Recent Developments in Indonesia

Indonesia’s highest court overturned parliament speaker and Golkar Party leader Akbar Tanjung’s conviction by the Central Jakarta District Court for misappropriation of funds. (Laksamana) Critics of the Supreme Court’s ruling alleged that it served to further discredit the Indonesian justice system. (Radio Australia)

The United States Department of State released their Country Report on Human Rights Practices for 2003, which concluded that the Indonesian government continues to commit serious human rights abuses. Indonesian officials defended the government’s conduct, responding that the United States does not understand the nature of the conflict. (Laksamana)

Candidates for Indonesia’s parliamentary races along with its first direct presidential elections are barred from campaigning before March 11, though the election commission has already started citing violators. (Laksamana) Legislative elections will be held on April 5, with presidential elections on July 5. Indonesia’s police chief warned that terror suspects may use this as an opportunity to strike during the campaigns. (Radio Australia) For more information on this year’s elections, see the International Crisis Group’s Indonesia Backgrounder: A Guide to the 2004 Elections.

Java

An outbreak of dengue fever in Indonesia, which has killed 256 people and infected more than 14,000 others as of 25 February, hit densely-populated Java particularly hard. The AP reported that the health ministry is investigating to determine whether a new strain of the virus is contributing to the virulence of the outbreak, and Tempo reported that there are serious flaws in the public health system that resulted in a failure to respond quickly enough to the illness.

The Age reported on 20 January that flooding forced at least 10,000 of Jakarta residents to flee their homes and caused five deaths.

For more information, see:

• Indonesia Fears New Dengue Fever Strain (Washington Post)
• Recurring Nightmare (Tempo)
• 10,000 seek refuge from floods (The Age)

Aceh

The military incursion against the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) continues in the northernmost point of Sumatra. Security forces have taken control of the major towns and roads and captured Acehnese accused of being rebel supporters are placed in “re-education” camps, according to the BBC. Gun battles have led to the withdrawl of an Indonesian Red Cross medical team (AFP), and the military alleged that GAM took nine Red Cross volunteers hostage, later releasing them. (Tempo)

Swedish authorities announced plans to investigate members of GAM currently living in Sweden, after receiving evidence from Indonesian officials reportedly linking them to attacks in Aceh. (Radio Australia)

Officials announced that foreign observers will be allowed into Aceh to monitor the elections, though an election watchdog group argued that elections will be tainted since the province is still under martial law. (AFP) The U.S. Department of State released its annual human rights report on 25 February, focusing particularly on Aceh, and alleged that the government has committed serious abuses while battling separatism.

For more information, see:

• Country Report on Human Rights Practices - 2003 (United States Department of State)
• Casualties of the War in Aceh (World Press Review)
• Aceh's war for 'hearts and minds' (BBC)
• Regions: Aceh Zones (Laksamana)
• Indonesian Red Cross medical team withdraws after Aceh gun battle (AFP)
• Sweden to investigate claims against Aceh expats (Radio Australia)
• Indonesia allows Aceh election observers (AFP)

Kalimantan

Greenpeace alleged that illegal timber harvesting continues in Kalimantan, and cited encounters with foreign freighters as evidence. (Reuters) On 24 February, a stampede at a concert in the South Kalimantan capital of Banjarmasin resulted in the deaths of four people and injured dozens. (Laksamana)

For more information, see:

• US$3 Million from Norway to Stop Illegal Logging in Indonesia (Tempo)
• Greenpeace offers Indonesia proof of illegal logging (The Age)
• Four killed in stampede (Laksamana)

Sulawesi

On 3 February, the International Crisis Group released Jihad in Central Sulawesi, a report with detailed risk analysis of terrorist capacities and threats. In it, ICG details a new militia knowns as Mujahidin KOMPAK, an organization operating in Poso with leadership drawn from Jemaah Islamiyah, and which ICG argues is a serious threat to Indonesia’s stability.

The Jakarta Post reported that media representatives in South Sulawesi agreed on February 14 to assist in preventing against violence in the upcoming elections. Journalists have reportedly been physically assaulted and subject to pressure, while candidates allege that they are sometimes subjected to biased or discriminatory media coverage.

