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Indonesia & East Timor Digest

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July 18, 2008

The Australian - July 18, 2008

Paul Toohey – There was never any question that it would tread softly. After all, it was called the Commission for Truth and Friendship, not the commission for truth. It was set up by the leaders of East Timor and Indonesia not merely to rake over the horrors of 1999 but most of all to find a way forward for two neighbours with a history of bad blood.

Melbourne Age - July 18, 2008

Ben Doherty, Jakarta – Former Indonesian president Abdurrahman Wahid, who plans to contest next year's election, has supported the establishment of a war crimes tribunal to try Indonesian military figures accused of inciting violence during East Timor's independence vote in 1999. Mr Wahid said further formal investigation of alleged human rights violations was needed urgently.

Jakarta Post - July 18, 2008

Jakarta – The Indonesian Military (TNI) on Thursday admitted partial responsibility for gross human rights violations in East Timor in 1999, saying it would abide by any government decisions to follow up on a joint truth commission report.

July 17, 2008

The Economist - July 17, 2008

Jakarta – The separatist conflict in Indonesia's Papua region – formerly known as Irian Jaya and once one of the world's great liberal causes – has become relatively quiet in recent years. Small groups of protesters still occasionally gather to wave the Morning Star independence flag and get arrested for it.

Jakarta Post - July 17, 2008

Andreas D. Arditya, Jakarta – The government is reviewing 37 sharia-based local regulations in force in several regions across the country. The 37 bylaws are among a total of 700 bylaws currently under review.

Jakarta Post - July 17, 2008

This Report presents the results of the two and a half years of work by the world's first bilateral Truth and Friendship Commission. It is comprised of nine chapters.

I. Mandate and implementation

Jakarta Post - July 17, 2008

Erwida Maulia, Jakarta – State-owned labor insurance firm PT Jamsostek is set to expand its membership among "high-potential" workers in the informal sector, departing from its traditional focus on formal sector workers.

July 17, 2008

[The following is an interview with Vivi Widyawati, the national coordinator of the Perempuan Mahardhika (Free Women) National Network, and the Indonesian National Front for Labour Struggle-Political Committee of the Poor (FNPBI-PRM). Translated by James Balowski.]

July 16, 2008

Jakarta Post Editorial - July 16, 2008

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was very quick in implementing one of the recommendations of the joint Indonesia-Timor Leste Commission of Truth and Friendship (CTF) – expressing regret.

Agence France Presse - July 16, 2008

New York – UN chief Ban Ki-moon said Tuesday that the early release of a report blaming Indonesia for crimes against humanity in East Timor in 1999 would mark the first step toward achieving justice and reconciliation.

Radio Australia - July 16, 2008

In the same week that a major report on Indonesian military involvement in human rights abuses in East Timor, another former Indonesian military commander has announced his candidacy for next year's presidential election.

Jakarta Post - July 16, 2008

Abdul Khalik, Nusa Dua, Bali – A joint truth commission report has found several high-ranking military officers supported pro-Jakarta militia groups that perpetrated gross human rights violations in East Timor in 1999.

Antara News - July 16, 2008

Andi Abdussalam, Jakarta – The governments of Indonesia and Timor Leste in Bali on Tuesday expressed deep regret over the gross human rights violations committed during and after the referendum that led to the secession of East Timor from Indonesia in September in 1999.

Jakarta Post - July 16, 2008

Andreas D. Arditya, Jakarta – House of Representatives lawmaker Yusuf Emir Faishal admitted Tuesday to receiving money related to a forest conversion in Banyuasin, South Sumatra, but claimed to have given the money to his party.

Reuters - July 16, 2008

Olivia Rondonuwu, Nusa Dua – East Timor Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao is satisfied with Indonesia's expression of regret over violence surrounding Dili's 1999 independence vote and says it is now time to move on.

Jakarta Post - July 16, 2008

Dian Kuswandini, Jakarta – Golkar and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) remain the most popular political parties ahead of next year's national elections, while incumbent President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's popularity has dropped below that of predecessor Megawati Soekarnoputri, according to a new survey.

Jakarta Post - July 16, 2008

Jakarta – Indonesia has low tariffs to encourage trade but fails to provide good bureaucratic procedures and law enforcement, a World Bank report says.

The report, World Trade Indicator 2008, shows that Indonesia has low import tariffs and good trade facilitation, but still scores poorly in providing the necessary supporting conditions for efficient business.

Tempo Interactive - July 16, 2008

Jakarta – The National Commission for Human Rights (Komnas HAM) has said there was a human rights violation when the police arrested students at the National University (Unas) on May 24.

"The police entered the campus without following procedures," said Nur Kholis, a Komnas HAM member who is head of the investigative team for incident at Unas, yesterday (15/7).

Canberra Times - July 16, 2008

Bruce Haigh – The release of a joint Indonesian-East Timor report on Tuesday by the Commission for Truth and Friendship into the causes of the crimes against humanity in the run-up to East Timorese independence in 1999, raises the issue of the culpability of Australia in the crimes committed by Indonesia's military, the Tentara Nasional Indonesia or TNI, and its militia surrogates.

Jakarta Post - July 16, 2008

Jakarta – Greenomics Indonesia, an NGO conducting studies on the environment, says 60.42 percent of forestry companies in Papua and West Papua perform poorly on local community empowerment and investment in sustainable forest development.

Canberra Times - July 16, 2008

Clinton Fernandes – Imagine the reaction if an inquiry assigned responsibility for the Holocaust without mentioning Hitler, and focused only on the last few months of World War II. Yet that is what the Truth and Friendship Commission has tried to do in the case of East Timor.

Melbourne Age Editorial - July 16, 2008

In 2000, the then Indonesian president, Abdurrahman Wahid, performed one of the most difficult acts a nation's leader can perform. He apologised to the victims, both dead and maimed, of his country's violent actions.

Tempo Interactive - July 16, 2008

Reza M., Jakarta – A number of main thoroughfares in the capital city of Jakarta will be enlivened by protest actions this morning, Wednesday July 16. Based on information from the Metro Jaya regional police Traffic Management Centre (TMC), seven demonstrations will be held today – five of which will take place at offices or agencies located on busy roads.

July 15, 2008

West Papua National Coalition for Liberation Press Statement - July 15, 2008

West Papua National Coalition for Liberation expressed alarm over border violation and discretion of border marker in Vanimo, Sandaun Province by the Indonesian Military.

Detik.com - July 15, 2008

Nadhifa Putri, Jakarta – It appears that protest action are again to became a part of the capital's daily routine with one of today's demonstrations being marked by a strike.

According to information released by the Metro Jaya regional police Traffic Management Centre for Tuesday July 15, Jakarta will be enlivened by four demonstrations.

Joint Statement - July 15, 2008

This week the report of the bilateral Commission of Truth and Friendship (CTF) will be handed over to the presidents of Indonesia and Timor-Leste. The report concludes that crimes against humanity took place for which militia groups and the Indonesian military, police and civilian government bear institutional responsibility.

Jakarta Post - July 15, 2008

Dian Kuswandini, Jakarta – Many Indonesians will recall the serial murders of alleged criminals more than 25 years ago as the National Commission on Human Rights this week launches an investigation into the killings.

Jakarta Post - July 15, 2008

Erwida Maulia, Jakarta – While millions of students across the country began the new academic year Monday, many parents were busy dealing with a problem that has yet to be addressed.

The Australian - July 15, 2008

Mark Aarons – When Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Jose Ramos Horta receive the Truth and Friendship Commission's (CTF) report today, the Indonesian President will be hoping that it is the final chapter in this long-running and tragic saga.

Jakarta Post - July 15, 2008

Jakarta – The Attorney General's Office (AGO) said Monday it will return the case file of Maj. Gen. Muchdi Purwopranjono, a suspect in the 2004 murder of human rights activist Munir Said Thalib, to police.

Jakarta Post - July 15, 2008

Meidyatama Suryodiningrat, Jakarta – The casualty list piled into the newsroom like a high-scoring sports box line. Even in Jakarta little imagination was needed to hear the distant screams as gloomy dispatches filled the day.

Sydney Morning Herald - July 15, 2008

Daniel Flitton – The sorry history of violence in East Timor did not begin with the militia rampage following the 1999 independence ballot. For more than two decades after Indonesia's 1975 invasion, the Timorese suffered. Thousands needlessly died.

The Australian - July 15, 2008

Natasha Robinson – A few grainy photographs, a couple of dog-eared letters home, and the contradictory memories of friends. For actor Anthony LaPaglia, piecing together the life of executed Australian journalist Roger East has not been an easy task.

Lusa - July 15, 2008

Denpasar – East Timorese members of the bilateral commission with Indonesia on atrocities committed in 1999 suggested amnesty recommendations for the crimes but were turned down by their Jakarta counterparts, commission officials said Tuesday.

Amnesty International Press Release - July 15, 2008

The governments of Indonesia and Timor-Leste have missed an historic opportunity to provide justice for more than 1,000 people killed during Timor-Leste's vote for independence in 1999, Amnesty International said today.

Radio Australia - July 15, 2008

Geoff Thompson

Mark Colvin: Indonesia has accepted that its own officials, military and police, funded, armed and collaborated with the violent anti-independence militias that ran riot in East Timor eight years ago.

Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has expressed his "deepest remorse" to those who lost their lives and property.

Radio Australia - July 15, 2008

The Commission of Truth and Friendship will formally submit its findings to Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his East Timorese counterpart, Jose Ramos-Horta later today. The 300-page report was prepared by a Commission set up by both governments, to hear evidence of crimes against humanity committed around East Timor's vote for independence in August 1999.

Reuters - July 15, 2008

Olivia Rondonuwu, Nusa Dua – Indonesia and East Timor expressed regret on Tuesday for violence surrounding Dili's 1999 independence vote after a joint probe blamed state institutions for "gross human rights violations."

Agence France Presse - July 15, 2008

Aubrey Belford, Nusa Dua – Indonesia on Tuesday accepted a truth commission report blaming it for gross human rights abuses in East Timor in 1999, amid fresh calls for the perpetrators to face international justice.

Melbourne Age - July 15, 2008

Mark Forbes, Denpasar – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will reject a recommendation he apologise for Indonesia instigating gross human rights abuses during East Timor's 1999 independence vote, instead expressing regret, according to his Defence Minister, Juwono Sudarsono.

Jakarta Post - July 15, 2008

Yemris Fointuna and Abdul Khalik, Kupang, Jakarta – Former pro-integration militias have rejected a truth commission report that blames them and the Indonesian government for gross human rights violations during the 1999 carnage in East Timor.

July 14, 2008

Jakarta Post - July 14, 2008

Nethy Darma Somba and Angela Flassy, Jayapura – At least 16 have died of HIV/AIDS in Puncak Jaya regency, in Papua, and millions more are at risk in the country with the world's highest rate of spread of the disease.

The disease has spread to the country's coastal regencies, including Jayapura, Sorong, Mimika and Merauke.

East Timor and Indonesia Action Network - July 14, 2008

International tribunal needed in wake of commission of Truth and Friendship report

Jakarta Post - July 14, 2008

Hanan Nugroho, Jakarta – While domestic demand for oil is escalating uncontrollably (12 percent for gasoline and 15 percent for diesel fuel in 2007) and domestic oil production has been on a continuous slide for the last 13 years, it is sad to find that oil prices are skyrocketing and our energy infrastructure is deteriorating. What will happen next?

Australian Associated Press - July 14, 2008

A former militia leader who claims the Indonesian military drugged him and gave him weapons to kill independence supporters in East Timor says the generals responsible must be held to account.

Koran Kaltim - July 14, 2008

Samarinda – Hundreds of workers from the East Kalimantan National Liberation Front (FPN) in the provincial city of Samarinda plan to take to the streets again to day, Monday July 14, to demand that the regional minimum wage be raised to 1.3 million rupiah per month. They will also be demanding that the government reduce the price of basic commodities (sembako) and fuel.

James Dunn - July 14, 2008

This week we are facing two challenging humanitarian issues, the situation in Zimbabwe and the findings of the Indonesia-East Timor Truth and Friendship Commission.

From Australia's point of view the Zimbabwe problem is an urgent human rights issue, one that has stirred the passions of most of us. The reality, however, is that we can't do much to influence the outcome.

July 13, 2008

Indonesia Human Rights Committee Media Release - July 13, 2008

The Australian media (Sydney Morning Herald July 11, 2008) has obtained leaked copies of the report of the joint Indonesia and Timor-Leste Commission for Truth and Reconciliation. Surprisingly, the Commission has come up with a report that lays the major blame for the 1999 bloodshed in Timor-Leste at the feet of Indonesian military, police and government officials.

Australian Associated Press - July 13, 2008

Stephanie March, Dili – East Timor's President Jose Ramos Horta is pushing for new laws to grant amnesty to perpetrators of the violence that wracked the tiny nation in 2006.

July 12, 2008

Sydney Morning Herald - July 12, 2008

Hamish McDonald, Asia-Pacific editor – The emails still keep coming from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, several times a day, attached with transcripts of what the minister said at this or that "doorstep" and notifying where the minister might be ambushed for the next one.