| INDONESIA Republic of Indonesia Republik Indonesia Joined United Nations: 28 September 1950 Rescinded membership 20 January 1965 Reinstated membership: 28 September 1966 Human Rights as assured by their constitution Click here Updated 07/16/10 |
| CAPITAL |
| POPULATION |
| CHIEF OF STATE |
| SELECTION PROCESS |
Jakarta
242,968,342 (July 2010 est.)
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
President since 20 October 2004
President since 20 October 2004
President and Vice President were elected for five-year terms
(eligible for a second term) by direct vote of the citizenry; last
held 8 July 2009
Next scheduled election: July 2014
(eligible for a second term) by direct vote of the citizenry; last
held 8 July 2009
Next scheduled election: July 2014
HEAD OF GOVERNMENT
Boediono
Vice President since 20 October 2009
Vice President since 20 October 2009
According to the Indonesian Constitution, the president is both
the chief of state and head of government
the chief of state and head of government
| DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS |
| ETHNIC GROUPS |
Javanese 40.6%, Sundanese 15%, Madurese 3.3%, Minangkabau 2.7%, Betawi 2.4%, Bugis 2.4%, Banten 2%, Banjar 1.7%,
other or unspecified 29.9% (2000 census)
other or unspecified 29.9% (2000 census)
| RELIGIONS |
Muslim 86.1%, Protestant 5.7%, Roman Catholic 3%, Hindu 1.8%, other or unspecified 3.4% (2000 census)
| GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE |
Republic -30 provinces (propinsi-propinsi, singular - propinsi), 2 special regions (daerah-daerah istimewa, singular - daerah istimewa), and
1 special capital city district (daerah khusus ibukota). Legal system is rooted in based on Roman-Dutch law, substantially modified by
indigenous concepts and by new criminal procedures and election codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Executive: President and Vice President were elected for five-year terms (eligible for a second term) by direct vote of the citizenry; last
held 8 July 2009 (next to be held July 2014)
Legislative: House of Representatives or Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat (DPR) (550 seats; members elected to serve five-year
terms); House of Regional Representatives (Dewan Perwakilan Daerah or DPD), constitutionally mandated role includes providing
legislative input to DPR on issues affecting regions; People's Consultative Assembly (Majelis Permusyawaratan Rakyat or MPR)
has role in inaugurating and impeaching president and in amending constitution; consists of popularly-elected members in DPR and
DPD; MPR does not formulate national policy
elections: last held 9 April 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
Judicial: Supreme Court or Mahkamah Agung (justices appointed by the president from a list of candidates approved by the
legislature); a separate Constitutional Court or Mahkamah Konstitusi was invested by the president on 16 August 2003; in March
2004 the Supreme Court assumed administrative and financial responsibility for the lower court system from the Ministry of Justice
and Human Rights; Labor Court under supervision of Supreme Court began functioning in January 2006
1 special capital city district (daerah khusus ibukota). Legal system is rooted in based on Roman-Dutch law, substantially modified by
indigenous concepts and by new criminal procedures and election codes; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Executive: President and Vice President were elected for five-year terms (eligible for a second term) by direct vote of the citizenry; last
held 8 July 2009 (next to be held July 2014)
Legislative: House of Representatives or Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat (DPR) (550 seats; members elected to serve five-year
terms); House of Regional Representatives (Dewan Perwakilan Daerah or DPD), constitutionally mandated role includes providing
legislative input to DPR on issues affecting regions; People's Consultative Assembly (Majelis Permusyawaratan Rakyat or MPR)
has role in inaugurating and impeaching president and in amending constitution; consists of popularly-elected members in DPR and
DPD; MPR does not formulate national policy
elections: last held 9 April 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
Judicial: Supreme Court or Mahkamah Agung (justices appointed by the president from a list of candidates approved by the
legislature); a separate Constitutional Court or Mahkamah Konstitusi was invested by the president on 16 August 2003; in March
2004 the Supreme Court assumed administrative and financial responsibility for the lower court system from the Ministry of Justice
and Human Rights; Labor Court under supervision of Supreme Court began functioning in January 2006
| LANGUAGES |
Bahasa Indonesia (official, modified form of Malay), English, Dutch, local dialects (the most widely spoken of which is Javanese)
| BRIEF HISTORY |
Geologically the area of modern Indonesia appeared sometime around the Pleistocene period when it was still linked with the Asian
mainland. The archipelago formed during the thaw after the latest ice age. The area's first known humanlike inhabitant some
500,000 years ago was "Java Man" (first classified as Pithecanthropus erectus, then subsequently named a part of the species
Homo erectus). Recent discoveries on the island of Flores were dubbed "Flores Man" (Homo floresiensis), a miniature hominoid
that grew only three feet tall, although whether this is a separate species is in dispute. Nevertheless, Flores Man seems to have
shared some islands with Java Man until only 10,000 years ago, when they became extinct. Indian scholars wrote about the
Dvipantara or Jawa Dwipa Hindu kingdom in Java and Sumatra around 200 BC. The earliest archeological record from the present
era is from the Ujung Kulon National Park, West Java, where an early Hindu archeological relic of a Ganesha statue from the 1st
century AD was found on the summit of Mount Raksa in Panaitan Island. There is also archeological evidence of a kingdom in Tatar
Sunda / Sunda Territory (West Java) dating from the 2nd century, and according to Dr Tony Djubiantono, the head of Bandung
Archeology Agency, Jiwa Temple in Batujaya, Karawang, Java was also built around this time. By the time of the European
Renaissance, the two largest islands in what is now Indonesia, Java and Sumatra had already seen over a millennium of civilization
and two major empires. Mataram was an Indianized kingdom based in Central Java (the area surrounding modern-day Yogyakarta)
between the 8th and 10th centuries. The centre of the kingdom was moved from Central Java to East Java by Mpu Sindok. The
move may have been caused by an eruption of the volcano Mount Merapi, or a power struggle. Srivijaya (-sri meaning glitters or
radiant, -jaya meaning success or excellence) was an ancient Malay kingdom on the island of Sumatra which influenced much of the
Malay Archipelago. Records of its beginning are scarce, and estimates are from the 200s to the 500s. It ceased to exist around the
year 1400. A stronghold of Vajrayana Buddhism, Srivijaya attracted pilgrims and scholars from other parts of Asia. These included
the Chinese monk Yijing, who made several lengthy visits to Sumatra on his way to study at Nalanda in India in 671 and 695. Two
empires would originate in Eastern Java, and would drive Srivijaya and assume its territory: the Singhasari and the Majapahit.
Singhasari was a kingdom located in east Java between 1222 and 1292. The Majapahit Empire would emerge later, and ruled
much of the southern Malay Peninsula, Borneo, Sumatra, and Bali from about 1293 to around 1500. Islam was first established in
Indonesia sometime during the 12th century and, through assimilation, supplanted Hinduism by the end of the 16th century in Java
and Sumatra. Only Bali retained a Hindu majority. In the eastern archipelago, both Christian and Islamic missionaries were active in
the 16th and 17th centuries, and, currently, there are large communities of both religions on these islands. The spread of Islam was
driven by increasing trade links outside of the archipelago; in general, traders and the royalty of major kingdoms were the first to
adopt the new religion. Beginning in the sixteenth century, successive waves of Europeans—the Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch and
British—sought to dominate the spice trade at its sources in India and the 'Spice Islands' (Maluku) of Indonesia. This meant finding
a way to Asia to cut out Muslim merchants who, with their Venetian outlet in the Mediterranean, monopolised spice imports to
Europe. Astronomically priced at the time, spices were highly coveted not only to preserve and make poorly preserved meat
palatable, but also as medicines and magic potions. The arrival of Europeans in South East Asia is often regarded as the watershed
moment in its history. Other scholars consider this view untenable, arguing that European influence during the times of the early
arrivals of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries was limited in both area and depth. This is in part due to Europe not being the
most advanced or dynamic area of the world in the early fifteenth century. Rather, the major expansionist force of this time was
Islam; in 1453, for example, the Ottoman Turks conquered Constantinople, while Islam continued to spread through Indonesia and
the Philippines. European influence, particularly that of the Dutch, would not have its greatest impact on Indonesia until the
eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Starting with the first exploratory expeditions sent from newly-conquered Malacca in 1512, the
Portuguese came to Indonesia seeking to dominate the sources of valuable spices and to extend their Roman Catholic missionary
efforts. The Dutch followed the Portuguese aspirations, courage, brutality and strategies but brought better organisation, weapons,
ships, and superior financial backing. Although they failed to gain complete control of the Indonesian spice trade, they had much
more success than the previous Portuguese efforts. Beginning in 1602 with the founding of the Dutch East India Company, the
Dutch took three centuries to establish themselves as rulers of what is now Indonesia, exploiting the fractionalisation of the small
kingdoms that had replaced Majapahit. Unlike the Portuguese, the Dutch established a permanent foothold in Java, from which the
Dutch ultimately established a land-based colonial empire known as the Dutch East Indies into one of the world's richest colonial
possessions. In 1908 the first nationalist movement was formed, Budi Utomo, followed in 1912 by the first nationalist mass
movement, Sarekat Islam. In May 1940, early in World War II, the Netherlands was occupied by Nazi Germany. During World
War II, with the Netherlands under German occupation, Japan began a five-prong campaign in December 1941 towards Java and
the vital fuel supplies of the Dutch East Indies. On 9 August 1945 Sukarno, Hatta, and Radjiman Wediodiningrat were flown to
meet Marshal Terauchi in Vietnam. They were told that Japan intended to announce Indonesian independence on 24 August. After
the Japanese surrender however, Sukarno unilaterally proclaimed Indonesian independence on 17 August. Indonesia's war for
independence lasted from 1945 until December 27, 1949 when, under heavy international pressure, especially from the United
States, which threatened to cut off Marshall Plan funds, the Netherlands acknowledged the independence of Indonesia as a
Federation of autonomous states. From 1959 to 1965, President Sukarno imposed an authoritarian regime under the label of
"Guided Democracy." When the United Nations accepted Malaysia as a nonpermanent member, Sukarno withdrew Indonesia from
the UN and attempted to form the Conference of New Emerging Forces (Conefo) as an alternative. In 1996 Suharto undertook
efforts to pre-empt a challenge to the New Order government. On August 30, 1999, the people of East Timor voted
overwhelmingly for independence in a UN-conducted popular consultation. In 2004, the largest one-day election in the world and
Indonesia's first direct Presidential election was held and was won by Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, commonly referred by his initials
SBY. On 26 December 2004, early in Yudhoyono's administration, a massive earthquake and tsunami devastated parts of northern
Sumatra, particularly Aceh. On the morning of Saturday, May 27, 2006, the city of Yogyakarta was struck by a severe earthquake.
More than 6,000 people are currently estimated to have died. Yudhoyono was reelected for a second term on 08 July 2009.
Source Wikipedia: History of Indonesia
mainland. The archipelago formed during the thaw after the latest ice age. The area's first known humanlike inhabitant some
500,000 years ago was "Java Man" (first classified as Pithecanthropus erectus, then subsequently named a part of the species
Homo erectus). Recent discoveries on the island of Flores were dubbed "Flores Man" (Homo floresiensis), a miniature hominoid
that grew only three feet tall, although whether this is a separate species is in dispute. Nevertheless, Flores Man seems to have
shared some islands with Java Man until only 10,000 years ago, when they became extinct. Indian scholars wrote about the
Dvipantara or Jawa Dwipa Hindu kingdom in Java and Sumatra around 200 BC. The earliest archeological record from the present
era is from the Ujung Kulon National Park, West Java, where an early Hindu archeological relic of a Ganesha statue from the 1st
century AD was found on the summit of Mount Raksa in Panaitan Island. There is also archeological evidence of a kingdom in Tatar
Sunda / Sunda Territory (West Java) dating from the 2nd century, and according to Dr Tony Djubiantono, the head of Bandung
Archeology Agency, Jiwa Temple in Batujaya, Karawang, Java was also built around this time. By the time of the European
Renaissance, the two largest islands in what is now Indonesia, Java and Sumatra had already seen over a millennium of civilization
and two major empires. Mataram was an Indianized kingdom based in Central Java (the area surrounding modern-day Yogyakarta)
between the 8th and 10th centuries. The centre of the kingdom was moved from Central Java to East Java by Mpu Sindok. The
move may have been caused by an eruption of the volcano Mount Merapi, or a power struggle. Srivijaya (-sri meaning glitters or
radiant, -jaya meaning success or excellence) was an ancient Malay kingdom on the island of Sumatra which influenced much of the
Malay Archipelago. Records of its beginning are scarce, and estimates are from the 200s to the 500s. It ceased to exist around the
year 1400. A stronghold of Vajrayana Buddhism, Srivijaya attracted pilgrims and scholars from other parts of Asia. These included
the Chinese monk Yijing, who made several lengthy visits to Sumatra on his way to study at Nalanda in India in 671 and 695. Two
empires would originate in Eastern Java, and would drive Srivijaya and assume its territory: the Singhasari and the Majapahit.
Singhasari was a kingdom located in east Java between 1222 and 1292. The Majapahit Empire would emerge later, and ruled
much of the southern Malay Peninsula, Borneo, Sumatra, and Bali from about 1293 to around 1500. Islam was first established in
Indonesia sometime during the 12th century and, through assimilation, supplanted Hinduism by the end of the 16th century in Java
and Sumatra. Only Bali retained a Hindu majority. In the eastern archipelago, both Christian and Islamic missionaries were active in
the 16th and 17th centuries, and, currently, there are large communities of both religions on these islands. The spread of Islam was
driven by increasing trade links outside of the archipelago; in general, traders and the royalty of major kingdoms were the first to
adopt the new religion. Beginning in the sixteenth century, successive waves of Europeans—the Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch and
British—sought to dominate the spice trade at its sources in India and the 'Spice Islands' (Maluku) of Indonesia. This meant finding
a way to Asia to cut out Muslim merchants who, with their Venetian outlet in the Mediterranean, monopolised spice imports to
Europe. Astronomically priced at the time, spices were highly coveted not only to preserve and make poorly preserved meat
palatable, but also as medicines and magic potions. The arrival of Europeans in South East Asia is often regarded as the watershed
moment in its history. Other scholars consider this view untenable, arguing that European influence during the times of the early
arrivals of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries was limited in both area and depth. This is in part due to Europe not being the
most advanced or dynamic area of the world in the early fifteenth century. Rather, the major expansionist force of this time was
Islam; in 1453, for example, the Ottoman Turks conquered Constantinople, while Islam continued to spread through Indonesia and
the Philippines. European influence, particularly that of the Dutch, would not have its greatest impact on Indonesia until the
eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Starting with the first exploratory expeditions sent from newly-conquered Malacca in 1512, the
Portuguese came to Indonesia seeking to dominate the sources of valuable spices and to extend their Roman Catholic missionary
efforts. The Dutch followed the Portuguese aspirations, courage, brutality and strategies but brought better organisation, weapons,
ships, and superior financial backing. Although they failed to gain complete control of the Indonesian spice trade, they had much
more success than the previous Portuguese efforts. Beginning in 1602 with the founding of the Dutch East India Company, the
Dutch took three centuries to establish themselves as rulers of what is now Indonesia, exploiting the fractionalisation of the small
kingdoms that had replaced Majapahit. Unlike the Portuguese, the Dutch established a permanent foothold in Java, from which the
Dutch ultimately established a land-based colonial empire known as the Dutch East Indies into one of the world's richest colonial
possessions. In 1908 the first nationalist movement was formed, Budi Utomo, followed in 1912 by the first nationalist mass
movement, Sarekat Islam. In May 1940, early in World War II, the Netherlands was occupied by Nazi Germany. During World
War II, with the Netherlands under German occupation, Japan began a five-prong campaign in December 1941 towards Java and
the vital fuel supplies of the Dutch East Indies. On 9 August 1945 Sukarno, Hatta, and Radjiman Wediodiningrat were flown to
meet Marshal Terauchi in Vietnam. They were told that Japan intended to announce Indonesian independence on 24 August. After
the Japanese surrender however, Sukarno unilaterally proclaimed Indonesian independence on 17 August. Indonesia's war for
independence lasted from 1945 until December 27, 1949 when, under heavy international pressure, especially from the United
States, which threatened to cut off Marshall Plan funds, the Netherlands acknowledged the independence of Indonesia as a
Federation of autonomous states. From 1959 to 1965, President Sukarno imposed an authoritarian regime under the label of
"Guided Democracy." When the United Nations accepted Malaysia as a nonpermanent member, Sukarno withdrew Indonesia from
the UN and attempted to form the Conference of New Emerging Forces (Conefo) as an alternative. In 1996 Suharto undertook
efforts to pre-empt a challenge to the New Order government. On August 30, 1999, the people of East Timor voted
overwhelmingly for independence in a UN-conducted popular consultation. In 2004, the largest one-day election in the world and
Indonesia's first direct Presidential election was held and was won by Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, commonly referred by his initials
SBY. On 26 December 2004, early in Yudhoyono's administration, a massive earthquake and tsunami devastated parts of northern
Sumatra, particularly Aceh. On the morning of Saturday, May 27, 2006, the city of Yogyakarta was struck by a severe earthquake.
