News 2010

June 2010

Indonesia
Kompas – June 14, 2010

Jakarta – The widespread use of political image projection, including in the recent elections of regional heads, is further driving up the cost of competing in elections. Political costs are being sapped to pay for survey institute services and political consultants. This is the “big harvest” for political consultants.

Indonesia
Kompas – June 11, 2010

M Zaid Wahyudi – The growing number of ordinary people’s votes that are needlessly lost is a direct consequence of the application of an increasingly higher parliamentary threshold.

Indonesia
Detik.com – June 10, 2010

Lia Harahap, Jakarta – Three people wearing masks with pictures of pigs on them brought a clay earthen pitcher. They also waved monopoly money in the air.

Indonesia
KRjogja.com – June 3, 2010

Yogyakarta – Demonstrators from the People’s Challenge Alliance (ARM) held a protest action at the University of Gajah Mada (UGM) traffic circle in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta on Thursday June 3 calling for the world’s people to unite against imperialism for the national liberation of Palestine.

Indonesia
Detik.com – June 3, 2010

Reza Yunanto, Jakarta – Anti-Israeli demonstration will continue to rock the capital city today. The United States Embassy and the United Nations representative office will be the targets of demonstrators.

May 2010

Indonesia
Kompas – May 31, 2010

Jakarta – Earlier this month on May 3, mass media workers throughout the world commemorated World Press Freedom Day. Three Indonesian journalist organisations however, in a joint statement last week, said that press freedom in Indonesia is to this day still under threat.

Indonesia
KRjogja.com – May 21, 2010

Yogyakarta – Activists from the United People’s Movement (GRB) in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta held a protest action by placing flowers on a grave at the zero kilometer point near the Yogyakarta central post office on Friday May 21.

Indonesia
Okezone – May 21, 2010

Hen Hen, Jakarta – A number of social and student organisations held a protest action in front of the House of Representatives (DPR) building on May 21 to commemorated 12 years of reformasi or political reform.

West Papua
Kompas – May 19, 2010

Jakarta – The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) supports the idea of amnesties for political prisoners with a specific criterion from Papua. Such a step would be even more effective in creating a safer and more peaceful situation if accompanied by intensive dialogue with the Papuan community.

West Papua
Kompas – May 18, 2010

Attention and concern. Something ordinary people hope for from their leaders. Such hopes were clearly apparent when Justice and Human Rights Minister Patrialis Akbar visited the Abepura Penitentiary in Papua on Saturday May 15.

Indonesia
Detik.com – May 8, 2010

Mega Putra Ratya, Jakarta – Around 200 people from the Indonesian People’s Opposition Front (FOR Indonesia) held an action in which 100 candles were lit at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta to commemorate 17 years since the murder of labour activist Marsinah.

Indonesia
Kompas – May 3, 2010

Anung Wendyartaka – To this day there has yet to be any visible sign of a breakthrough in the improvement of workers’ standard of living. On the one hand, the basic rights possessed by the working class are still felt to be inadequate and on the other, workers themselves appear to fail to appreciate their existence.

Indonesia
Berdikari Online – May 2, 2010

Jakarta – Thousands of workers from various different labour organisations and alliances arrived in waves at the State Palace on Jl. Merdeka Utara to commemorate May Day on Saturday May 1.

Indonesia
Mahardhika News – May 1, 2010

Vivi W – Commemorating May Day, 5,000 workers from the Workers Challenge Alliance (ABM) held a protest action in Jakarta today against the pro-capitalist administration of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Boediono (SBY-Boediono), which have consistently brought suffering to the Indonesian working class.

Indonesia
Detik.com – May 1, 2010

Bagus Kurniawan, Yogyakarta – May Day was also commemorated by hundreds of workers in the Central Java city of Yogyakarta with demands for the abolition of contract labour, wage increases and for May 1 to be designated as a national holiday.

Indonesia
Tempo Interactive – May 1, 2010

Rohman Taufiq, Surabaya – Students in the Central Java provincial capital of Surabaya enlivened a protest action when they joined workers commemorating May Day on Saturday May 1 in front of the State Grahadi building.

Indonesia
Detik.com – May 1, 2010

Muchus Budi R., Solo – Hundreds of workers in the Central Java city of Solo commemorated May Day by holding a cultural action and free speech forum, in which they rejected the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) agreement and planned electricity rate hikes.

Indonesia
Tempo Interactive – May 1, 2010

Abd Azis, Makassar – Scores of students from the United Anti-Global Neoliberalism People’s Movement for a Makassar Revolution (Makassar Revolutionary Gate, GRM) commemorated May Day with a demonstration at the Panakkukang Mall in the South Sulawesi provincial capital of Makassar on Saturday May 1.

Indonesia
Kompas – May 1, 2010

Ambrosius Harto, Samarinda – Around 100 worker and student activists commemorated May Day with a demonstration at the East Kalimantan governor’s office in Samarinda on Saturday May 1.

Indonesia
Detik.com – May 1, 2010

Triono Wahyu Sudibyo, Semarang – Hundreds of workers and activists in the Central Java provincial capital of Semarang commemorated May Day by calling for improved welfare and labour conditions.