INFID, March 31, 2004
INFID's Short News Overview No. VI/10: March 25-31, 2005
General News
Huge earthquake hit Sumatra
A huge undersea earthquake measuring up to 8.7 magnitude struck off the coast of
Sumatra, destroying hundreds of buildings in Nias Island, close to its epicentre.
Electricity and phone lines were down across much of Sumatra as the earthquake
was felt as far away as Bangkok and Singapore, where tall buildings swayed and
people in high-rise hotels streamed on to the streets. Local authorities estimated that
1,000 people died but later lowered its estimated death toll to between 400 and 500.
Following the massive earthquake, National Development Planning Board chairwoman
Sri Mulyani Indrawati said on March 30 the government would review its master plan
for the reconstruction of tsunami-hit Aceh and North Sumatra.
"The latest earthquake severely affects the reconstruction blueprint," Sri Mulyani said.
However, Sri Mulyani does not expect too much change to the blueprint.
The exhaustive tsunami reconstruction blueprint, which was unveiled last week,
contains a general framework for the reconstruction of Aceh and Nias.
The blueprint is contained in 12 volumes, including one dedicated to the overall
aspects of reconstruction. The remaining 11 volumes address specific sectors of the
rebuilding process.
Mulyani said four key elements covered in the volumes include the rebuilding of
society and livelihoods, restoring the economy, rebuilding infrastructure and rebuilding
the capacity of institutions.
The government is being urged to design a clear policy framework for the
reconstruction of tsunami-devastated Aceh, particularly one that is based on the
participation of the Acehnese people.
A one-day seminar on the rebuilding of Aceh concluded on March 28 that the
reconstruction plan lacked a solid coordination component and could continue to be
sporadic, making it less effective, despite the fact that the government has issued a
draft blueprint for the reconstruction phase.
At least 126,000 were killed and more than 93,000 others went missing in Indonesia
in the Dec. 26 tsunami.
Opportunities in Tsunami's Wake: http://www.infid.be/tsunami_opportunities.htm
Dubya's retreat on Indonesian human rights: http://www.infid.be/military_dubya.htm.
Aceh aid a test for corruption capers: http://www.infid.be/tsunami_aid_test.htm.
Sources: JP 30/03, AP 31/03, TG 29/03
Munir Case
The Attorney General's Office has reportedly set up a team of prosecutors to deal with
the murder of top human rights campaigner Munir.
Based on a letter sent by the Attorney General's Office to the high prosecutor's office
in Jakarta, the team's establishment was necessary, considering that "in the near
future, several people may be declared suspects in the case."
Police have so far named only one suspect, Garuda pilot Pollycarpus Budihari
Priyanto, in the Sept. 7 arsenic poisoning of Munir aboard a Garuda flight and were
developing the investigation to possibly charge other suspects.
Munir's wife, Suciwati, on March 23 delivered her testimony at the 61st session of the
UNHCHR at Geneva, telling delegates that a gross human rights violation had taken
place in Indonesia against a defender of human rights, and that the world should pay
attention to the case. Through her testimony, she won the support of international
human rights groups in her struggle to bring those responsible for Munir's
assassination to justice, as she asked the UNHCR to help push for the trial of the
case to reveal the masterminds.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirajuda undermined Suciwati's efforts to draw the
attention of the international community. Citing that the high-profile case as an
internal matter for Indonesia, he said Suciwati should put pressure on the police and a
fact-finding team if she wanted it solved as soon as possible, instead of seeking
foreign support.
Text of Suciwati's testimony: http://www.infid.be/suciwati_oral_intervention.pdf.
Munir's wife pushes for UNHCR involvement: http://www.infid.be/munir_unchr.htm.
Munir case a domestic matter: Minister: http://www.infid.be/munir_domestic.htm.
Urgent Appeal on Munir Case: http://www.infid.be/munir_urgent_appeal.htm
Ex-Garuda Chief Urged to Spill the Beans: http://www.infid.be/munir_exgaruda.htm.
Sources: JP 30/03 27/03 26/03
Ambalat Diplomacy Budget Cut for Defense
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has cut the budget for diplomatic efforts to settle the
Ambalat dispute almost 10 fold, from a massive Rp 60.4 billion (US$6.34 million) to a
modest Rp 8 billion for the year 2005, a top official said on March 30.
The move comes as the Ministry of Defense proposed a hike in the defense budget
this year particularly to help improve the capability of the Navy and Air Force in
defending the country's territory.
Foreign ministry secretary-general Sudjadnan Parnohadiningrat did not elaborate on
the reason for the budget revision, but explained that the earlier budget assessment
was based on a "worst case scenario".
It was not clear whether the House of Representatives would review the revised
budget, since the legislators had already approved the previous one of Rp 60.4 billion.
Indonesia and Malaysia have been engaged in a territorial dispute over a deep-water
oil block called Ambalat in Sulawesi Sea over the past month. Although the two
countries had initially sent warships and warplanes to the area, the two sides later
agreed to settle the dispute through diplomatic efforts. The last talks took place in
Jakarta on March 9, and will continue again in May.
But the Ambalat issue had been used by the country's military forces to seek a higher
defense budget. Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono has recently proposed an
increase in the 2005 defense expenditure from Rp 21.6 trillion to Rp 26.6 trillion. The
lawmakers, however, have yet to approve the proposal.
Juwono Sudarsono: "A good soldier is worth a thousand clever man":
http://www.infid.be/military_1000.htm.
Indonesia, Malaysia stir the friendship pot: http://www.infid.be/im_stir.htm.
Source: JP 31/03
Newmont case set for trial
The Attorney General's Office (AGO) said on March 30 that prosecutors have
submitted a case against mining firm PT Newmont Minahasa Raya (NMR) to the
Manado District Court in North Sulawesi, hoping it will be heard within the next few
weeks.
National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said the suspects in the environmental
pollution case would be charged under the Criminal Code. He said they were charging
the company's executives, but refused to disclose the names.
NMR, has been accused of polluting Buyat Bay in North Sulawesi.
In mid February, NMR, a local unit of the U.S.-based mining giant Newmont,
demanded that police halt their investigation into the case after a North Sulawesi
doctor, Jane Pangemanan, retracted here initial claims against the firm.
The police had previously named six executives of NMR as suspects in the case. The
six executives were banned from going abroad, pending the legal process against
them.
Newmont's Indonesian woes deepen: http://www.infid.be/newmont_deepen.htm.
Source: JP 31/03
Local Elections
The Constitutional Court decided on March 22 to allow minor parties that do not have
local council representation to nominate candidates for the positions of governor,
major and regent, by forming coalitions with other parties in such a way that they
garner 15 percent of votes in the legislature.
Ryaas Rasyid, a professor at the Institute of Public Administration (IIP) and a former
minister of regional autonomy, said that the decision was a positive contribution
towards the development of the nation's democracy.
Another positive decision made by the court, however, was the scrapping of a ruling
requiring the provincial office of the General Elections Commission (KPUDs) to be
responsible to local legislative councils (DPRD). The Court ruled that the KPUDs
should instead report to the KPU. Experts have said that forcing KPUDs to report to
the DPRD, which consists of political parties active in the elections, would run counter
to the principles of democracy.
The Court made the ruling after a number of leaders of minor parties in the regions, as
well as various non-governmental organizations (NGOs), filed a petition for a judicial
review of several contentious articles of Law No. 32/2004 concerning regional
elections. Certain NGOs had previously demanded that the Court annul the central
government decree on the regional elections, saying instead that the authority to
issue election regulations should be given to the General Elections Commission,
which administered last year's presidential and legislative elections. Activists have
argued that the decree allows the President to have a certain influence over the
conduct of regional elections.
"(On the surface) the Constitutional Court looks committed to encouraging
independent local elections to help develop a full-fledged democracy in the country.
But the judges have refrained from exercising their interpretative right to declare the
local elections part of the general elections," Cetro executive director of the Center for
Electoral Reform (Cetro) Hadar Gumay said on March 24.
Chairman of the National Commission of Law Reform (KRHN) Firmansyah Arifin said
the Constitutional Court had indirectly accepted the government's interference in local
elections by delivering an ambiguous verdict.
"The central government could play a decisive role in the local elections not only
through the government regulation to enforce the regional administration law, but
through the Desk Pilkada ad hoc committee," he said. The committee, which involves
government officials, has been set up to help the regions administer the local
elections. Firmansyah predicted the local elections would spark numerous problems
and conflicts among candidates and their supporters due to the unclear rules of the
game and the absence of KPU involvement in the local elections.
Refly Harun, an assistant to the Constitutional Court, said the court's ambiguous
verdict reflected the difference in perception among judges about local elections. He
suggested the government regulation recognize the KPU authority to support the
KPUDs in organizing the local elections.
"Of the most importance is that the public, especially NGOs, should closely monitor
the regulation to ensure the role of the KPU in local elections," he said.
Some 215 regions will be holding elections in June of this year to select their
executive leaders. It will be the very first time in Indonesia that regional leaders have
been directly elected, and is seen as an important step forward in the development of
the nation's democracy.
Candlelight justice for regional elections: http://www.infid.be/le_candlelight.htm.
Sources: JP 24/03 26/03
Megawati re-elected as PDI-P chairwoman
Former President Megawati Soekarnoputri has been re-elected on March 31 as the
chairwoman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) at its congress in
Bali. Megawati was re-elected after 97 percent of congress' participants accepted her
accountability speech. Megawati's victory had been predicted although some party
activists were urging her to step down due to her failure in the presidential election.
Tough choices for Megawati: http://www.infid.be/megawati_tough.htm.
Mega has to change her queen like stature: http://www.infid.be/megawati_queen.htm.
Source: JP 31/03
Rare tough punishment in corruption case
A South Jakarta District Court on March 30 convicted a businessman of involvement
in a multimillion dollar corruption case and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
Adrian Waworuntu, a consultant for private company PT Gramarindo Group, was a
key suspect in a scam that involved the use of false documents to siphon off 1.214
trillion rupiah (US$129.1 million; €99.88 million) from a district branch of Bank Negara
Indonesia, or BNI. Adrian was brought to court for his role as the financial advisor of
fugitive key suspect Maria Pauline Lumowa, the owner of Gramarindo Group. It is
believed that she is hiding in Singapore.
Adrian said the verdict was "extremely non objective and lacked quality" and that he
would appeal.
Waworuntu was the second suspect to receive a life sentence in the scam, a rare
tough punishment in Indonesia's battle against rampant graft.
Last August, the head of BNI's foreign accounts department, Edi Santoso, was
sentenced to life "for enriching himself and others" through the scam.
Seven other suspects including some bank officials have also been convicted and
sentenced to prison terms ranging from eight to 15 years.
Indonesia is routinely rated as one of the world's most graft-ridden.
Sources: AP 30/03, JP 31/03
Regional News
Aceh
The third meeting between the Indonesian government delegation and the leadership
of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) in Helsinki is due to be held in the second week of
April 2005.
Coordinating Minister for Information Sofyan Djalil, who is one of the members of the
Indonesian government delegation, said on March 28 that the government hoped that
the talk would get to the substance this time. "The substance is how to reach a total
resolution of the problem in Aceh in the context of special autonomy. This is part of
what has been offered by the government, namely regarding the problem of amnesty,
conflict resolution, and other various problems relating to this," Sofyan said.
He also said that the government was willing to discuss the concept of local
government and election within the special autonomy law. But he said it would be
difficult to have a local party as it did not comply with he Party Act.
Source: BWM 29/03
Papua
Plans by the Indonesian Armed Forces [TNI] to form a Military Provincial Command in
Papua to be positioned in Merauke and plans for an additional third Division of the
Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) in Papua were viewed as disrupting
efforts for the enforcement of human rights and the resolution of conflict in the region.
This was the stance of National Solidarity for Papua (SNUP), which was conveyed to
the press on March 29 in Jakarta. This statement was a response to TNI Commander
Gen Endriartono Sutarto, who had stated that in the near future TNI would form 22
new Military Provincial Commands throughout Indonesia, including Papua.
SNUP, which was represented by Bonar Tigor Naipospos, Emmy Sahertian,
Fendinand Tetro Nasira, Ori Rahman and Andy D Manoby, stated that the reasons
put forward by the TNI leadership did not make sense.
Endriartono said that the additional [units] were to fill shortfalls in personnel in Papua,
which was almost three and a half times the size of Java, to provide security on the
border between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, to provide security or anticipate
the direction of threats in three sea lanes in the Indonesian archipelago, and to
facilitate the deployment of troops to spots considered to need reinforcing.
Besides disrupting efforts for enforcing human rights and the resolution of conflict in
Papua, SNUP saw the move of placing Indonesian troops in Papua on a large scale
counterproductive to attempts to make Papua a peace zone, which up to now had
been wanted by all elements of the Papuan public. SNUP called for the scrapping of
these plans.
Source: BWM 30/03
Links
Wolfowitz in Brussels
Wolfowitz five-hour visit to Brussels seems to be working. The European Union gave
him a green light by calling him "the incoming president of the World Bank".
EU Calls Wolfowitz “Incoming World Bank President”:
http://www.infid.be/wb_wolf_incoming.htm.
Wolfowitz Calms Europe's Concerns: http://www.infid.be/wb_wolf_calm.htm.
Europe on Wolfowitz as Banker Once Chilly, Now Tepid:
http://www.infid.be/wb_wolf_tepid.htm.
Wolfowitz Charms Himself into World Bank Job:
http://www.infid.be/wb_wolf_charm.htm.
Paul Wolfowitz: "I have knowledge that no other previous presidents have had":
http://www.infid.be/wb_wolf_knowledge.htm.
Can Wolfowitz Put Poverty Before Politics?: http://www.infid.be/wb_wolf_can.htm.
Wolfowitz's Track Record on Economic Policy and Human Rights Is Poor:
http://www.infid.be/wb_wolf_track.htm.
Source: World Bank 30/03
Abbreviations
AP Associated Press
BWM BBC World Monitoring Service
JP The Jakarta Post
TG The Guardian
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