More than 6,000 people are currently estimated to have died. Yudhoyono was reelected for a second term on 08 July 2009.
Source Wikipedia: History of Indonesia
| ECONOMIC OVERVIEW |
Indonesia, a vast polyglot nation, has weathered the global financial crisis relatively smoothly because of its heavy reliance on
domestic consumption as the driver of economic growth. Although the economy slowed significantly from the 6%-plus growth rate
recorded in 2007 and 2008, expanding at 4% in the first half of 2009, Indonesia outperformed its regional neighbors and joined
China and India as the only G20 members posting growth during the crisis. The government used fiscal stimulus measures and
monetary policy to counter the effects of the crisis and offered cash transfers to poor families; in addition, campaign spending in
advance of legislative and presidential elections in April and July helped buoy consumption. The government made economic
advances under the first administration of President YUDHOYONO, introducing significant reforms in the financial sector, including
tax and customs reforms, the use of Treasury bills, and capital market development and supervision. Indonesia's debt-to-GDP ratio
in recent years has declined steadily because of increasingly robust GDP growth and sound fiscal stewardship. Indonesia still
struggles with poverty and unemployment, inadequate infrastructure, corruption, a complex regulatory environment, and unequal
resource distribution among regions. YUDHOYONO's reelection, with respected economist BOEDIONO as his vice president,
suggests broad continuity of economic policy, although the start of their term has been marred by corruption scandals. The
government in 2010 faces the ongoing challenge of improving Indonesia's insufficient infrastructure to remove impediments to
economic growth, while addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation needs, particularly with regard to conserving
Indonesia's forests and peatlands.
Source CIA World Factbook (select Indonesia)
domestic consumption as the driver of economic growth. Although the economy slowed significantly from the 6%-plus growth rate
recorded in 2007 and 2008, expanding at 4% in the first half of 2009, Indonesia outperformed its regional neighbors and joined
China and India as the only G20 members posting growth during the crisis. The government used fiscal stimulus measures and
monetary policy to counter the effects of the crisis and offered cash transfers to poor families; in addition, campaign spending in
advance of legislative and presidential elections in April and July helped buoy consumption. The government made economic
advances under the first administration of President YUDHOYONO, introducing significant reforms in the financial sector, including
tax and customs reforms, the use of Treasury bills, and capital market development and supervision. Indonesia's debt-to-GDP ratio
in recent years has declined steadily because of increasingly robust GDP growth and sound fiscal stewardship. Indonesia still
struggles with poverty and unemployment, inadequate infrastructure, corruption, a complex regulatory environment, and unequal
resource distribution among regions. YUDHOYONO's reelection, with respected economist BOEDIONO as his vice president,
suggests broad continuity of economic policy, although the start of their term has been marred by corruption scandals. The
government in 2010 faces the ongoing challenge of improving Indonesia's insufficient infrastructure to remove impediments to
economic growth, while addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation needs, particularly with regard to conserving
Indonesia's forests and peatlands.
Source CIA World Factbook (select Indonesia)
| POLITICAL CLIMATE |
The DPR, which is the premier legislative institution, originally included 462 members elected through a mixed proportional/district
representational system and thirty-eight appointed members of the armed forces (TNI) and police (POLRI). TNI/POLRI
representation in the DPR and MPR ended in 2004. Societal group representation in the MPR was eliminated in 2004 through
further constitutional change.
Having served as rubberstamp bodies in the past, the DPR and MPR have gained considerable power and are increasingly assertive
in oversight of the executive branch. Under constitutional changes in 2004, the MPR became a bicameral legislature, with the
creation of the Dewan Perwakilan Daerah (DPD), in which each province is represented by four members, although its legislative
powers are more limited than those of the DPR. Through his appointed cabinet, the president retains the authority to conduct the
administration of the government.
A general election in June 1999 produced the first freely elected national, provincial, and regional parliaments in over forty years. In
October 1999 the MPR elected a compromise candidate, Abdurrahman Wahid, as the country's fourth president, and Megawati
Sukarnoputri — a daughter of Sukarno, the country's first president — as the vice president. Megawati's PDI-P party had won the
largest share of the vote (34%) in the general election, while Golkar, the dominant party during the Soeharto era, came in second
(22%). Several other, mostly Islamic parties won shares large enough to be seated in the DPR. Further democratic elections took
place in 2004 and 2009.
Source Wikipedia: Politics of Indonesia
representational system and thirty-eight appointed members of the armed forces (TNI) and police (POLRI). TNI/POLRI
representation in the DPR and MPR ended in 2004. Societal group representation in the MPR was eliminated in 2004 through
further constitutional change.
Having served as rubberstamp bodies in the past, the DPR and MPR have gained considerable power and are increasingly assertive
in oversight of the executive branch. Under constitutional changes in 2004, the MPR became a bicameral legislature, with the
creation of the Dewan Perwakilan Daerah (DPD), in which each province is represented by four members, although its legislative
powers are more limited than those of the DPR. Through his appointed cabinet, the president retains the authority to conduct the
administration of the government.
A general election in June 1999 produced the first freely elected national, provincial, and regional parliaments in over forty years. In
October 1999 the MPR elected a compromise candidate, Abdurrahman Wahid, as the country's fourth president, and Megawati
Sukarnoputri — a daughter of Sukarno, the country's first president — as the vice president. Megawati's PDI-P party had won the
largest share of the vote (34%) in the general election, while Golkar, the dominant party during the Soeharto era, came in second
(22%). Several other, mostly Islamic parties won shares large enough to be seated in the DPR. Further democratic elections took
place in 2004 and 2009.
Source Wikipedia: Politics of Indonesia
| INTERNATIONAL DISPUTES |
Indonesia has a stated foreign policy objective of establishing stable fixed land and maritime boundaries with all of its neighbors;
Timor-Leste-Indonesia Boundary Committee has resolved all but a small portion of the land boundary, but discussions on maritime
boundaries are stalemated over sovereignty of the uninhabited coral island of Pulau Batek/Fatu Sinai in the north and alignment with
Australian claims in the south; many refugees from Timor-Leste who left in 2003 still reside in Indonesia and refuse repatriation; a
1997 treaty between Indonesia and Australia settled some parts of their maritime boundary but outstanding issues remain; ICJ's
award of Sipadan and Ligitan islands to Malaysia in 2002 left the sovereignty of Unarang rock and the maritime boundary in the
Ambalat oil block in the Celebes Sea in dispute; the ICJ decision has prompted Indonesia to assert claims to and to establish a
presence on its smaller outer islands; Indonesia and Singapore continue to work on finalization of their 1973 maritime boundary
agreement by defining unresolved areas north of Indonesia's Batam Island; Indonesian secessionists, squatters, and illegal migrants
create repatriation problems for Papua New Guinea; piracy remains a problem in the Malacca Strait; maritime delimitation talks
continue with Palau; Indonesian groups challenge Australia's claim to Ashmore Reef; Australia has closed parts of the Ashmore and
Cartier Reserve to Indonesian traditional fishing and placed restrictions on certain catches
Timor-Leste-Indonesia Boundary Committee has resolved all but a small portion of the land boundary, but discussions on maritime
boundaries are stalemated over sovereignty of the uninhabited coral island of Pulau Batek/Fatu Sinai in the north and alignment with
Australian claims in the south; many refugees from Timor-Leste who left in 2003 still reside in Indonesia and refuse repatriation; a
1997 treaty between Indonesia and Australia settled some parts of their maritime boundary but outstanding issues remain; ICJ's
award of Sipadan and Ligitan islands to Malaysia in 2002 left the sovereignty of Unarang rock and the maritime boundary in the
Ambalat oil block in the Celebes Sea in dispute; the ICJ decision has prompted Indonesia to assert claims to and to establish a
presence on its smaller outer islands; Indonesia and Singapore continue to work on finalization of their 1973 maritime boundary
agreement by defining unresolved areas north of Indonesia's Batam Island; Indonesian secessionists, squatters, and illegal migrants
create repatriation problems for Papua New Guinea; piracy remains a problem in the Malacca Strait; maritime delimitation talks
continue with Palau; Indonesian groups challenge Australia's claim to Ashmore Reef; Australia has closed parts of the Ashmore and
Cartier Reserve to Indonesian traditional fishing and placed restrictions on certain catches
| REFUGEES AND INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDP) |
IDPs: 200,000-350,000 (government offensives against rebels in Aceh; most IDPs in Aceh, Central Kalimantan, Central Sulawesi
Provinces, and Maluku) (2007)
Provinces, and Maluku) (2007)
| TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS |
None reported.
| HUMAN RIGHTS STATEMENTS, ANALYSIS AND CRITIQUES |
2009 Human Rights Report: Indonesia
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
2009 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
March 11, 2010
Indonesia is a multiparty democracy with a population of approximately 245 million. On July 8, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was
reelected president in generally free and fair elections. April 9 legislative elections were complex, but domestic and international
observers judged them generally free and fair as well. Civilian authorities generally maintained effective control of the security
forces, although the fact that the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) continued to be partly self-financed weakened this control.
The government generally respected the human rights of its citizens and upheld civil liberties. Nonetheless, there were problems
during the year in the following areas:
During the year the country continued to make progress in strengthening and consolidating its democracy. For example, the
Indonesian National Police adopted a use of force policy that strictly proscribes the use of deadly force and allows it to track and
minimize the use of force by police. The government also continued the prosecutions of high-level officials for corruption.
Click here to read more »
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
2009 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
March 11, 2010
Indonesia is a multiparty democracy with a population of approximately 245 million. On July 8, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was
reelected president in generally free and fair elections. April 9 legislative elections were complex, but domestic and international
observers judged them generally free and fair as well. Civilian authorities generally maintained effective control of the security
forces, although the fact that the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) continued to be partly self-financed weakened this control.
The government generally respected the human rights of its citizens and upheld civil liberties. Nonetheless, there were problems
during the year in the following areas:
- killings by security forces; vigilantism;
- harsh prison conditions;
- impunity for prison authorities and some other officials;
- corruption in the judicial system;
- limitations on free speech;
- societal abuse and discrimination against religious groups and interference with freedom of religion,
- sometimes with the complicity of local officials;
- violence and sexual abuse against women and children;
- trafficking in persons;
- child labor;
- failure to enforce labor standards and worker rights.
During the year the country continued to make progress in strengthening and consolidating its democracy. For example, the
Indonesian National Police adopted a use of force policy that strictly proscribes the use of deadly force and allows it to track and
minimize the use of force by police. The government also continued the prosecutions of high-level officials for corruption.
Click here to read more »
2 July 2008
COMMITTEE AGAINST TORTURE
Fortieth session, Geneva, 28 April-16 May 2008
CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS SUBMITTED BY STATES PARTIES UNDER ARTICLE 19 OF THE CONVENTION
Concluding observations of the Committee against Torture
INDONESIA
A. Introduction
2. The Committee welcomes the second periodic report of Indonesia, which, while generally following the Committee’s guidelines
for reporting, lacks statistical data and practical information on the implementation of the provisions of the Convention and relevant
domestic legislation.
B. Positive aspects
4. The Committee welcomes the continuing effort of the State party to strengthen its institutions and legislation to safeguard
universal human rights protection, including the establishment of the Constitutional Court, the National Law Commission, the
Judiciary Commission, the Ombudsman Commission, the Prosecutorial Commission, the Police Commission and the Eradication of
Corruption Commission, pursuant to articles 2 and 10 of Law No. 4/2004 on Judicial Authority.
C. Subjects of concern and recommendations
Widespread torture and ill-treatment and insufficient safeguards during police detention
10. The Committee is deeply concerned about the numerous, ongoing credible and consistent allegations, corroborated by the
Special Rapporteur on torture in his report (A/HRC/7/3/Add.7) and other sources, of routine and widespread use of torture and ill-
treatment of suspects in police custody, especially to extract confessions or information to be used in criminal proceedings
Furthermore, there are insufficient legal safeguards for detainees, including:
(a) Failure to bring detainees promptly before a judge, thus keeping them in prolonged police custody for up to 61 days;
(b) Absence of systematic registration of all detainees, including juveniles, and failure to keep records of all periods of pretrial
detention;
(c) Restricted access to lawyers and independent doctors and failure to notify detainees of their rights at the time of detention,
including their rights to contact family members (arts. 2, 10 and 11).
As a matter of urgency, the State party should take immediate steps to prevent acts of torture and ill-treatment throughout the
country and to announce a zero-tolerance policy on any ill-treatment or torture by State officials.
As part of this, the State party should implement effective measures promptly to ensure that all detained suspects are afforded, in
practice, all fundamental legal safeguards during their detention. These include, in particular, the right to have access to a lawyer
and an independent medical examination, to notify a relative, and to be informed of their rights at the time of detention, including
about the charges laid against them, as well as to appear before a judge within a time limit in accordance with international
standards. The State party should also ensure that all suspects under criminal investigation are registered, especially children.
Click here to read more »
COMMITTEE AGAINST TORTURE
Fortieth session, Geneva, 28 April-16 May 2008
CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS SUBMITTED BY STATES PARTIES UNDER ARTICLE 19 OF THE CONVENTION
Concluding observations of the Committee against Torture
INDONESIA
A. Introduction
2. The Committee welcomes the second periodic report of Indonesia, which, while generally following the Committee’s guidelines
for reporting, lacks statistical data and practical information on the implementation of the provisions of the Convention and relevant
domestic legislation.
B. Positive aspects
4. The Committee welcomes the continuing effort of the State party to strengthen its institutions and legislation to safeguard
universal human rights protection, including the establishment of the Constitutional Court, the National Law Commission, the
Judiciary Commission, the Ombudsman Commission, the Prosecutorial Commission, the Police Commission and the Eradication of
Corruption Commission, pursuant to articles 2 and 10 of Law No. 4/2004 on Judicial Authority.
C. Subjects of concern and recommendations
Widespread torture and ill-treatment and insufficient safeguards during police detention
10. The Committee is deeply concerned about the numerous, ongoing credible and consistent allegations, corroborated by the
Special Rapporteur on torture in his report (A/HRC/7/3/Add.7) and other sources, of routine and widespread use of torture and ill-
treatment of suspects in police custody, especially to extract confessions or information to be used in criminal proceedings
Furthermore, there are insufficient legal safeguards for detainees, including:
(a) Failure to bring detainees promptly before a judge, thus keeping them in prolonged police custody for up to 61 days;
(b) Absence of systematic registration of all detainees, including juveniles, and failure to keep records of all periods of pretrial
detention;
(c) Restricted access to lawyers and independent doctors and failure to notify detainees of their rights at the time of detention,
including their rights to contact family members (arts. 2, 10 and 11).
As a matter of urgency, the State party should take immediate steps to prevent acts of torture and ill-treatment throughout the
country and to announce a zero-tolerance policy on any ill-treatment or torture by State officials.
As part of this, the State party should implement effective measures promptly to ensure that all detained suspects are afforded, in
practice, all fundamental legal safeguards during their detention. These include, in particular, the right to have access to a lawyer
and an independent medical examination, to notify a relative, and to be informed of their rights at the time of detention, including
about the charges laid against them, as well as to appear before a judge within a time limit in accordance with international
standards. The State party should also ensure that all suspects under criminal investigation are registered, especially children.
Click here to read more »
Freedom In The World 2010 Report
Political Rights Score: 2
Civil Liberties Score: 3
Status: Free
Overview
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s (SBY) Democratic Party led legislative elections in April 2009, and Yudhoyono secured a
second term in the July presidential election. Security forces in September killed terrorism suspect Noordin Mohammad Top, the
alleged mastermind of twin suicide bombings that had struck hotels in the capital in July. Separately, the chief of Indonesia’s
anticorruption commission went on trial for murder during the year, and two of his deputies were accused of extortion, but their
case led to the exposure of an apparent conspiracy by police and prosecutors to undermine the commission. The parliament passed
legislation in September that would weaken the authority of the commission and a related anticorruption court. In addition, the
parliament began investigating a controversial bailout of Bank Century in November, which pitted the House of Representatives
against the SBY administration and shrunk his ruling coalition.
The Democratic Party won the April 2009 parliamentary elections, raising its share of seats to 148, from 55 in 2004. Golkar
garnered 106 seats, and the PDI-P took 94. Religious parties generally fared poorly, though the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS),
with its strong anticorruption platform, captured 57 seats. The elections yielded a significant turnover in the parliament’s
membership, with approximately 75 percent of the chamber consisting of new lawmakers. SBY easily secured a second five-year
term in the July presidential election, defeating Megawati and Kalla with 61 percent of the vote in the first round. SBY’s new
running mate, former central bank governor Boediono, became vice president.
Although SBY’s solid electoral victory demonstrated public approval of his economic management and anticorruption efforts, the
latter were undermined during the year as the leadership of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) was implicated in
criminal cases. KPK chairman Antasari Azhar was arrested in May and eventually put on trial for the murder of a businessman; a
verdict had not been reached by year’s end. In October, police arrested two deputy chairmen of the KPK on charges of extortion
and abuse of power, but wiretap recordings that emerged the following month revealed an apparent conspiracy in which officials
within the national police and the attorney general’s office allegedly aimed to frame the two KPK members and discredit the
commission itself. The scandal triggered persistent public protests in favor of the KPK, and in November, the president forced the
resignations of a senior police official and the deputy attorney general. The case against the two deputy chairmen of the KPK was
dropped in December, and both deputies returned to work.
The government’s counterterrorism campaign suffered a setback in July, when bombings at two Jakarta hotels killed nine people
and injured more than 50 others. However, the police killed the suspected mastermind of the bombings, the Malaysian-born Islamist
militant Noordin Mohammad Top, in a September raid. Noordin had been implicated in a number of other bombings since 2003,
and allegedly headed a splinter faction of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), a transnational network of Southeast Asian militants that was
loosely linked to Al-Qaeda.
Click here to read more »
Political Rights Score: 2
Civil Liberties Score: 3
Status: Free
Overview
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s (SBY) Democratic Party led legislative elections in April 2009, and Yudhoyono secured a
second term in the July presidential election. Security forces in September killed terrorism suspect Noordin Mohammad Top, the
alleged mastermind of twin suicide bombings that had struck hotels in the capital in July. Separately, the chief of Indonesia’s
anticorruption commission went on trial for murder during the year, and two of his deputies were accused of extortion, but their
case led to the exposure of an apparent conspiracy by police and prosecutors to undermine the commission. The parliament passed
legislation in September that would weaken the authority of the commission and a related anticorruption court. In addition, the
parliament began investigating a controversial bailout of Bank Century in November, which pitted the House of Representatives
against the SBY administration and shrunk his ruling coalition.
The Democratic Party won the April 2009 parliamentary elections, raising its share of seats to 148, from 55 in 2004. Golkar
garnered 106 seats, and the PDI-P took 94. Religious parties generally fared poorly, though the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS),
with its strong anticorruption platform, captured 57 seats. The elections yielded a significant turnover in the parliament’s
membership, with approximately 75 percent of the chamber consisting of new lawmakers. SBY easily secured a second five-year
term in the July presidential election, defeating Megawati and Kalla with 61 percent of the vote in the first round. SBY’s new
running mate, former central bank governor Boediono, became vice president.
Although SBY’s solid electoral victory demonstrated public approval of his economic management and anticorruption efforts, the
latter were undermined during the year as the leadership of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) was implicated in
criminal cases. KPK chairman Antasari Azhar was arrested in May and eventually put on trial for the murder of a businessman; a
verdict had not been reached by year’s end. In October, police arrested two deputy chairmen of the KPK on charges of extortion
and abuse of power, but wiretap recordings that emerged the following month revealed an apparent conspiracy in which officials
within the national police and the attorney general’s office allegedly aimed to frame the two KPK members and discredit the
commission itself. The scandal triggered persistent public protests in favor of the KPK, and in November, the president forced the
resignations of a senior police official and the deputy attorney general. The case against the two deputy chairmen of the KPK was
dropped in December, and both deputies returned to work.
The government’s counterterrorism campaign suffered a setback in July, when bombings at two Jakarta hotels killed nine people
and injured more than 50 others. However, the police killed the suspected mastermind of the bombings, the Malaysian-born Islamist
militant Noordin Mohammad Top, in a September raid. Noordin had been implicated in a number of other bombings since 2003,
and allegedly headed a splinter faction of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), a transnational network of Southeast Asian militants that was
loosely linked to Al-Qaeda.
Click here to read more »
16 July 2010
URGENT ACTION
PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE DENIED MEDICAL CARE
Indonesian prisoner of conscience Johan Teterissa is in urgent need of medical care. He has been seriously ill for the last two
weeks, apparently as a result of a deterioration in his health after he was tortured and otherwise ill-treated when he was arrested in
June 2007. He has been denied access to the treatment he needs by prison authorities.
Johan Teterissa, a 48-year-old teacher who is held in Lowokwaru prison in the province of East Java, has been in prison since June
2007. He is serving a 15-year sentence for leading a peaceful protest. During his arrest and the first few weeks of his detention, he
was tortured and otherwise ill-treated, including by being beaten and kicked by police officers. Johan Teterissa has not received
adequate medical treatment for his injuries, and is now in constant pain. He reports that he can no longer see properly, and cannot
sleep as a result of the pain he suffers.
According to sources close to the prison where he is held, Johan Teterissa's condition has deteriorated in the last two weeks, and
he now has a high fever. He has not received adequate medical treatment from the prison doctors and the prison authorities have
denied him access to external medical treatment. On 15 July, an independent doctor visited the prison to try to see Johan Teterissa.
He was turned away by the prison authorities.
Johan Teterissa has been held at Lowokwaru prison since March 2009. The prison is thousands of kilometres from his family, who
have been unable to visit him. There are also concerns that he is being denied access to sufficient food and clean drinking water in
prison. Amnesty International has previously reported that Indonesian prisons are often overcrowded, with poor sanitation and a
lack of food. Prison conditions fall short of the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners and the Indonesian
Government Regulation No. 32/1999, on Terms and Procedures on the Implementation of Prisoners’ Rights in Prisons. Amnesty
International believes the denial of medical care to Johan Teterissa may amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
Additional Information
Johan Teterissa and 21 other political activists were arrested on 29 June 2007 in Maluku province for unfurling the 'Benang Raja
flag', a symbol of the South Maluku independence, while performing a traditional ‘Cakalele’ dance in front of Indonesia’s President,
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
After their performance, the police, particularly the anti-terrorist unit Detachment-88, detained all 22 of the dancers. They were
beaten, forced to crawl on their stomachs over hot asphalt, whipped with an electric cable and had billiard balls forced into their
mouths. The police also beat them on the side of the head with rifle butts until their ears bled and fired shots close to their ears. The
police threatened them continually with further torture, sometimes at gunpoint, in an attempt to force them to confess.
