiki and his colleges in the Retired Army Association (PPAD), proposed to form a “national council”. This would allow the military to legitimately engage directly in politics. These statements raise the question about the military’s relentless tendency to take any opportunity to influence or even to take over the civilian government.
Democracy allows for every individual, regardless of their background, to run for office. However, after the downfall of authoritarian regime and the beginning of democratic consolidation, the remnants of a former authoritarian regime, including the military, should be restricted from participating in politics. The former regime was highly backed up by the military in Indonesia during the new order period for over 30 years. This history can give the military the desire to re-engage in the new political system. If it does, there is high possibility for the military to bring back an authoritarian spirit, such as in Egypt and Thailand.
According to the Indonesian constitution, military figures can run for office after resigning from active duty. However, the close relations between former officers and active officers are difficult to overlook. Former officers support the core interests of their institution. This again brings up the question of the future of the TNI reformation that has stalled during the second term of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY). Three crucial areas of the TNI’s internal reform could be “blocked” by former senior officers if they get elected.
First and foremost is the uplifting of human rights values among officers. The TNI has been globally known for its human rights record toward its own people. The military internal reformation failed to deal with this issue, particularly in Papua province. The military candidates are likely to defend their former institution. For instance, the prison raid by army special forces (Kopassus) that killed four detainees in Cebongan, drew support and even praise from Prabowo and other former generals, including SBY. In addition, Pramono Edhie Wibowo recently called to forget past violations of human rights conducted by the TNI.
The second area of army reform which might be left undone is the reorganization or even liquidation of some army territorial commands across country. Many territorial commands at the regional level have been widely alleged to be used for political and economic purposes. As a leading general during the early days of TNI’s reformation, Wiranto supported and defended the existence of the commands. In present day, there are no military candidates have questioned these commands in light of charges of misuse for political purpose and human rights violations.
The third area of military reform needed is the management of its businesses, particularly the illegal ones, such as illegal logging, gambling, and the security business. It seems hard to tackle this issue if some former generals get elected in September, given the fact that the military still highly depends on these off-budget resources.
Given the uncertainty at the national level, Indonesian democracy will arguably allow the military figures to continue their role as decisive political actors as happened during the new order. In contrast, after the era of strong military regimes, certain Latin America countries have produced many strong populist leaders, such as Lula Da Silva and Dilma Rousseff in Brazil; Cristina Fernández de Kirchner in Argentine and Evo Morales in Bolivia. These figures can restrict constitutionally military ambition in their countries. They can channel effectively people’s aspirations to support government policies, instead of paving the way to the military to get its second opportunity to govern.
Indonesian politics has never gotten out from under military influence, and certain populist leaders, such as Jokowi and Risma, also appear to rely on military support. As a result, the future of the Indonesian democratic system remains uncertain.
Hipolitus Yolisandry Ringgi is a visiting scholar in the Equality Development and Globalization Studies at the BCICS, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, the US.
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A google translate of article in Jubi. Be-aware google translate can be a bit erratic.
Original bahasa link at
2) Calls KNPB BOYCOTT ELECTIONS 2014
Author : Arnold Belau on March 21 , 2014 at 21:33:13 WP
Editor : Syam Terrajana
All the work that was published in tabloidjubi well as text , images and sound as well as all forms of graphics ( other than those coded IST ) be copyright tabloidjubi.com 0
Juru Bicara Nasional KNPB, Bazoka Logo (Jubi/Arnold Belau)
Jayapura , 21/3 ( Jubi ) - West Papua National Committee ( KNPB ) calls upon all the people of West Papua from Sorong to Samarai to boycott the legislative elections and the presidential election will be held respectively on April 9 and July 9.
Spokesman of the National Committee of West Papua , Indonesia bazookas Logo says democracy only hypnotize people of West Papua through any election or elections .
" Democracy Indonesian neocolonialism style just hypnotize the people of West Papua for over fifty years in every election . But that effort never managed to secure the freedom of the people of West Papua to self-determination , " said bazookas told reporters on Friday afternoon ( 21/3 ) at the Expo , Waena .
According bazookas , democratic party in Papua Indonesia aims are clear : first , gave birth to the agents of colonialism . Second , strengthen the system of colonialism in Indonesia. And the third is the hegemony of neo- colonialism in Indonesia.
Bazooka also said that the democratic system has created a colonial order of life of the people of Papua became scattered , also has created a discriminatory order of life .
" Therefore , KNPB called for a boycott of all the people of West Papua legislative and presidential elections before completion of the political status of West Papua has not been resolved , " he said .
According to him , the political status of the settlement must be through an international mechanism that referendum . Do people still want to be with Papua Indonesia or want to govern themselves .
While it was some time ago , chairman of the West Papua National Parliament , Buchtar Tabuni also called on all the people of West Papua are not to participate in the democratic party or the party of the people who made the biggest five years in Indonesia. ( Jubi / Arnold Belau )
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3) SICK YAHUKIMO RESIDENTS UNTREATED DUE TO HEALTH WORKERS SHORTAGE
Jayapura, 20/3 (Jubi) – Because of a shortage of health workers in Walma district in Yahukimo, many sick people have been left untreated and died, said a local student.
