[Kabar-indonesia] 21 Indonesia Actions, Demos, Protests: July 10-16, 2006

[Joyo at aol.com]

Indonesia Roundup #23 - July 10-16, 2006
[available for dissemination on Aug. 1]

Actions, Demos, Protests...

[Indonesia roundup is a weekly compilation of actions,
demonstrations and protests taken from Indonesian
language news sources. Please note that actions
already covered by English language media sources are
generally omitted. Compiled and translated by James
Balowski.]

-------21 Actions, Demos, Protests-------

Bali students reject education fee increases

Dozens of students from the Warmadewa University in
Denpasar, Bali, demonstrated this morning against
fee increases saying that they will burden the
majority of students.

During the action, which took place in front of the
rectorate building, protesters also erected banners
with messages opposing the increases. "We were not
invited to talk [the matter over]. Whereas we are
the ones that live on the campus", shouted action
coordinator Heno Sowa. The students said that the
decision to increase the fees was taken unilaterally
without the involvement of students.

According to Sowa, previous fee increases had not
resulted in improvements to campus facilities and
had not been transparent or efficient. Warmadewa
University rector Wayan Gde Merta denied the
accusations saying that dissuasions had been held
with students since May. Merta also said that
although he understood their concerns "it's the same
as the fuel price increases by the government, there
are those that don't like it". (Tempo Interactive,
10/7/2006)

--------------------------

Police breakup student protest in Medan

A recent demonstration by the Indonesian Christian
Student Movement (GMKI) in the North Sumatra city of
Medan has been broken up by police. At the time the
protesters were trying to block President Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono's entourage that was traveling to
the Teladan Stadium to open an event featuring a
choir group. Although the demonstrators resisted
with students and police pushing and shoving each
other, police finally succeeding in chasing the
protesters away. No arrests or injuries were
reported. (Liputan 6, 10/7/2006)

--------------------------

Jamsostek employees demand replacement of executive
director

Employees at the state insurance firm PT Jamsostek
demonstrated on July 10 demanding the replacement of
the company's executive director Iwan Pontjowinoto.
In a written motion that was read by the head of the
PT Jamsostek Trade Union Abdul Latief at the
company's offices in Jakarta, the employees accused
Pontjowinoto of issuing confusing statements about
housing deposits and severance pay that have created
anxiety among workers. (Liputan 6, 10/7/2006)

--------------------------

Bantul residents demand payment of relief aid

More than 100 earthquake victims from the village of
Wijirejo in the sub-district of Pandak, Bantul
regency, Central Java, held an action at the
village’s local office on July 10. They were asking
why they had not yet received living allowances when
other villages had already received theirs.

Action coordinator Syafi'i Khaeruddin said that
approximately 10,500 people from 2,500 families had
still not received allowances while other villages
got theirs in June. Although not all of the houses
in Wijirejo village had collapsed, the residents
believe that they should still receive assistance.
(Detik.com, 10/7/2006)

--------------------------

Bantul residents demand free electricity

The offices of the state-owned electricity company
PT PLN in Yogyakarta, Central Java, was inundated
again by around 50 earthquake victims from Bantul on
July 10. This is the second action by residents from
the People’s Forum for Disaster Victims (Forkob)
who are demanding that PT PLN excuse them from
paying their electricity bills.

A number of residents brought red-and-white flags
and posters with messages such as “PLN where’s your
promise”, “We got hit by an earthquake why are we
being told to pay for electricity” and “There are no
[electricity] meters so how can you demand payment”.

“We came here (to the PLN office) to call in the
promise that was made by Mr. Muhadi as the head of
PLN Bantul’s service and network unit”, said Forkob
action coordinator Okky Kurniawan. He said the
Bantul earthquake victims were demanding all victims
of the earthquake in Bantul and surrounding areas be
excused from paying for electricity from May 2006 to
May 2007.

Kurniawan added that they wanted to know why they
still had to pay the electricity bills for May
because since the earthquake hit on May 27, no meter
readings had been taken by PLN. (Detik.com,
10/7/2006)

--------------------------

Residence demand disbursement of direct cash
assistance

Around 150 residents from the Banyuasin regency in
South Sumatra held a demonstration at the offices of
the South Sumatra governor on July 10. They were
demanding the immediate disbursement of the next
round of direct cash subsidies in compensation for
last year’s fuel price increases.

The protesters, from the People’s Forum for Justice
(Forak), came from four villages in the Rantau Bayur
sub-district. During the action they complained that
the disbursement of the next round of cash
assistance for poor families had stalled.

“It has already been one month and the direct cash
subsidies have not been given out. We are asking for
clarification from the government on the
disbursement of the funds. If by next week there is
no explanation, we will hold an even bigger action”,
said protest coordinator Nachung. (Kompas Cyber
Media, 10/7/2006)

--------------------------

Protest actions by earthquake victims growing

Three hundred residents from the villages of
Selopamioro, Sriharjo and Karangtengah in the
Imogiri sub-district of Bantul regency demonstrated
at the Yogyakarta Regional House of Representatives
(DPRD) today demanding fair disbursement of living
allowances.

The protesters who included children, housewives and
elderly people condemned the government for selling
promises to provide allowances when in reality not
all residents had received assistance.

"In the Imogiri sub-district, there are still
thousands of earthquake victims who have not yet
received living allowances. But all this time the
government has been making statements that the
living allowances have been distributed. In point of
fact we have not yet received them, likewise for
other residents who are living in tents in our
village", said action coordinator Andi Awaludin.
(Tempo Interactive, 12/7/2006)

--------------------------

Victims of mud disaster demand assistance

Around 1,000 residents from Reno Kenongo from Porong
in East Java demonstrated at the Sidoarjo DPRD on
July 12 calling on the assembly members to fight for
compensation from the mining company PT Lapindo
Brantas. They said that as victims of the hot mud
disaster they felt it was appropriate for them to
receive assistance of 300,000 rupiah per person.

The demonstrators also asked the government to find
them somewhere else to live because the temporary
shelters at the Baru Market in Porong are no longer
fit to live in with as many as four families being
forced live in rooms measuring only 2.5x3 metres
square.

The protesters also demanded the resignation of the
Reno Kenongo village head for failing to fight for
their welfare. The village head had even lied to
residents saying that the land purchased by PT
Lapindo in 1997 was to be used to raise livestock
but as it turned out the land was turned into a gas-
drilling field. (Liputan 6, 12/7/2006)

--------------------------

Walhi activists call for action over Lapindo mud
disaster

Dozens of people from the Indonesian Environmental
Forum (Walhi) held a demonstration at the Ministry
of Energy and Mineral Resources in Jakarta on July
13 demanding that the hot mud disaster in Sidoarjo
be investigated up to the highest levels of the PT
Lapindo management.

Beginning at around 1pm, protesters brought banners
with messages such as "The hot mud in Sidoarjo is
not a natural disaster" and "Arrest the Sidoarjo hot
mud criminals". They also brought photographs of the
Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare, Aburizal
Bakrie (who's family holds shares in PT Lapindo
Brantas), the executive director of Lapindo Reiner
AR Latief and the Minister of Energy and Mineral
Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro.

In addition to this they called on the president to
take immediate steps to repair the environment and
improve the economic and social conditions of those
affected by the hot mud. They also asked the House
of Representatives (DPR) to pressure the government
to summon the Lapindo management in order that the
case can be settled quickly. Their final demand was
for amendments to Law Number 23/1997 on
Environmental Management. (Detik.com, 13/7/2006)

--------------------------

Housewives demand compensation for mud disaster

Around 100 housewives from four neighbourhood units
in the village of Siring in the Porong regency
protested at the offices of the Sidoarjo regent on
July 13. The demonstrators were protesting because
they had not been registered to receive living
allowances of 300,000 rupiah each from PT Lapindo
Brantas as compensation for the hot mud disaster.
Although the hot mud has yet to inundate their
homes, the demonstrators said that they were being
affected by gas from the mud outflow.

The day before, thousands of residents from four
neighbourhood units in Siring protested by closing
the road to the village. They were also demanding
that PT Lapindo give them living allowances of
300,000 rupiah each. The blockade obstructed access
to the relief well being drilled to try to stop the
mud outflow. (Liputan 6, 13/7/2006)

--------------------------

PPP members run riot in Central Sulawesi

Around 100 members of the United Development Party
(PPP) Coalition of Concern from the Donggala regency
in Central Sulawesi ran riot at the offices of the
PPP's regional leadership board. The protesters, who
were disappointed over an internal conflict within
the party, expressed their anger by setting fire to
a bier and piles of wood. (Liputan 6, 13/7/2006)

--------------------------

Jambi students condemn Israeli violence in Palestine

A number of students from the Jambi regency in East
Nusa Tenggara demonstrated on July 13 against
Israel's attacks against Palestine in the Gaza
Strip. Aside from condemning the brutal actions by
Israel, the students also called on the Indonesian
nation to boycott all products from Israel and the
US that they accused of being the protector of human
rights crimes by the Zionist (sic) state. (Liputan
6, 13/7/2006)

--------------------------

Padang students demand resignation of rector

Hundreds of students from Imam Bonjol State
Institute of Islamic Studies (IAIN) in the West
Sumatra city of Padang demonstrated at the offices
of the West Sumatra chief public prosecutor on July
13. The protesters were demanding that the rector of
institute, Maidir, resign from his post as his term
of office finished last year. They also demanded an
investigation into the embezzlement of education
funding that was committed by Maidir while he was
director of the institute. (Liputan 6, 13/7/2006)

--------------------------

Journalists reject thuggery

Dozens of print and electronic media journalists
held a demonstration at the offices of the North
Sumatra regent and the Asahan DPRD recently. The
protest was held following an act of thuggery and
mistreatment against Zukri Batubara, a journalist
from the daily newspaper Berita Sore. They were
demanding that the perpetrators be arrested and
tried. (Liputan 6, 13/7/2006)

--------------------------

Disappointed with Aceh governance bill, students
demonstrate

On July 14, students from the Malikussaleh
University (Unimal) in Lhokseumawe, North Aceh, held
a demonstration at the Simpang Jam roundabout in
protest over articles in the Aceh Governance Law
(UU-PA) that were changed or removed by the DPR.

The students, who came from the Unimal Student
Action for Aceh Peace (Amuk), cited in particular
articles on the authority and function of the
Acehnese legislative assembly. They also issued a
statement expressing their regret over the changes
and cuts.

Amuk coordinator Muhammad Yoga said that the people
of Aceh had long yearned for peace between the
Indonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement so
it had been hoped that all the points in the
Memorandum of Understanding would be included in the
UU-PA.

Yoga said that Acehnese students deeply resented the
removal of several sensitive articles in the law
that was ratified on July 11. The students also
called for Aceh's natural resources to be fully
managed by the Acehnese government and that 20
percent of the revenues from oil and gas to go to
Aceh.

"Bring into effect a civilian court for military
[officers] that commit civil crimes and immediately
form a human rights court as well as providing
guarantees of civil, political, social, cultural and
economic rights in accordance with United Nation
conventions", said Yoga when speaking before the
students.

The peaceful action, which started at 10am and
disbanded just before Friday afternoon prayers,
attracted considerable attention from passers by
with students also handing a written statement to
members of the public. Students then went to the
North Aceh DPRD to present the statement where they
were received by deputy speaker Zulkifli Hanafiah.
(Aceh Kita, 14/7/2006)

--------------------------

North Sumatra residents protest against mining
company

Thousands of residents from Bitung and North
Minahasa demonstrated at the offices of the North
Sulawesi governor on July 13. They were protesting
the presence of the mining company PT Meares Soputan
Mining because of concerns that if the Australian
owned company continues its operations the poisonous
waste being produced will threaten the environment.

The First Assistant to the North Sulawesi
government, Iskandar Gobel, who met with the
protesters, promised to convey their concerns to the
central government. According to Gobel only the
central government has the authority to close or
issue permits for such mining operations. (Liputan
7, 14/7/2006)

--------------------------

Students demand investigation of corruption case

Dozens of students from Mamuju regency in West
Sulawesi demonstrated at the local governor's office
on July 15. They were demanding an immediate
investigation into the embezzlement of money from
the regional budget that was used to renovate a
sports building, a market and drinking water
services. The students said that the case had caused
financial losses to the state of around 12 billion
rupiah. The demonstrators almost clashed with local
security personnel when they tried to obstruct the
students. (Liputan 6, 15/7/2006)

--------------------------------------

Students pelt governor's office with rotten tomatoes

On July 15, dozens of students who were
demonstrating in the West Java provincial capital of
Bandung, pelted the offices of the local governor
with rotten tomatoes. They were demanding an
immediate investigation into a number of corruption
cases including the procurement of heavy equipment
and fire engines that caused losses to the state of
around 40 billion rupiah. (Liputan 6, 15/7/2006)

--------------------------

Solidarity actions for the people of Palestine

Protests against Israel's attacks against Palestine
have taken place in several parts of the country.
Around 1000 Muslim protesters expressed their
solidarity with the Palestine people during a
demonstration in the Central Java city of Solo on
July 15. In addition to burning Israeli flags, they
also condemned the US for defending the Zionist
state. They also called on the United Nations to
take action against Israel.

Solidarity actions were also held in Bandar Lampung,
Lampung province, with a march to the centre of the
city. As well as burning Israeli flags they also
burnt American flags that they say is defending
Israel even though it is clearly committing human
rights violations against the people of Palestine.
They also called on people to boycott all products
from Israel and its allies. (Liputan 6, 16/7/2006)

--------------------------

PKS demonstrates over Israeli aggression

Thousands of members of the Justice and Prosperity
Party (PKS) protested at the Hotel Indonesia
roundabout in Central Jakarta on July 15. The
demonstration was in solidarity with the people of
Palestine and Lebanon who are under attack by
Israel. The protesters condemned the Zionist state
for its unwillingness to stop the attacks.

"We demand that the international community
immediately put and end to Israel's barbaric
military aggression", said one of the demonstrators
adding that Israel had also attacked civilian
targets. "It would be very naive if we see the
oppression and don't speak out and be concerned",
said another demonstrator. (Liputan 6, 16/7/2006)

--------------------------

Farmers protest poisoning of fishponds in East Java

As many as 300 fishpond farmers from seven sub-
districts in Sidoarjo regency have been collecting
signatures to protest the channeling of the mud
overflow from PT Lapindo into rivers in the vicinity
of Porong. "Although it is not being channelled
directly the seepage of water from the mud is still
flowing into the river and towards our fishponds,"
said the coordinator of the Association of
Traditional Fishpond Farmers (PPTT), Iwan Hamzah on
July 16.

Hamzah said that the seepage of water from the mud
has resulted in the shrimps living in 10,000
hectares of fishponds to be washed into the Porong
sub-district while in the villages of Tanggulangin
and Jambon the ponds have been poisoned causing the
shrimps to die suddenly.

Responding to their demands, Sidoarjo regent Win
Hendarso promised to convey their protests to PT
Lapindo as the company being responsible for the mud
overflow. "We will definitely help", said Hendarso.
(Tempo Interactive, 16/7/2006)

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Joyo Indonesia News Service
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