Click here to read more »
URGENT ACTION
PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE DENIED MEDICAL CARE
Indonesian prisoner of conscience Johan Teterissa is in urgent need of medical care. He has been seriously ill for the last two
weeks, apparently as a result of a deterioration in his health after he was tortured and otherwise ill-treated when he was arrested in
June 2007. He has been denied access to the treatment he needs by prison authorities.
Johan Teterissa, a 48-year-old teacher who is held in Lowokwaru prison in the province of East Java, has been in prison since June
2007. He is serving a 15-year sentence for leading a peaceful protest. During his arrest and the first few weeks of his detention, he
was tortured and otherwise ill-treated, including by being beaten and kicked by police officers. Johan Teterissa has not received
adequate medical treatment for his injuries, and is now in constant pain. He reports that he can no longer see properly, and cannot
sleep as a result of the pain he suffers.
According to sources close to the prison where he is held, Johan Teterissa's condition has deteriorated in the last two weeks, and
he now has a high fever. He has not received adequate medical treatment from the prison doctors and the prison authorities have
denied him access to external medical treatment. On 15 July, an independent doctor visited the prison to try to see Johan Teterissa.
He was turned away by the prison authorities.
Johan Teterissa has been held at Lowokwaru prison since March 2009. The prison is thousands of kilometres from his family, who
have been unable to visit him. There are also concerns that he is being denied access to sufficient food and clean drinking water in
prison. Amnesty International has previously reported that Indonesian prisons are often overcrowded, with poor sanitation and a
lack of food. Prison conditions fall short of the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners and the Indonesian
Government Regulation No. 32/1999, on Terms and Procedures on the Implementation of Prisoners’ Rights in Prisons. Amnesty
International believes the denial of medical care to Johan Teterissa may amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
Additional Information
Johan Teterissa and 21 other political activists were arrested on 29 June 2007 in Maluku province for unfurling the 'Benang Raja
flag', a symbol of the South Maluku independence, while performing a traditional ‘Cakalele’ dance in front of Indonesia’s President,
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
After their performance, the police, particularly the anti-terrorist unit Detachment-88, detained all 22 of the dancers. They were
beaten, forced to crawl on their stomachs over hot asphalt, whipped with an electric cable and had billiard balls forced into their
mouths. The police also beat them on the side of the head with rifle butts until their ears bled and fired shots close to their ears. The
police threatened them continually with further torture, sometimes at gunpoint, in an attempt to force them to confess.
Click here to read more »
Indonesia: Stop Prosecuting Peaceful Political Expression
EU-Indonesia Human Rights Dialogue Should Take up Cases of Imprisoned Activists
June 22, 2010
(Jakarta) - The Indonesian government should immediately release the more than 100 Papuan and Moluccan activists imprisoned
for peacefully voicing political views, and change laws and policies to protect freedom of expression, Human Rights Watch said in
a report released today. The government should act now to ensure that a European Union-Indonesia dialogue on human rights
scheduled for June 29, 2010, in Jakarta will get off to a successful start, Human Rights Watch said.
The 43-page report, "Prosecuting Political Aspiration: Indonesia's Political Prisoners," is based on more than 50 jailhouse interviews
with political prisoners conducted between December 2008 and May 2010. It describes the arrest and prosecution of activists for
peacefully raising banned symbols, such as the Papuan Morning Star and the South Moluccan RMS flags. The report also details
torture that many say they have suffered in detention, especially by members of the Detachment 88/Anti-Terror Squad in Ambon,
as well as police and prison guards in Papua, and the failure of the government to hold those responsible to account.
"Imprisoning activists for peacefully voicing their political views is an ugly stain on Indonesia's recent improvements in human
rights," said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "It's out of step with Indonesians' growing aspirations as
a democratic and rights-respecting country."
Cases of the 10 most prominent of the prisoners interviewed also uncovered other problems that the authorities need to address,
Human Rights Watch said. These include denial of adequate medical services, the use of long-distance prison transfers from
Ambon to Java to isolate prisoners far from their family and community, and poor prison conditions.
Human Rights Watch urged President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to drop all charges and order the release of all political prisoners,
revoke provisions of the 2007 regulation banning peaceful display of symbols, and take additional steps to enhance the rule of law.
Other concerned governments have important roles to play to monitor the situation of Indonesia's political prisoners, especially
those who have suffered torture and ill-treatment, Human Rights Watch said. The EU should publicly raise their concerns about
these cases and the underlying laws during the human rights dialogue, the first between the EU and Indonesia.
In one case described in the report, Johan Teterisa was sentenced to 15 years in prison for treason for his role in unfurling an RMS
flag in a public dance in the Southern Moluccas on June 29, 2007. Asmara Nababan, a former secretary-general of the National
Commission on Human Rights in Jakarta, said the Ambon judges had failed to consider that Teterisa's actions were non-violent.
Click here to read more »
EU-Indonesia Human Rights Dialogue Should Take up Cases of Imprisoned Activists
June 22, 2010
(Jakarta) - The Indonesian government should immediately release the more than 100 Papuan and Moluccan activists imprisoned
for peacefully voicing political views, and change laws and policies to protect freedom of expression, Human Rights Watch said in
a report released today. The government should act now to ensure that a European Union-Indonesia dialogue on human rights
scheduled for June 29, 2010, in Jakarta will get off to a successful start, Human Rights Watch said.
The 43-page report, "Prosecuting Political Aspiration: Indonesia's Political Prisoners," is based on more than 50 jailhouse interviews
with political prisoners conducted between December 2008 and May 2010. It describes the arrest and prosecution of activists for
peacefully raising banned symbols, such as the Papuan Morning Star and the South Moluccan RMS flags. The report also details
torture that many say they have suffered in detention, especially by members of the Detachment 88/Anti-Terror Squad in Ambon,
as well as police and prison guards in Papua, and the failure of the government to hold those responsible to account.
"Imprisoning activists for peacefully voicing their political views is an ugly stain on Indonesia's recent improvements in human
rights," said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "It's out of step with Indonesians' growing aspirations as
a democratic and rights-respecting country."
Cases of the 10 most prominent of the prisoners interviewed also uncovered other problems that the authorities need to address,
Human Rights Watch said. These include denial of adequate medical services, the use of long-distance prison transfers from
Ambon to Java to isolate prisoners far from their family and community, and poor prison conditions.
Human Rights Watch urged President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to drop all charges and order the release of all political prisoners,
revoke provisions of the 2007 regulation banning peaceful display of symbols, and take additional steps to enhance the rule of law.
Other concerned governments have important roles to play to monitor the situation of Indonesia's political prisoners, especially
those who have suffered torture and ill-treatment, Human Rights Watch said. The EU should publicly raise their concerns about
these cases and the underlying laws during the human rights dialogue, the first between the EU and Indonesia.
In one case described in the report, Johan Teterisa was sentenced to 15 years in prison for treason for his role in unfurling an RMS
flag in a public dance in the Southern Moluccas on June 29, 2007. Asmara Nababan, a former secretary-general of the National
Commission on Human Rights in Jakarta, said the Ambon judges had failed to consider that Teterisa's actions were non-violent.
Click here to read more »
INTERVENTION BY STATE MINISTER FOR WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AND CHILD PROTECTION AT LAUNCHING
CEREMONY OF THE OPERATIONAL PLAN FOR THE UNAIDS ACTION FRAMEWORK ADDRESSING WOMEN,
GIRLS, GENDER EQUALITY AND HIV
NEW YORK, 2 MARCH 2010
Distinguished panelists,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a pleasure for me to join you at this event to launch the UNAIDS Action Framework which addresses the gender dimension of
HIV/AIDS.
While preventing and responding to the spread of the AIDS virus requires both the equal participation of both men and women, but
because of the traditional maternal and expanding role of women in society, there should be a gender centered approach to
HIV/AIDS. Indonesia therefore welcomes the launch of the framework.