For more information, see:

• Indonesia Backgrounder: Jihad in Central Sulawesi (International Crisis Group)
• Media, parties agree to promote peaceful poll (Jakarta Post)

Papua

In a 12 February press release, Amnesty International called on Indonesian authorities to give full support and cooperation to the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM), which established a commission of inquiry to investigate allegations of grave human rights abuses in the areas of Wamena and Wasior.

A powerful earthquake struck Papua on 6 February, killing 23 people at first count and evicting many from their homes. (AFP) Later, the toll rose to 37 (see Radio New Zealand) and although aftershocks struck in the weeks following, the Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent reported that within a week, power was restored and 50 percent of water was restored, though much building damage remained.

For more information, see:

• Indonesia: Investigation into human rights violations must not be jeopardized (Amnesty International)
• Review- Mining: Guns and Gold (Laksamana)
• Quake in Indonesia's Papua province kills 23 (AFP)

Indonesian version

Pemilihan Umum 2004

Para calon anggota legislatif dan calon presiden dalam pemilihan umum mendatang dilarang melakukan kampanye sebelum 11 Maret 2004. Namun demikian, Komisi Pemilihan Umum sudah melayangkan sanksi kepada para pelanggar aturan ini (Laksamana). Pemilihan anggota legislatif (DPRD, DPR, dan DPD) akan berlangsung pada 5 April, sedangkan pemilihan Presiden langsung babak pertama pada 5 Juli. Kapolri memperingatkan bahwa para tersangka teroris kemungkinan akan memanfaatkan masa kampanye ini untuk melakukan aksinya (Radio Australia). Untuk informasi lebih lanjut tentang Pemilu 2004, silakan baca laporan International Crisis Group berjudul Indonesia Backgrounder: A Guide to the 2004 Elections.

Tambahan informasi mengenai Pemilu 2004:

'Pemilu 2004, Rawan Konflik Sosial' (Media Indonesia)

Etnis Tionghoa dan Pemilu 2004 (Setiono, Benny G)

Pemilu Terancam Inkonstitusional? (Siregar, RH)

Pengangguran, Pemilu, dan Gejolak Sosial (Cahyono, Imam)

intahan Gonjang Ganjing (M, HS Soetardji)

Dilema Kemanusiaan di Hadapan Pemilu Jurdil (Pendit, Nyoman S.)

Tafsir Ekonomi Pemilu (Gazali, Effendi)

Serangan Fajar (Qodari, Muhammad)

Mengidamkan Politikus dan Partai Politik Bervisi (Mboi, Ben)

Mewaspadai Kekerasan Politik (Yanto, Oksidelfa)

Bedah Kontrak Pengadaan Kotak Suara (Sibarani, Bachtiar)

Panwas Pemilu Sebagai Wasit (Sulistyo, Hermawan)

Merebut Momentum Kebangsaan (Wahid, Hidayat Nur)

Megawati akan Menggandeng Akbar (Media Indonesia)

Jawa

Kejadian luar biasa wabah demam berdarah di Indonesia telah menimbulkan korban jiwa 312 orang dan menyebabkan 17, 289 orang lainnya terinfeksi virus yang ditularkan nyamuk tersebut terhitung pada 27 Februari 2004 (AFP). Kantor berita AP melaporkan bahwa Departemen Kesehatan RI sedang menyelidiki kemungkinan munculnya jenis virus baru yang menyebabkan meluasnya wabah kali ini, dan menurut Tempo, ada ketidakberesan dalam birokrasi sistem kesehatan masyarakat yang menimbulkan kelambatan dalam mengatasi penyakit ini.

The Age melaporkan pada 20 Februrari bahwa telah terjadi banjir besar di ibukota Jakarta yang menyebabkan ribuan penduduk mengungsi dan menewaskan lima orang.

Tambahan informasi mengenai kejadian di Jawa:

Demam Berdarah Berbasis Perubahan Iklim (Daryono)

Penyakit Demam Berdarah Dengue (Lukito, Benyamin)

LBH Kesehatan: Penanganan DBD Keliru (Sinar Harapan)

Menghentikan Derita Bencana Alam (Soemarwoto, Otto)

''Globalisasi'' Bencana Cuaca (Daryono)

Aceh

Pengepungan militer terhadap Gerakan Aceh Merdeka atau GAM berlanjut di propinsi paling utara pulau Sumatera ini. Menurut kantor berita BBC, pihak militer Indonesia telah berhasil mengamankan kota-kora besar dan jalan-jalan antarkota, dan menempatkan tersangka anggota pemberontak di pusat-pusat “pelatihan kembali”. Sementara itu, kontak senjata yang tak pernah ada hentinya membuat Palang Merah Indonesia atau PMI menarik tim medisnya dari Aceh (AFP), dan pihak TNI (Tentara Nasional Indonesia) menuduh GAM menculik dan menyandera sembilan relawan PMI, meskipun kemudian melepas para relawan itu (Tempo).

