Recent Developments in Indonesia

April's upcoming elections bring increased attention to political rights and freedoms. Amnesty International released a statement on 11 March calling on the Indonesian government to work toward fully realizing the changes promised after the collapse of the New Order in 1998. Amnesty alleged that issues such as a lack of legal protection, corruption, and discrimination are significant risks for human rights violations, and urged the government and candidates in the election to address these issues.

As campaigning enters the final days before the election, some experts have expressed concern that the election commission's preparations may not be ready on time, while others contend that a delay will result in more problems. (Voice of America) For the 2004 Elections Timetable from the National Election Commission (KPU), please click here.

For more information, please see:

• Amnesty International's Asia & Pacific Section Directors appeal to political parties to make human rights a priority (Amnesty International)
• Corrupt Leadership Impedes Progress (Testimony of Edward Masters, CoChairman of USINDO before the U.S. House of Representatives)
• The faces of multinationals in Indonesia (United Press International)
• The 2004 Indonesian Elections: How the System Works and What the Parties Stand For (Centre for Democratic Institutions, Australian National University)

Java

This year's dengue fever outbreak, which particularly affected the densely populated island of Java, has resulted in 534 deaths between January and March 25. Although this is more than double for the same time period last year, World Health Organization officials have stated that this is part of a normal five-year cycle. (Reuters)

Police arrested 10 suspects over a blast in Cimanggis, which they say occurred during the assembly of a bomb. (Reuters) The governor later stated that this incident demonstrates that there is a risk of terror attacks during the upcoming elections. Concerns about the abilities of various terror groups to stage attacks remain; the Washington Post reported that in spite of efforts to eradicate the Southeast Asian militant group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), the group uses school, family, and religious connections to keep the network alive, particularly in Indonesia.  Militant cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, scheduled to be released from prison next month for forgery convictions and who is suspected to hold a leadership position in JI, may have new charges brought against him. (AP)

For more information, please see:

• At radical cleric's Indonesia school, students cheer (Reuters)
• Indonesian Militants 'Keep Regenerating' (Washington Post)
• Indonesia Parties Jostle for Java Election Prize (Reuters)

Aceh

Martial law continues in Aceh, although Megawati stated to a group of officials during her visit to the province in early March that she hoped to lift the state of military emergency in May. (BBC) According to the military's new restrictions on media access to Aceh, foreign journalists must receive special permission from the national election commission in addition to the foreign ministry, the immigration department and military intelligence. (AFP) Foreign election observers, who will be monitored by Indonesian security personnel, are also banned from certain high-risk "black areas" during April's elections.

The National Commission on Human Rights' (Komnas HAM) ad hoc committee for Aceh reported in a plenary session that there are indications of gross human rights violations committed against civilians, primarily by military forces but also by members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM). The team alleged that the attacks were systematic and involved high-ranking political and military authorities. (Laksamana)

Swedish prosecutors interviewed 23 detained members of GAM, in the presence of Indonesian authorities, to investigate allegations that Aceh separatists living in exile in Sweden helped organize rebel actions in the province. (AFP)

For more information, please see:

• Aceh Under Martial Law: Problems Faced by Acehnese Refugees in Malaysia (Human Rights Watch)
• Review - Regions: Swedish Inquiry on Aceh (Laksamana)
• High court rejects challenge to UK arms sales to Indonesia (Guardian)
• In Pictures: Inside Aceh (BBC photoessay)
• Environmentalist at risk of torture in Indonesia's Aceh, Amnesty says (AFP)

Nusa Tenggara

A land dispute on the island of Flores led to a riot in which a police station was attacked. (Australian Broadcast Corporation) At least four people died and more than 100 were injured.

On 4 March, the last defendant in the Bali bombings trials was sentenced for more than nine years. (AFP)

For more information, please see:

• Timor: Tiny enclave's quest for peace (Asia Times)
• Four killed, 100 injured in Indonesian riot (Australian Broadcast Corporation)
• Last defendant in Bali bombing trials is jailed for nine years (AFP)

Sulawesi

33 people are missing as of 29 March in a landslide occurring in Gowa district. (Reuters)

On 3 March, a feast between two villages in Central Sulawesi degenerated into a brawl, resulting in at least one death and leaving a policeman and a teenager with gunshot wounds. (Laksamana).

For more information, please see:

• Mining to resume in protected Indonesian forests (Asia Times)
• Policeman, Youth Shot in C. Sulawesi Brawl (Laksamana)

Papua

On 16 March, Laksamana reported that the recently established Constitutional Court is considering the legitimacy of two laws, passed by the central government and strongly opposed by the local population, that partition Papua into three provinces. There are some concerns that this controversy will affect the election proceedings in Papua, delaying or even canceling the vote.

For more information, please see:

• KPU Yet to Hit the Panic Button (Laksamana)
• U.S. officials believe local Indonesian army commanders ordered ambush that killed 2 Americans (AP)
• US Denies Blaming Army for Freeport Killings (Laksamana)

Indonesian version

Perkembangan terakhir di Indonesia

Pemilihan Umum pada awal April ini meningkatkan kesadaran masyarakat akan pentingnya hak-hak politik dan kebebasan.  Pada 11 Maret lalu, Amnesti Internasional mengeluarkan sebuah pernyataan yang menyerukan agar pemerintah Indonesia bekerja serius untuk mewujudkan perubahan yang pernah dijanjikan ketika rezim Orde Baru runtuh pada tahun 1998.  Organisasi ini mengungkapkan masih adanya masalah langkanya perlindungan hokum, korupsi, dan diskriminasi merupakan pelanggaran Hak-hak Asasi Manusia yang sangat nyata, dan mengimbau pemerintah dan para calon anggota legislatif peserta Pemilu untuk membahas persoalan tersebut.