Combating HIV/AIDS requires leadership, partnership and most important practical action. And the framework takes into account
all three factors. In Indonesia, we have taken that same approach.
First, because we consider leadership a vital element to prevent and contain HIV/AIDS we have established a multi-stakeholder
National Commission on the Prevention of HIV/AIDS chaired by the Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare. The Commission
has issued a National Strategy and Action Plan on HIV/AIDS Prevention 2010-2014. The strategies cover four areas namely
prevention, care giving and medical treatment, effect mitigation for people with HIV/AIDS and those living with people with
HIV/AIDS, including care givers and conducive environment.
Second, the framework we launched today rightly emphasizes partnerships at all levels among women and women groups living
with HIV/AIDS as well as engaging men and boys to mobilize concrete action. Our National Policies on HIV/AIDS prevention are
designed to be gender-responsive and that people with HIV/AIDS are provided with unlimited access to health service and
information on the support of prevention, care giving and medical treatment. We are taking a comprehensive approach to
combating HIV/AIDS, in which prevention efforts and treatments are focusing on and involving the participation of those regarded
as the key population that includes both men and women sex workers, drug users, and others.
Click here to read more »
CEREMONY OF THE OPERATIONAL PLAN FOR THE UNAIDS ACTION FRAMEWORK ADDRESSING WOMEN,
GIRLS, GENDER EQUALITY AND HIV
NEW YORK, 2 MARCH 2010
Distinguished panelists,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a pleasure for me to join you at this event to launch the UNAIDS Action Framework which addresses the gender dimension of
HIV/AIDS.
While preventing and responding to the spread of the AIDS virus requires both the equal participation of both men and women, but
because of the traditional maternal and expanding role of women in society, there should be a gender centered approach to
HIV/AIDS. Indonesia therefore welcomes the launch of the framework.
Combating HIV/AIDS requires leadership, partnership and most important practical action. And the framework takes into account
all three factors. In Indonesia, we have taken that same approach.
First, because we consider leadership a vital element to prevent and contain HIV/AIDS we have established a multi-stakeholder
National Commission on the Prevention of HIV/AIDS chaired by the Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare. The Commission
has issued a National Strategy and Action Plan on HIV/AIDS Prevention 2010-2014. The strategies cover four areas namely
prevention, care giving and medical treatment, effect mitigation for people with HIV/AIDS and those living with people with
HIV/AIDS, including care givers and conducive environment.
Second, the framework we launched today rightly emphasizes partnerships at all levels among women and women groups living
with HIV/AIDS as well as engaging men and boys to mobilize concrete action. Our National Policies on HIV/AIDS prevention are
designed to be gender-responsive and that people with HIV/AIDS are provided with unlimited access to health service and
information on the support of prevention, care giving and medical treatment. We are taking a comprehensive approach to
combating HIV/AIDS, in which prevention efforts and treatments are focusing on and involving the participation of those regarded
as the key population that includes both men and women sex workers, drug users, and others.
Click here to read more »
TRANSLATED FROM INDONESIAN BY GOOGLE TRANSLATE
Candidate Members of the Ombudsman which nets Mumpuni, Pansel'll Pick Ball
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Selection Committee (Pansel) Candidate Member of the Ombudsman will conduct a variety of breakthrough to get persons qualified
candidates for the Ombudsman, so as to bring the public service watchdog agency is acting optimally.
Said Minister of Administrative Reform and Bureaucratic Reform Candidate Members as Chairman Pansel Ombudsman, EE.
Mangindaan in a press conference after a meeting of prime Pansel, in Jakarta, Monday (5 / 07). "In addition to inscribe certain
institutions related to public services, the Committee will also take the ball shuttle system," he said.
It is said, this Pansel formed by the Presidential Decree Number 28 Year 2009, on Establishment Candidate Selection Committee
Members of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia. Selection Committee has 9 (nine), who chaired the State Minister and
Prof. PAN and RB. Dr. Harkristuti Harkrisnowo as Vice Chairman. The Secretary of the Ministry of PAN and RB Kinanto
affirmation as Secretary and member, and the other members are Prof. Dr. Eko Prasodjo, Prof. Dr. Sofyan Effendi, Dr. Sadli Isra,
Indah Sukmaningsih, MPM, Ir. Bambang Harimurti, and Teten Masduki.
Although the presidential decree was issued eight months ago, but because it requires funding, the implementation of the new
selection process held in July 2010. According to the Minister, the budget of Rp 2.4 billion is unlikely to take the budget already
allocated to other activities, while at the end of the process of proposing the activities to be conducted in 2010 has been finalized.
So for these selection events, by asking through the state budget - Amendment in 2010. "Praise the budget already approved, just
waiting for the numbering of DIPA. However, because the urge to immediately conduct a large Selection of Candidate Members of
the Ombudsman once, we do the meeting the prime now, "said Chairman Pansel.
Explained, the implementation of selection based on Law Number 37 Year 2008 is a candidate member of the first Ombudsman,
with time scheduled for 115 working days. Announcement of registration will be held on 12 to 13 July 2010 by a number of print
and electronic media. Later stages of registration scheduled for 15 working days (July 19 till August 6, 2010).
Pansel will perform administrative selection candidates for the Ombudsman within a period of 10 (ten) working days from the date
of the announcement is over; (9 till August 23, 2010), and subsequently announce a list of candidates to get public feedback;
(August 27, 2010). In this case, the community was asked to provide input to the Pansel, especially about the track record of
candidates can be submitted via mail, email, SMS or directly come to the Ombudsman's Secretariat Pansel prospective members,
within 30 August 2010-4 October 2010.
Click here to read more »
Candidate Members of the Ombudsman which nets Mumpuni, Pansel'll Pick Ball
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Selection Committee (Pansel) Candidate Member of the Ombudsman will conduct a variety of breakthrough to get persons qualified
candidates for the Ombudsman, so as to bring the public service watchdog agency is acting optimally.
Said Minister of Administrative Reform and Bureaucratic Reform Candidate Members as Chairman Pansel Ombudsman, EE.
Mangindaan in a press conference after a meeting of prime Pansel, in Jakarta, Monday (5 / 07). "In addition to inscribe certain
institutions related to public services, the Committee will also take the ball shuttle system," he said.
It is said, this Pansel formed by the Presidential Decree Number 28 Year 2009, on Establishment Candidate Selection Committee
Members of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia. Selection Committee has 9 (nine), who chaired the State Minister and
Prof. PAN and RB. Dr. Harkristuti Harkrisnowo as Vice Chairman. The Secretary of the Ministry of PAN and RB Kinanto
affirmation as Secretary and member, and the other members are Prof. Dr. Eko Prasodjo, Prof. Dr. Sofyan Effendi, Dr. Sadli Isra,
Indah Sukmaningsih, MPM, Ir. Bambang Harimurti, and Teten Masduki.
Although the presidential decree was issued eight months ago, but because it requires funding, the implementation of the new
selection process held in July 2010. According to the Minister, the budget of Rp 2.4 billion is unlikely to take the budget already
allocated to other activities, while at the end of the process of proposing the activities to be conducted in 2010 has been finalized.
So for these selection events, by asking through the state budget - Amendment in 2010. "Praise the budget already approved, just
waiting for the numbering of DIPA. However, because the urge to immediately conduct a large Selection of Candidate Members of
the Ombudsman once, we do the meeting the prime now, "said Chairman Pansel.
Explained, the implementation of selection based on Law Number 37 Year 2008 is a candidate member of the first Ombudsman,
with time scheduled for 115 working days. Announcement of registration will be held on 12 to 13 July 2010 by a number of print
and electronic media. Later stages of registration scheduled for 15 working days (July 19 till August 6, 2010).
Pansel will perform administrative selection candidates for the Ombudsman within a period of 10 (ten) working days from the date
of the announcement is over; (9 till August 23, 2010), and subsequently announce a list of candidates to get public feedback;
(August 27, 2010). In this case, the community was asked to provide input to the Pansel, especially about the track record of
candidates can be submitted via mail, email, SMS or directly come to the Ombudsman's Secretariat Pansel prospective members,
within 30 August 2010-4 October 2010.
Click here to read more »
TRANSLATED FROM INDONESIAN BY GOOGLE TRANSLATE
Human Rights Day to Press Release 61
Submitted by iben on Fri, 25/12/2009
Today, December 10, 2009, even 61 years internationally celebrated the birthday of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
which was declared in Geneva on December 10, 1948. Histroris momentum is then agreed upon internationally as World Human
Rights Day. Knowingly or not, the struggle was the struggle for human rights has rolled out a few tens of years in the constellation
of global human rights. It is a fact, echoes of human rights has not reached fully in realizing global peace. There are so many
threats of conflict and potential violence that human rights violations. This is the big crisis of a civilization that kept a very sad irony.
The struggle for human rights as a paradox that is very worrying indeed is like a unique story, requires to hold digulati. During the
61 years we continue confronted with conflict and violence is never ending. The philosopher Karl Marx once remarked critically
that the repression will continue to happen, anywhere and anytime. And, oppression will continue to be pieces of the history of
civilization that can not be avoided. This fact can not be denied, but efforts to achieve world peace through human rights struggle,
until this moment never ends well. Human rights struggle to stay alive all time!
In the Indonesian context, the World Human Rights Day commemorated each year was also noisy. Various elements of
pro-democracy activities began demonstrations, seminars, campaigns and other peaceful place in most of the major cities in
Indonesia. One important issue that is brought on Human Rights warned that follow-up of cases of enforced disappearances
1997-1998, which until now was still dark.
As is known, the House of Representatives plenary session of September 28, 2009 approved the recommendation of the Special
Committee of enforced disappearances events from 1997 to 1998 period. In the plenary session, the Parliament decided four
recommendations. First, recommend to the President to establish the Court's Ad Hoc Human Rights. Second, to recommend to the
President and all government institutions and relevant parties to immediately perform a search against 13 people by Komnas HAM
are still missing. Third, to recommend to the government to rehabilitate and compensate the families of those lost. Fourth, to
recommend to the government to immediately ratify the Convention Against Forced disappearances as a form of commitment and
support to stop the practice of enforced disappearances in Indonesia.
Ironically, until this moment there are no concrete steps from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) to respond to the
recommendation of the House of Representatives. Though recommendations have been very bright Parliament mandated the
president to act on disappearances of events from 1997 to 1998. However, if the recommendation is only underestimated, then the
relief is not obtained, but even more wounding the victim's family rights. Survivors and the families left behind, of course continue
to await the realization of Parliament's recommendations. Therefore, on this World Human Rights Day, Human Rights Commission
urged the President to immediately issued a decree on the Establishment of the Ad Hoc Human Rights Court.
We encourage issued Presidential Decree on the Ad Hoc Human Rights Court as well as proven commitments and promises during
the last Presidential election campaign. So, what the president needs to establish urgency Ad Hoc Human Rights Tribunal cases of
enforced disappearances?
There are two important points why the Ad Hoc Human Rights Court is to be realized. First, the State Government cq is the most
responsible party to respect, protect and fulfill the rights of its citizens. This is in accordance with the mandate of the people as
stipulated in the constitution of 1945, Law No.39 Year 1999 on Human Rights and Law No.26 Year 2000 concerning Human
Rights Court. Thus justice and human rights law is siding with the people, especially to the victims and their families, a
commitment which is not negotiable.
Second, the Court of Human Rights case of enforced disappearances of 1997-1998 was actually an important point of human
history in this country. Because, since the post-reform era there has been no single case of gross human rights violations brought
to court of human rights. Even more alarming, all cases suspected to contain heavy elements of human rights violations until now
his fate like a 'swallowed by the earth' as Trisakti case, Clover I and II, Wamena Wasior, riots of May, and so forth.
Disclosure of the truth and fulfilling the rights of victims into the estuary is important from a human rights litigation. To get there, it
takes strong leadership commitment in upholding human rights. Because, the President's commitment in the formation of the Ad
Hoc Human Rights Court awaited actually long enough by the victims and their families.
Click here to read more »
Human Rights Day to Press Release 61
Submitted by iben on Fri, 25/12/2009
Today, December 10, 2009, even 61 years internationally celebrated the birthday of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
which was declared in Geneva on December 10, 1948. Histroris momentum is then agreed upon internationally as World Human
Rights Day. Knowingly or not, the struggle was the struggle for human rights has rolled out a few tens of years in the constellation
of global human rights. It is a fact, echoes of human rights has not reached fully in realizing global peace. There are so many
threats of conflict and potential violence that human rights violations. This is the big crisis of a civilization that kept a very sad irony.
The struggle for human rights as a paradox that is very worrying indeed is like a unique story, requires to hold digulati. During the
61 years we continue confronted with conflict and violence is never ending. The philosopher Karl Marx once remarked critically
that the repression will continue to happen, anywhere and anytime. And, oppression will continue to be pieces of the history of
civilization that can not be avoided. This fact can not be denied, but efforts to achieve world peace through human rights struggle,
until this moment never ends well. Human rights struggle to stay alive all time!
In the Indonesian context, the World Human Rights Day commemorated each year was also noisy. Various elements of
pro-democracy activities began demonstrations, seminars, campaigns and other peaceful place in most of the major cities in
Indonesia. One important issue that is brought on Human Rights warned that follow-up of cases of enforced disappearances
1997-1998, which until now was still dark.
As is known, the House of Representatives plenary session of September 28, 2009 approved the recommendation of the Special
Committee of enforced disappearances events from 1997 to 1998 period. In the plenary session, the Parliament decided four
recommendations. First, recommend to the President to establish the Court's Ad Hoc Human Rights. Second, to recommend to the
President and all government institutions and relevant parties to immediately perform a search against 13 people by Komnas HAM
are still missing. Third, to recommend to the government to rehabilitate and compensate the families of those lost. Fourth, to
recommend to the government to immediately ratify the Convention Against Forced disappearances as a form of commitment and
support to stop the practice of enforced disappearances in Indonesia.
Ironically, until this moment there are no concrete steps from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) to respond to the
recommendation of the House of Representatives. Though recommendations have been very bright Parliament mandated the
president to act on disappearances of events from 1997 to 1998. However, if the recommendation is only underestimated, then the
relief is not obtained, but even more wounding the victim's family rights. Survivors and the families left behind, of course continue
to await the realization of Parliament's recommendations. Therefore, on this World Human Rights Day, Human Rights Commission
urged the President to immediately issued a decree on the Establishment of the Ad Hoc Human Rights Court.
We encourage issued Presidential Decree on the Ad Hoc Human Rights Court as well as proven commitments and promises during
the last Presidential election campaign. So, what the president needs to establish urgency Ad Hoc Human Rights Tribunal cases of
enforced disappearances?
There are two important points why the Ad Hoc Human Rights Court is to be realized. First, the State Government cq is the most
responsible party to respect, protect and fulfill the rights of its citizens. This is in accordance with the mandate of the people as
stipulated in the constitution of 1945, Law No.39 Year 1999 on Human Rights and Law No.26 Year 2000 concerning Human
Rights Court. Thus justice and human rights law is siding with the people, especially to the victims and their families, a
commitment which is not negotiable.
Second, the Court of Human Rights case of enforced disappearances of 1997-1998 was actually an important point of human
history in this country. Because, since the post-reform era there has been no single case of gross human rights violations brought
to court of human rights. Even more alarming, all cases suspected to contain heavy elements of human rights violations until now
his fate like a 'swallowed by the earth' as Trisakti case, Clover I and II, Wamena Wasior, riots of May, and so forth.
Disclosure of the truth and fulfilling the rights of victims into the estuary is important from a human rights litigation. To get there, it
takes strong leadership commitment in upholding human rights. Because, the President's commitment in the formation of the Ad
Hoc Human Rights Court awaited actually long enough by the victims and their families.
Click here to read more »
| Click map for larger view |
| Click flag for Country Report |
| ILLICIT DRUGS |
Illicit producer of cannabis largely for domestic use; producer of methamphetamine and ecstasy