Pemerintah Swedia mengumumkan rencana untuk menyelidiki para tokoh GAM yang kini berdiam di Swedia, setelah menerima bukti-bukti dari pemerintah Indonesia yang mengaitkan para tokoh tersebut dengan berbagai serangan teror di Aceh dan kota lainnya di Indonesia (Radio Australia).

Pemerinta Indonesia mengumumkan bahwa para pengamat asing diizinkan datang ke Aceh untuk memantau pelaksanaan pemilihan umum, meskipun sebuah kelompok pengawas pemilu menganggap pemilu di propinsi itu tidak sah karena masih berada di bawah hokum darurat militer (AFP).

Tambahan informasi mengenai Aceh:

Mengapa Mereka KKN (S, Marzuki)

Penyelidikan Pelanggaran HAM Berat Soeharto (Adam, Asvi Warman)

Mencegah Pelanggaran HAM oleh TNI (Mashadi)

Dilema Independensi Pers Indonesia (Saputro, Edy Purwo)

Ihwal Perang Melawan Gerilya di Aceh (Tobing, Maruli)

Kalimantan

Kelompok Greenpeace menuduh penebangan kayu liar masih terus berlanjut di Kalimantan, dan hal itu terbukti dari aksi mereka yang sempat memergoki beberapa kapal angkut kayu asing di pulau tersebut. (Reuters). Pada 24 Februari, empat orang tewas dan lusinan lainnya terluka akibat kekacauan di acara konser musik di Banjarmasin, ibukota propinsi Kalimantan Selatan. (Laksamana)

Tambahan informasi mengenai Kalimantan:

Siapa Penadah Kayu, dan Siapa Mencuri? (Ginting, Longgena)

Bencana Itu Kembali Terulang (Kompas)

Sulawesi

Pada 3 Februari, International Crisis Group menerbitkan Jihad in Central Sulawesi, sebuah laporan terperinci yang dilengkapi analisa risiko terhadap ancaman dan kemampuan kelompok teroris di Sulawesi. Dalam laporan tersebut, ICG menyebut keberadaan organisasi milisi bernama Mujahidin KOMPAK yang kepemimpinannya diambil dari kelompok Jemaah Islamiyah. ICG menyebut organisasi ini sebagai ancaman terhadap stabilitas Indonesia.

Harian berbahasa Inggris Jakarta Post pada 14 Februari melaporkan bahwa perwakilan media massa setuju untuk membantu mencegah terjadinya kekerasan dalam pemilu yang akan dating. Para wartawan mengaku kalau mereka kadang-kadang diserang secara fisik dan menjadi sasaran ancaman, sedangkan pada calon anggota legislatif menuduh liputan media kadang-kadang mendiskriminasi atau merugikan mereka.

Tambahan informasi mengenai Sulawesi:

ICG Keluarkan Kajian Tentang Jihad di Poso (Sinar Harapan)

Radikalisme Agama Ancaman bagi Pemilu 2004? (Renaldi, Adrian)

Papua

Sebuah gempa yang cukup kuat telah menggoyang Papua pada 6 Februari lalu, menewaskan 23 orang dan membuat banyak keluarga kehilangan tempat berteduh (AFP). Belakangan, korban tewas terhitung 37 orang (Radio New Zealand) dan meskipun gempa susulan masih terjadi pada minggu-minggu berikutnya, sambungan listrik dan separuh dari pasok air bersih sudah bisa dipulihkan. Banyak bangunan masih porak-poranda akibat gempa yang bersumber dari daratan sekitar Nabire ini.

Tambahan informasi mengenai Papua:

Nabire, Persimpangan Jalur Gempa (Pudja, I Putu)

Rakyat Papua Tidak Membutuhkan Darurat Sipil (Yewangoe, Andreas A)