Urbanus Iksomon, a student from Yahukimo told reporters in Jayapura Thursday (20/3) he and other students conducted a survey for four months there and found that many nurses and doctors avoided work and preferred to live in Wamena and Jayapura.
“The Department of Health should monitor all the nurses and doctors who do not work well and refuse to treat sick patients, while they still get paid,” Iksomon said.
“The Department of Health should monitor all the nurses and doctors who do not work well and refuse to treat sick patients, while they still get paid,” Iksomon said.
As a result, some people who were sick died without getting medical treatment, he said. He said in some villages, there were no single health worker.As many as 51 district heads hardly showed up for work and failed to take an action on public complaints about issues such as education, health and infrastructure, the student said.
Dr Raflus Doranggi , member of Aids Control Commission in Jayapura, said the maternal and child health condition in Papua is very alarming.
“The health issue in Papua is not only at the technical level but a lack of an effective regulatory framework by the legislature,” Raflus told tabloidjubi.com. (Jubi / Aprila/ Tina)
“The health issue in Papua is not only at the technical level but a lack of an effective regulatory framework by the legislature,” Raflus told tabloidjubi.com. (Jubi / Aprila/ Tina)
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4) KINGMI PRIESTS BANNED FROM MEETING FAMILY OF SHOOTING VICTIM IN TIMIKA
Jayapura, 20/3 (Jubi) – The chairman of Gospel Church (Kingmi) Synod of Papua, Rev. Dr. Benny Giay, criticized police for blocking the road and preventing some priests from visiting the family of a victim who was shot dead during a recent tribal clash in Mimika.
“Yesterday on 17 March 2014, we wanted to visit the family of our priest who shot dead by the police on 11 March in Timika but the police blocked the road in Kuala Kencana,” said Rev. Giay during a press conference at the Kingmi Synod of Papua in Jayapura on Thursday (20/3).
He said the incident was not the first time. Two years ago he wanted to meet the residents involved in a clash and both parties were waiting for him to speak about reconciliation.
“But at five in the morning, the Indonesian Army and the Police moved to the scene at six. They searched houses and frightened the people. Our plan to meet with residents did not materialize,” he said.
“But at five in the morning, the Indonesian Army and the Police moved to the scene at six. They searched houses and frightened the people. Our plan to meet with residents did not materialize,” he said.
He said the church believed the root cause of the problem in Papua is differences in the comprehension and interpretation of history among different tribes.
“It can only be resolved through dialog. Please stop the policies that will only eliminate Papua gradually,” Giay said.
“It can only be resolved through dialog. Please stop the policies that will only eliminate Papua gradually,” Giay said.
Based on the reason, he said the Church has issued an open letter to the Indonesian president, the Papua police chief and the regional military commander calling authorities to address the conflict in Mimika and the situation in Papua in general.
Papua Police Spokesman, the Commissionaire Senior Sulitstyo Pudjo Hartono confirmed that police blocked the road in Mimika but declined to comment further.(Jubi/Indrayadi TH/rom)
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5) PAPUA POLICE OFFICE DENIES CONDONING CLASHES IN TIMIKA
Jayapura, 20/3 (Jubi) – The Papua police denied accusations that the police did not take action to stop tribal clashes in Jayanti Village of Kuala Kencana Sub-district in Mimika.
“It’s not true. The police even continued its efforts to prevent the clash everyday and to end the conflict. We have proof that a member of Brimob was hit by an arrow,” Papua Deputy Police Chief Brigadier General Police Paulus Waterpauw said on Thursday (20/3).
He further said those who criticized the police should directly came to the scene to see the real facts. Police have arrested six suspects from Moni and Dani tribes who were currently being detained at the Mimika Police detention facility.
“But the number can increase. The police are planning to arrest and investigate war leaders who continue to provoke their rival groups outside of Mimika Regency. It was what we did to solve the tribal war in Jayawijaya in 1986,” said Waterpauw.
“But the number can increase. The police are planning to arrest and investigate war leaders who continue to provoke their rival groups outside of Mimika Regency. It was what we did to solve the tribal war in Jayawijaya in 1986,” said Waterpauw.
Meanwhile the Gospel Church Synod (Kingmi) of Papua urged the police to arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of clashes that have broken out since January 29 in Mimika.
“Arrest and prosecute them because tribal war is illegal under Indonesian law,” said the Rev. Benny Giay, Chairman of Kingmi Synod.
“Arrest and prosecute them because tribal war is illegal under Indonesian law,” said the Rev. Benny Giay, Chairman of Kingmi Synod.
He said he suspected that police have an ulterior motive to let the conflict to continue.
“The Mimika region has a strategic economic value because it’s located in the area of PT Freeport Indonesia,” he said.
“The Mimika region has a strategic economic value because it’s located in the area of PT Freeport Indonesia,” he said.
Nine people have been killed and many houses damaged since clashes broke out in January. (Jubi/Arjuna/rom)
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