Selagi musim kampanye memasuki hari-hari terakhir sebelum pemilih mencoblos, beberapa pakar menyatakan kekhawatirannya kalau persiapan yang dilakukan Komisi Pemilihan Umum atau KPU tidaklah tepat waktu, sedangkan sebagia pakar lagi memperkirakan kalau penundaan jadwal bisa mengundang masalah baru. (Voice of America)

Untuk jadwal Pemilu 2004 dari kantor KPU, silakan klik link ini.

Opini tambahan mengenai Pemilu 2004:

Jawa

Wabah demam berdarah tahun ini yang khususnya menyerang kawasan padat di Pulau Jawa, telah menyebabkan kematian 530 orang antara Januari dan Maret 25.  Walaupun jumlah korban meninggal ini dua kali lipat dibandingkan tahun sebelumnya, Organisasi Kesehatan Sedunia WHO menganggap wabah ini bagian dari siklus normal lima tahunan. ( Reuters)

Polisi menahan 10 tersangka kasus peledakan bom di Cimanggis, yang konon terjadi ketika para tersangka sedang membuat sebuah bom (Reuters).  Gubernur Jakarta menyatakan kalau insiden ini membuktikan adanya risiko ancaman serangan teroris selama penyelenggaraan Pemilu.  Keprihatinan akan kemampuan teroris menyerang masih tetap ada, seperti yang dilaporkan harian Washington Post meskipun banyak usaha sudah dilakukan untuk menghabisi kelompok militant Asia Tenggara bernama Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), namun kelompok ini tetap memanfaatkan hubungan sekolah, keluarga, keagamaan untuk tetap menghidupkan jaringan kerjasama di antara mereka, khususnya di Indonesia.  Sementara itu, Kiai militan Abu Bakar Bashir yang direncanakan akan bebas dari penjara April ini karena tuduhan pemalsuan dokumen imigrasi dan dicurigai menjadi pemimpin JI kemungkinan akan menghadapi tuntutan baru (AP).

Opini tambahan mengenai kejadian di Jawa:

Aceh

Hukum darurat militer tetap berlaku di Aceh, meskipun di hadapan beberapa pejabat pemerintahan, Presiden Megawati pada saat kunjungan kerja di awal Maret lalu mengungkapkan harapannya untuk mencabut status darurat militer pada bulan Mei (BBC).  Menurut aturan baru yang ditetapkan pihak militer, wartawan asing harus mendapatkan izin tambahan dari Komisi Pemilihan Umum (KPU) selain sebelumnya izin dari Departemen Luar Negeri RI, Departemen Kehakiman dan HAM, dan kantor intelijen militer (AFP).  Para pengamat asing yang selama bertugas akan diawasi personil keamanan Indonesia juga dilarang memasuki kawasan risiko tinggi "daerah hitam" selama pemilu April ini.

Komisi khusus masalah Aceh di Komnas HAM melaporkan dalam sidang awalnya bahwa telah ada indikasi pelanggaran hak-hak asasi manusia berat terhadap warga sipil, terutama dilakukan oleh aparat militer dan anggota GAM.  Komisi ini menuduh pelanggaran HAM ini bersifat sistematis dan melibatkan pejabat tinggi di sipil dan militer (Laksamana).

Para jaksa penuntut Swedia telah mewawancarai 23 tahanan anggota GAM, dengan pengawasan pemerintah Indonesia, untuk menyelidiki tuduhan bahwa warga Aceh di pengasingan di Swedia membantu mengorganisasi aksi pemberontakan di propinsi itu (AFP).

Opini tambahan mengenai Aceh:

Nusa Tenggara

Perselisihan soal tanah di pulau Flores berkembang menjadi kekacauan massal ketika massa menyerang kantor polisi setempat (Australian Broadcast Corporation).  Paling sedikit empat orang tewas dan lebih dari 100 lainnya luka-luka.

Pada 4 Maret lalu, terdakwa terakhir kasus bom Bali dijatuhi hukuman sembilan tahun penjara. (AFP)

Opini tambahan mengenai Nusa Tenggara:

Ruteng, Kota yang Nyaris Terisolasi (Kompas)

Sulawesi

Sedikitnya 33 orang hilang pada 29 Maret lalu ketika tanah longsor menimbun kawasan pemukiman di kabupaten Gowa (Reuters).

Pada 3 Maret lalu, sebuah perayaan dua desa berkembang menjadi perkelahian missal, yang menewaskan satu orang dan seorang polisi dan seorang remaja terluka akibat diterjang peluru nyasar (Laksamana).

Papua

Pada 16 Maret lalu, Laksamana melaporkan bahwa Mahkamah Konstitusi yang baru dibentuk sedang mengkaji keabsahan dua Undang-Undang yang, baru saja disahkan oleh pemerintah pusat tetapi ditentang sebagian besar masyarakat Papua, akan memecah propinsi itu menjadi tiga propinsi baru.  Ada kekhawatiran kalau perselisihan mengenai UU ini akan mempengaruhi penyelenggaraan pemilu di Papua, menunda atau bahkan membatalkan pemungutan suara.

Informasi tambahan mengenai Papua: