GLOBALIZATION, DEEPENING POLITICAL DIVIDE BRING TEST FOR PANCASILA by Fardah

 

The prolonged COVID-19 pandemic has once again forced the Indonesian people to commemorate Pancasila Day virtually.

 

Wearing the traditional attire of South Kalimantan, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) led the commemoration ceremony, held in a "hybrid" manner, from the Bogor Presidential Palace, while high-ranking officials gathered in the yard of the Pancasila Building inside the Foreign Ministry compound in Jakarta, or joined in the celebrations from their offices.

 

Those who participated in the ceremony included chairman of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), Bambang Soesatyo, who read out the Pancasila text, and chief of the House of Representatives (DPR), Puan Maharani, who read out the preamble to the 1945 Constitution (UUD1945).

 

The Indonesian people have been commemorating the birth of the Pancasila ideology since 2017, following the signing of Presidential Decree no. 24 of 2016 by the President, who also declared  June 1 as a national holiday.

 

The Pancasila (Five Principles), which reflect the Indonesian state’s philosophy, were first articulated on June 1, 1945, in a speech delivered by Sukarno before the preparatory committee for Indonesia’s independence, sponsored by the Japanese colonizers.

 

Sukarno had argued that the future Indonesian state should be based on Five Principles: Indonesian nationalism; internationalism, or humanism; consent, or democracy; social prosperity; and, belief in one God. Indonesia proclaimed its independence on August 17, 1945, and Sukarno went on to become its first president.

 

Following a consensus among Indonesia’s founding fathers, the Pancasila, in a slightly altered order and amended wording, was enshrined in the 1945 Constitution, passed on August 18, 1945. The doctrine now envisaged belief in one God, a just and civilized humanity, Indonesian unity, democracy under the wise guidance of representative consultations, and social justice for all the people of Indonesia.

 

Indonesia contemplates on revising controversial Internet law by Fardah

 Jakarta, Feb 25, 2021 (ANTARA) - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) hinted at a likely revision to the country’s Internet law -- Law No 11 of 2008 on Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) -- especially to correct articles open to multiple interpretations.

“If its implementation leads to injustice, the law needs to be revised,” Jokowi had tweeted on Feb 15, 2021.

The ITE law essentially regulates the exchange of information and other electronic transactions. It enunciates what is banned on the internet. However, some critics view that its defamation article had been misused to criminalize certain parties, thereby not boding well with the freedom of expression.

In fact, the Jokowi administration and House of Representatives (DPR) had revised the ITE law in 2016, with the objective of correcting the law’s multi-interpretative articles.

However, Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR) and Legal Aid Center for the Press (LBH Pers), in its statement posted on its website (icjr.or.id) on October 28, 2016, echoed its concern over the “half-hearted” directional change of the amended ITE Law.

“From the start, the government has not shown much interest to the enforcement of the ITE law, specifically related to the freedom of expression. Changes made to the ITE Law are only legitimizing the interests of the government to curb the critical attitude of Indonesian society by adding new government powers. Mostly, all amendments add new powers to the government,” the ICJR noted in the statement.

Lately, the ITE law again drew a great deal of attention, especially following the death of a 29-year-old popular Muslim preacher, Ustadz Maaher, who died in a police prison on Feb 8, 2021, while placed in detention since December 4, 2020, over a hate speech case that violated the ITE law.

The outspoken preacher had reportedly filed a request of suspension of his detention owing to his illness and extended his apology over what he wrote on his Twitter account. However, his request was declined.

A similar incident took place on June 10, 2018, when Muhammad Yusuf, 42, a journalist at a local news site, Kemajuan Rakyat, died in a prison after being arrested for five weeks and placed in a Jakarta police prison and later moved to a South Kalimantan prison.

Yusuf was charged with defamation and hate speech for his article on a land conflict between a major palm oil plantation company and local residents of Pulau Laut, South Kalimantan Province. His article was perceived as being provocative and defaming the company.

In 2019, Ahmad Dhani, a famous rock musician and an outspoken opposition figure, was sentenced to a year’s imprisonment after being charged over a hate speech in line with the ITE law.

In fact, during the period between 2016 and 2020, 786 law-related cases were reported, with 88 percent of those charged being placed behind bars, Damar Juniarto of the digital advocacy group, the Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet), stated.

GERINDRA, PKS EXPECTED TO REMAIN EFFECTIVE, QUALITY OPPOSITION

Sabtu, 6 Jul 2019 21:22

Daerah : Jakarta

By Fardah

Jakarta, 6/7 (Antara) - The 2019 presidential election held simultaneously with legislative elections on April 17, 2019, across Indonesia was a long and tiring process with a campaign lasting more than six months, leading to a deeply divided nation.

The elections were considered the world's biggest and most complex single-day vote on April 17, 2019, where 192 million people queued up at some 810 thousand polling stations, resulting in unexpected deaths of some 700 polling officers, mostly after working for two days at a stretch after serving voters on polling day.

The 2019 race was a replay of the contentious 2014 presidential election that exposed the nation's divide, as Joko Widodo (Jokowi) faced retired general Prabowo Subianto.

The General Elections Commission (KPU) announced the final results on May 22, 2019, at 1:28 a.m., declaring that the Jokowi-Maruf Amin pair had secured 85 million votes, or 55.5 percent of the national vote, as compared to contenders Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno who received 68 million votes, or 44.5 percent.

The Jokowi-Amin pair declared victory, while the Prabowo-Sandiaga pair rejected the KPU's official tabulation result and challenged it in the Constitutional Court (MK).

MK's nine judges announced their final ruling session on June 27, 2019, by rejecting in totality the Prabowo-Sandiaga pair's petition.

President-elect Jokowi and Vice President-elect Ma'ruf Amin will soon form a new cabinet for the 2019-2024 period, according to Arsul Sani, deputy chairman of TKN, Jokowis national campaign team.

GOLKAR REMAINS COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING JOKOWI by Fardah

Jakarta, Dec 22, 2017 (Antara) - In its extraordinary national congress on Dec 20, 2017, the Golkar Party unanimously appointed Airlangga Hartarto, Industry Minister, as its new general chairman to replace Setya Novanto, who has resigned although his term will end only in 2019.       
    The congress has decided that Hartarto will hold the top post until 2019. His term could be extended during a national leadership meeting.

         The extraordinary congress was held because Novanto is a suspect in a corruption case and is being detained in the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)'s prison cell.

         In the congress, Golkar also reaffirmed the party's commitment to supporting the current administration of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), who is from the Indonesian Democratic Party for Struggle (PDIP), a stance that has been upheld since the chairmanship of Novanto.

         Jokowi will contest the 2019 presidential election for his second term in office.  
    Golkar Party's re-declaration of support to Jokowi, as a presidential candidate in the 2019 election, is important to demonstrate Golkar's commitment to supporting Jokowi's government and his candidacy in the 2019 presidential election.

         "Despite a change in leadership in the Golkar Party, the commitment to support President Jokowi's government for two terms has not changed," Hartarto emphasized.

         The party's provincial and district or municipality chapters, as well as its 10 mass organizations, support Jokowi, Hartarto stated recently.

         Denying any frictions in the party, Hartarto remarked that it is a regular practice for senior politicians of Golkar to have their "own cadres," but the party stands united in lending support to President Jokowi.  

INDONESIA SEEKS TO ENSURE SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF DEMOCRACY THROUGH BDF by Fardah

Jakarta, Dec 7 , 2017 (Antara) - The Bali Democracy Forum (BDF), initiated by Indonesia in 2008, is an annual, inclusive, and open intergovernmental forum on the development of democracy in the Asia Pacific region.

        BDF is aimed to promote and foster regional and international cooperation in the field of peace and democracy through dialogue based on sharing experiences and best practices that adhere to the principle of equality, mutual respect and understanding, with the participating countries sharing its ownership.

        Indonesia believes that democracy is a key element in the promotion of peace and stability in the region. Many nations in the region accept that universality of democratic values, such as respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and a shared adherence to these values, should help consolidate peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

         After a decade of the forum's existence, Indonesia has chosen "Does Democracy Deliver?" as the theme of the 10th BDF held in Serpong, Banten, on Dec 7 and 8, 2017, in order to find out whether democracy has been successfully implemented.

         BDF is usually held in Indonesia's famous resort island of Bali, but the current forum has been moved to Banten Province, because of the ongoing eruptions of Mount Agung, which forced temporary closure of I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar last week.

         Indonesian Vice President M. Jusuf Kalla officially opened the 10th BDF, in which 103 delegations from 96 countries and seven international organizations are participating, on Dec 7.  
  Among the participants are Nauru President Baron Divavesi Waqa, 14 ministers, and 11 deputy ministers, while the rest include director generals and other senior officials.

MODERATE ISLAM PRACTICED IN INDONESIA STRENGTHENS DEMOCRACY by Fardah

Jakarta, May 27, 2017 (Antara) - As leaders of the world's most populous Muslim country, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and Vice President M. Jusuf Kalla were recently invited to speak at separate international meetings on Islam.

        The head of state attended an Arab Islamic American Summit organized by the Saudi Arabian Government in Riyadh on May 20, while the vice president delivered a general lecture themed "Islam Middle Path: Indonesia's Experience" at the Oxford Center for Islamic Studies of Oxford University in Oxford City, England, on May 18.

         The Riyadh Summit was also attended by leaders from Muslim-majority countries, Saudi Arabian King Salman Abdulaziz Al-Saud, and US President Donald Trump to outline new commitments to combating global terrorism.

         While speaking for five minutes before the Saudi King and other leaders, Jokowi urged western nations, including the US, to not associate Islam with terrorism.

         Indonesia is optimistic of decoupling the image of Islam from terrorism to counter Islamophobia in the West.    
    Jokowi believed that the summit held significance in terms of spreading the message of partnership between Islamic countries and the US as well as eliminating the perception that the US views Islam as an enemy.

BALI DEMOCRACY FORUM CALLS FOR SYNERGY OF RELIGIONS, TOLERANCE AND DEMOCRACY by Fardah

Jakarta, Dec 10, 2016 (Antara) - The Bali Democracy Forum, attended by over 200 delegates from 96 countries and five international organizations, has called for a synergy of religions, tolerance and democracy during the two-day meeting that took place in Nusa Dua, Bali, some 20 days before the year 2016 ends.
         The theme of this year's forum is "Religion, Democracy and Tolerance," which is highly relevant due to the current global situation witnessing an increase in narrow understanding of religions.
         "Tolerance is needed because we are diverse," President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said in his opening remarks on Dec 8.
         Religion plays a crucial role in people's lives in terms of their social, economic and political existence on a national, regional and global scale, he stated.
         He said Islam came to Indonesia first in the 7th century with a peaceful spirit, which Indonesian Muslims have continued to foster until now.
         "Beside Muslims, Indonesia is also home for Christians, Hindus, Buddhists and Confucians," he said, emphasizing the importance of tolerance and pluralism.
         "There are more than 1,300 ethnic groups in Indonesia. Indonesia is the world's largest Muslim nation. Muslims make up 85 percent of the population of 252 million," Jokowi noted.
         The Indonesian Government has been active in encouraging synergy between democracy, religion, and tolerance, to promote harmony among Indonesian citizens. 
    The head of state said it is crucial to make sure that democracy works well, supports stability and peace, and brings prosperity to the public.

JAKARTA'S "212" MASS FRIDAY PRAYER FOR NATIONAL UNITY by Fardah

Jakarta, Dec 5, 2016 (Antara) - A mass Friday prayer held in downtown  Jakarta on December 2, 2016 was a historic event for the Muslims of Indonesia as it was believed to be the largest ever Friday prayer held on the streets with several million people attending.

        Muslim men and women who participated in the prayer came not only from Jakarta but also from other provinces throughout Indonesia. No flags of political parties or banners of any gubernatorial candidates were seen during the mass prayers. Several non-Muslim sympathizers, including those of Chinese descent, were also present.

        Most of the audience came on its own, bearing their own expenses, and many of them claimed they were moved to join the prayer because of their love for Islam and in particular for its Holy Book, Al Quran, and for maintaining the unity and diversity of Indonesia.

        Even the organizer of the mass Friday prayer, the National Movement of Guardians of the Indonesian Ulema Council's Fatwa (GNPF-MUI) did not make any claim that bringing together so many people was in any way their success.

        The GNPF-MUI leaders believed that no figure or party or organization could have mobilized such big numbers. The crowd turned up because of an appeal to their conscience.

        No one could have the exact count of audience's numbers but the GPMUI estimated it to be around 7.5 million. Different media, however, came out with different estimations, varying from hundreds of thousands, one million, two million, or even three million.

GOLKAR PARTY READY TO SUPPORT GOVERNMENT, APPOINT NEW LEADER by Fardah

Jakarta, Jan 28, 2016 (Antara) - The Golkar Party is entering a new chapter after its Chairman, Aburizal Bakrie, hinted that he plans to step down, and gave a green light for the party to support the current government.

        The Golkar Party, under the Chairmanship of Aburizal, is Indonesia's second-largest party leading the majority Red-and-White Coalition (KMP), a rival of the Great Indonesia Coalition supporting the current government.    
   When it marked 50 years in the country's politics on October 28, 2014, the Golkar Party wanted to create history by deciding to remain outside the executive branch.

        Over the last half a century, Golkar has always been either the top party or has come in second in the general elections, thus either always in command, or ruling as part of a coalition within the executive.

        "Now, for the first time, Golkar is outside the government. I think this is a new role for Golkar, which will act as a check and balancing force during the tenure of the Jokowi-Jusuf Kalla administration," Aburizal said during the Golden Jubilee celebration over a year ago.

JAKARTA GOVERNOR AMENDS REGULATION ON RALLIES FOLLOWING NGO PROTESTS by Fardah

    Jakarta, Nov 12, 2015 (Antara) - Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) has amended a gubernatorial regulation of 2015 governing freedom of expression in public following protests by some NGOs.

   Some of the NGOs that had protested were Kontras, Aji and an NGO coalition called PRJ (the Association of Jakarta Inhabitants).   
   The revision is meant to accommodate democracy in the capital city, Ahok said while announcing the revision in Jakarta on Nov. 11.

   On October 28, the Jakarta Governor had signed the regulation as he wanted protesters to behave in a more orderly manner.

   The Gubernatorial Regulation No. 228 of 2015 stipulates that protesters will be allowed to stage protests at just three venues: Senayan's Eastern Parking Area in the Bung Karno Sports Complex in Senayan, the Alun Alun Demokrasi (democracy plaza) located at the House of Representatives (DPR) complex, and at the Southern Cross located at the National Monument (Monas) Park in Central Jakarta.  
   The regulation also ruled that protests should be conducted at the three venues decided by the governor, between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. local time, and that the noise levels of the sound systems should not exceed 60 decibels.

PANEL TO DEAL WITH RADICAL WEBSITES by Fardah

 Jakarta, April 3, 2015 (Antara) - The Ministry of Communication and Informatics has finally agreed to set up a panel to deal with websites allegedly promoting radicalism, pornography, and interfaith hatred, following a controversy over the blocking of radical websites.

        On March 29, 2015, the ministry blocked at least 19 websites, at the request of the National Counter-terrorism Agency (BNPT) in its letter number 149/K.BNPT/3/2015, stating that the online media sites promoted radical ideologies and were sympathizers of radicalism.

        "We asked Internet service providers to block the websites this morning at the request of the BNPT. The agency analyzed the sites and found them spreading radicalism. So, we blocked them after we were asked to," a spokesman for the ministry, Ismail Cawidu, said on March 30, 2015.

JOKOWI UNDER PRESSURE TO APPOINT UNTAINTED POLICE CHIEF by Fardah

Jakarta, Feb 5, 2015  (Antara) - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has the prerogative right to appoint a national police chief of his choice, but it becomes a polemic when his candidate is not favored by the public.

        On January 12, 2015, the head of state announced the nomination of Commissioner General Budi Gunawan as the sole police chief candidate.

        On the next day, however, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named Budi Gunawan a suspect in an alleged corruption case. 
    Budi Gunawan had allegedly committed corruption when he was the head of the Bureau of Career Development at the Police Headquarters during the 2003-2006 period, KPK Chairman Abraham Samad stated.          
    Gunawan, who had served as a security aide to PDI-P chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri during her 2001-2004 presidential term, was one of the several police generals reported to have a suspiciously large bank account in 2010, but after internal investigations, the police said there was nothing illegal about the account.

DPR REINSTATES PUBLIC'S DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS IN REGIONAL HEAD ELECTIONS by Fardah

 Jakarta, Jan 23, 2015 (Antara) - The Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) has finally agreed to place the reins of democracy in the hands of the public by allowing them to once again elect regional heads directly in the local elections.

          Two government regulations in lieu of Law (Perppu) Number 1 of 2014 on regional head elections and Perppu Number 2 of 2014 on regional governments were passed into laws by the DPR during a plenary meeting held on Jan. 20, 2015.

          The two Perppus were introduced by former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono just before his term ended in October 2014, to annul Law Number 22 of 2014 on the election of provincial governors, district heads, and city mayors by the regional legislative assemblies rather than directly by the public.

Year-ender: INDONESIA TO HOLD SIMULTANEOUS REGIONAL HEAD ELECTIONS IN EARLY 2016 By Fardah

     Jakarta, Dec 31 (Antara) -- Despite complaints regarding alleged irregularities and money politics in some regions, 2014 was a year of democracy for Indonesia with peacefully organized legislative elections in April followed by the presidential election in July.

         The parliamentary elections was the largest and most complicated single-day poll in the world, with more than 185.8 million voters spread across thousands of islands registered to vote in over than 545 thousand polling stations
    Three months later, Indonesia, the world's third largest democracy following India and the United States, held a presidential election, which turned out to be its first ever head-to-head presidential race that showed a countrywide divide.

      With the nation having successfully elected new legislators and its president, another major series of elections is now in the offing---the simultaneous elections of regional heads (pilkada) such as governors, district heads and mayors in more than 300 districts/cities and eight provinces throughout Indonesia.

JUSTICE MINISTER EXPECTED TO BE FAIR IN GOLKAR CASE By Fardah

     Jakarta, Dec 9, 2014 (Antara) - As the Golkar Party's two rival camps seek legitimacy from the government, experts have cautioned Justice and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly not to repeat his past "mistake" involving the United Development Party (PPP).

         The PPP had split into two camps following two separate leadership congresses in October 2014. Two chairmen were elected: Djan Faridz at the Jakarta Congress and Romahurmuziy at the Surabaya Congress.

         While one of the camps took the dispute to the State Administrative Court (PTUN), Justice and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly went ahead and issued a decree recognizing Rohmahurmuziy's PPP.

JOKOWI FINALLY ALLOWS MINISTERS TO ATTEND MEETINGS WITH PARLIAMENT by Fardah

      Jakarta, Nov 26,2014 (Antara) - The House of Representatives (DPR) was recently "shocked" by Cabinet Secretary Andi Widjajanto's letter containing President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's instruction to ministers and other high ranking officials to skip all meetings with lawmakers before the Parliament resolves its internal problems.

         In the letter No.SE-12/Seskab/XII/2014 and dated Nov. 4, 2014,  all ministers,  the Indonesian Military (TNI) commander, the head of the National Police, the TNI chiefs of staff, the head of the National Intelligence Agency (BIN) and the attorney general, were asked to abstain from responding to any invitation by the DPR to have a hearing or working meeting with them.

News Focus - AT 50, GOLKAR DETERMINED TO ACT AS CHECK AND BALANCING FORCE by Fardah

Jakarta, Oct 30, 2014  (Antara) - For the first time in its 50-year-long history, the Golkar Party has decided to remain away from executive power that it always held and instead act as a check and balance force in the House of Representatives (DPR).

         Addressing a gathering to mark the Golkar's Golden Jubilee on Oct. 28, 2014, its chairman, Aburizal Bakrie, said that a healthy democracy demanded a system of checks and balances, and Golkar (Working Group), as a loyal, honest and best friend of the executive, is ready to ensure that the country has a dynamic and accountable parliament.

INDONESIA NEEDS A SOLID SYSTEM OF CHECKS AND BALANCES by Fardah

    Jakarta, Oct 22, 2014 (Antara) -- General elections in Indonesia this year have led to an entirely new political scenario in the country.

         This year, we have a PDIP-led executive power and an opposition-dominated legislature, while usually the political party that emerges victorious in the elections dominates both the executive and legislative segments.

         The executive power is headed by entrepreneur-turned politician Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, who was supported by the Great Indonesia coalition (KIH). Led by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), the coalition also comprises the National Awakening Party (PKB), the NasDem Party and the Hanura Party.

PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION REFLECTS INDONESIA'S IMAGE by Fardah

    Jakarta, Oct 20, 2014 (Antara) - October 20, 2014 is the day that has been waiting for by millions of Indonesians to witness the inauguration of its seventh president, entrepreneur-turned-politician Joko "Jokowi" Widodo.

          A cadre of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), Jokowi, 53, was mayor of Central Java's town of Solo, from 2005 to 2012. He won the Jakarta gubernatorial election in 2012. And after two years as Jakarta's governor, in July 2014 he decided to run for presidency.

          Jokowi is the second president elected in direct presidential election. He and his running mate M Jusuf Kalla won 53.15 percent of the total votes in the presidential election held on July 9, 2014, while their rivals, Prabowo Subianto and his partner Hatta Rajasa secured 46.85 percent.

INDONESIA MOVES TOWARDS MATURE DEMOCRACY by Fardah

   Jakarta, Oct 18, 2014 (Antara) - After all the noise and tension during the general election held earlier this year, the entire nation has come out as the winner, for the country is going to have a new President and opposition-dominated Parliament.

         Further, these opposing groups have pledged to work together for the public's welfare.

         No one was a "loser" in the general elections, as Joko "Jokowi" Widodo and the political parties supporting him, The Great Indonesia Coalition (KIH),  are going to hold the executive power,  while his political rival, Prabowo Subianto and his supporters - The Red and White Coalition (KMP) - have dominated leadership in the Parliament, or the House of Representatives (DPR), as well as the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR).