HEADLINE NEWS

reedom of religion mes one of the est issue happened in nesia during February . INFID stated that adiyah case that ened in Cikeusik as government failure to ect citizens right to dom of religion and

Report on Mob Attack to be Sent to UN

VIVANews, February 7, 2011 INFID expects the UN will deploy its special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief. A handful of NGOs in Indonesia will bring the case of mob attack against Ahmadiyah members in Cikeusik, Pandeglang, Banten, to the United Nations Human Rights Council. "The Human Rights Council will hold an assembly between Feb 28 and March 25 in which a special session on torture as well as religious and faith freedom," Programmes Manager of the International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development (INFID) , Wahyu Susilo, told VIVAnews in Jakarta today, Feb 7. The NGOs will urge the UN Human Rights Council to warn the Indonesian government on countless cases of tortures and attacks against freedom of religion and belief. "Indonesia claims it has recorded best practices in religious tolerance," said Wahyu. In addition, INFID expects the UN will deploy its special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief. He went on to say acts of violence against members of Ahmadiyah have been noted by the International NGOs such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. Source INFID Statement on Ahmadiyah Attack State Neglect Over Acts of Violence Against Ahmadiyah Sect Members: State Fails to Protect Citizens Rights to Freedom of Religion and Belief

s achievement for all ets in 2015 is really to be achieved and mplished in time. y conditions, such as rty, malnutrition, ernal health, women owerment, and water sanitation, have no ficant progress for the evement. Beside, nesia faces foreign problem and it is hard ndonesia to get off

tion of freedom of on and belief on adiyah case will be the line news in this SNO uary edition. Moreover, e are news about s achievement in nesia and many other s related to situation in

e a nice reading!

INDONESIA UP DATE

Cikeusik incident was planned, organized: rights commission

ANTARA News/ February 23, 2011 - Temporary findings from National Commission for Human Rights (Komnas HAM) showed the recent sectarian violence which happened in Cikeusik subdistrict, Banten province, was planned and organized by certain people. Based on investigation in the location, there was an indication that police`s intelligence data was weak and that the attack was done by outsiders, not by locals. Komnas HAM would also investigate whether on-duty security personnel at the time had actively tried to secure the situation or not. A series of attacks on Ahmadiyah religious sect followers and their properties have occurred in some parts of Indonesia over the past two years. "The root cause of the recent Cikeusik incident was first of all triggered by the society members` dissatisfaction with the government`s weak stance on the Ahmadiyah problem," (the Indonesian Council of Ulemas) MUI`s Chairman Sahal Mahfudh said. Full Text

UN Convention Ratification is Delayed for Seven Years

Kompas/ February 2, 2011 Group of activists which concern on migrant worker issue urged the governmeny to ratify convention about Migrant Workers that has been delayed for seven years. Vice Executive Director of Human Rights Working Group (HRWG) Choirul Anam said that he welcomed Indonesian Minister of Manpower and Transmigrations plan to ratify 1990 UN Convention, which gives protection for migrant workers and their families. Up till now, the government delays ratification and argued that it will make many migrant workers come to Indonesia. But, the more migrant workers come to Indonesia means our economy is better, doesnt it? said Choirul Anam. Another government excuse is, as a migrant workers sender Indonesia doesnt need to ratify 1990 UN Convention. But actually the case is if the government ratify this convention, our contry will get stronger bargaining position rather than other countries that become migrant-receiving countries. In Indonesia, the government always in an unprofitable position when bargain and discuss with receiving countries like Malaysia.

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Govt earmarks Rp218 billion for migrant workers repatriation

ANTARA News/ February 24, 2011 - The government is to allocate Rp129 billion on funds for the repatriation of troubled migrant workers from Saudi Arabia this year, an official said here Thursday. The National Agency for the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (BNP2TKI) chief Mohamad Jumhur Hidayat said that the troubled migrant workers repatriation will be done in a few stages with this year`s available budget. The government conducted three repatriation stages of overstayer Indonesian migrant workers in Jeddah Saudi Arabia after violating their residence permit, the series started from Monday (Feb 14), Friday (Feb 18) and Thursday (Feb 24). On the first repatriation stage, there were 301 Indonesian over stayer citizens who lived under the Khandara Bridge, Jeddah consisting of 234 women, 27 kids, and 40 infants. The second repatriation stage was conducted to repatriate 335 Indonesian over stayers consisting of 302 female, 15 children, and 19 infants. The third repatriation stage managed to send home some 350 Indonesian, consisting of 286 female, 21 children and 43 infants. Full Text

RI expects G20 fund pooling for food

The Jakarta Post/ February 17, 2011 - Indonesia will ask G20 member countries to push efforts in eliminating food price speculators and expects the forum to pool funds to increase food productivity amid soaring food prices in the world and at home, a top official says. Ahead of the G20 finance ministers and central bank governors meeting in Paris on Friday and Saturday, Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo said on Wednesday that Indonesia would address the importance for the major economies to focus on food concerns, especially on prices and productivity, in an attempt to secure the peoples needs and, at the same time, tame inflation. G20, which affects the worlds economy, should tell global financial and nonfinancial industries not to speculate on food and commodities, Agus said. So at the G20 level, for the long-term, we want the countries to pool funds in one specific fund to increase food productivity, but for the short-term, we must deliver the message to financial and non-financial industries which speculate on food

prices, as well as future trading industries, so they do not destabilize prices, he added. Full Text

Development
SBYs Development Program: Good on paper but not in fact
INILAH.COM/ February 1, 2011 - The success indicator of Indonesian development

on paper is so surprisingly good. But, in fact, social welfare that should be the main objective of development is still far to be achieved. Education, health, and infrastructure budget are increasing sharply in every national budget. Poverty and unemployment rate are claimed decreasing drastically. Less foreign debt compared with great economic growth. Development jargon addressed by SBY rezim, which are Pro-Growth, Pro-Job, Pro-Poor, and ProEnvironment, are considered not appropriate with the achievement. Eventhough the government is claiming about decreasing unemployment rate, which now is 7.14% from total population, and also with poverty rate in 2010, which is 13.3% (decreasing 1.5 million people)compared with 14.1% in 2009, but qualitatively, it is shown different situation, said Chief of Director Board of Sabang Merauke Circle. Full Text

President: Commitment in development must be fulfilled

ANTARA News/ February 21, 2011 - All parties who have made a commitment to stepping up national development should fulfill it, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said. "I will sign the master plan in the document but I hope the governors, ministers, and main investors will sign the document on the implementation of the development. Lest any of the investors break their promise," the president said. In relation with the discussion and implementation of Indonesian economic development acceleration program, the head of state asked all parties to seriously implement the program to reach the expansion of economic development. In the master plan there are also a number of short term and long term projects

with high costs, and thus the president asked all parties not to hurriedly reap the benefits of the projects which will bear fruit in the next five to ten years. Full Text

SBY lists 5 obstacles in development programs

The Jakarta Post/ February 22, 2011 - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in a working meeting Monday listed five factors hindering the countrys development. The first is the bureaucracy lag, especially in the central government, in implementing plans that have been agreed upon. The second hindering factor is regional governments having their own interests, which become obstacles in carrying out agreed development plans. The third is investors failing to fulfill their promises, thus halting development programs. The fourth factor is when one knows that a regulation is hindering [the process], and that it can be improved, and yet it is not. The fifth is an unhealthy political process at central and regional levels. Let us think clearly, he said. Full Text

Debt becomes Consultants Business Field

KORAN JAKARTA/ February 23, 2011 The governments plan to cover deficit of 2011 national budget with foreign debt has been criticized sharply by foreign debt issue observer. Debt is considered no longer effective as finance because it only becomes business field that involving government staff, donor consultant, and consultant agency. General Directorate of Debt Management (DJPU) of Finance Ministry stated that Indonesian governments debt in January 2011 is 1,695.34 trillion rupiah or increasing 17.13 trillion rupiah compared with the end of 2010, which is 1,678.21 trillion rupiah. Executive Director of International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development (INFID), Donatus Klaudius Marut, said that foreign debt is only benefited by several people. Staffs and donor consultants always need debt to save their job. And so do central government official. They need debt for their additional income; even income from debt project is much more than their main income as a government official. He considered that government cannot be free from foreign debt because it has been put as an integral part of development planning. On the other hand,

government doesnt have commitment to get off from foreign debt trap. Furthermore, aid effectiveness still cannot be seen clearly. Full Text

MDGs Achievement
BPS: poverty rate has really dropped

ANTARA News/ February 17, 2011 - The Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) said the povert in Indonesia has continued to decline since 2006, although the number of nearly-poor peop remained high.

"If calculated with reference to the poverty line - the food poverty and non-food poverty lines number of poor people has decreased from 39.3 million to 31.02 million since 2006," Suhariyanto, director of BPS`s Statistical Analytical and Development division, said at a se organized by ANTARA News here Thursday.

He gave the figures to counter a statement by several prominent religious figures who had re accused the government of having lied for saying that the number of the poor in 2010 was million, while the number of poor people receiving government-subsidized rice was 70 million. Full Text

Govt likely to miss 2014 poverty reduction goals

The Jakarta Post/ February 22, 2011 - The government will not meet its target to reduc poverty level to 8 to 10 percent by late 2014 unless it implements more appropriate mea economists say. Faisal Basri, a political economist from University of Indonesia, said on Thu that poverty rate in Indonesia would not go down anytime soon due to ineffective govern strategies.

According to the Central Statistics Agencys (BPS) latest report, the number of Indonesians liv poverty in 2010 was 31.02 million, down from 32.5 million in 2009 and 35 million in 200 poverty rate, he added, has declined slowly despite the increased state budget dedicated to po alleviation. The government allocated Rp 80.1 trillion (US$9.05 billion) to poverty allev programs in 2010, a significant increase over Rp 18 trillion in 2004. Full Text

RI`s unemployed totals 8.32 million

ANTARA News/ February 2, 2011 - The number of unemployed in Indonesia so far has re 8.32 million , President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said here on Wednesday.

The president explained that the number of unemployed persons was equivalent to 7.14 perc the total 237.8 million population of the country. The president said the data on the unemp came from the Central Bureau of Statistics. According to the head of state, the government`s focus was on creating job opportunities for the unemployed.

One of the opportunities for unemployed people was to become government employee unfortunately the head of state said those sectors were unable to absorb all of them. president asked the people to foster the entrepreneurial spirit to absorb laborers. Full Text

Provinces required to establish women, children`s empowerment centers

ANTARA News/ February 23, 2011 - State Minister for Women`s Empowerment Linda Amal Gumelar has asked all provinces and districts to establish an Integrated Service for Wome Children Empowerment (P2TP2A). Linda explained from 2002 - 2007 the State Minister for Wom Empowerment and Child Protection had facilitated the establishment of 17 P2TP2A in 17 prov and 80 districts/municipalities.

According to her, things like that should be a concern of all parties because the evaluation res P2TP2A implementation indicated that limited human resources and infrastructure had be obstacles so far. She explained that P2TP2A was a community-based container service to wom empowerment and child protection. Linda said P2TP2A had a role in a bid to fulfill the ne improvement in education, health, economy, and for the management of violent acts a women and children. Full Text

Infant in Central Java dies of malnourishment

ANTARA News/ February 21, 2011 - A two-year-old infant named Sherilla Kayla, daughte couple in Tahunan village, Jepara district, Central Java, died of malnourishment on Su According to the hospital`s doctor, Kayla suffered from serious malnourishment, diarrhea, a as lung and heart problems, the ill-fated baby`s father, Rofiq said. "Unfortunately, my daught not receive special treatment such food supplements as instant milk and biscuits from a local center, he said.

Undernourishment cases remain serious in Indonesia. According to World Vision Indonesia, a governmental organization which plays an active role in fighting malnutrition, more than five m Indonesian children are malnourished. Extreme poverty has made millions of less fort Indonesians like Ruslia faced serious difficulties in obtaining proper medical treatment. Full Text

BKKBN to give free maternity services

ANTARA News/ February 23, 2011 - To reduce the national high risk of maternal mor Banjarmasin local government would impose free maternity expenses in every national hosp public health service, an official said here Wednesday.

This free maternity program is a government effort to reduce the high maternal mortality rat has reached 338/100,000 people, and targeted 224/100,000 people. As for the current mortality rate at birth reached 34/10.000 babies, which would be reduced to 15/10,000 infants

The program was expected to reach low economic poor people, who were able to give birth a national hospitals or public health center with expert medical personnel. "The public` awareness on maternal health and noting the the midwives are one of the main causes o mother and baby maternal mortality," the South Kalimantan National Demography and F Planning Agency (BKKBN) chief, Chamnah Wahyuni, said. Full Text

HIV/AIDS sufferers in Bengkalis increase

ANTARA News/ February 22, 2011 - The number of HIV/AIDS sufferers in Bengakalis district province, Indonesia has increased dramatically each year, AIDS Eradication Commission Exe Chairman of Bengkalis district, Suayatno said here on Tuesday. Until the beginning of 2011, found that at least there are 52 cases including 29 women and 23 cases men. "These cases dominated by women and men whose age is still quite productive. This is certainly very view year, their number also increased by about 15 percent from the previous year`s 44 cases," he

Meanwhile, the head of the Bengkalis district Health Office, Zulfan Heri said, the average HIV sufferers in the areas are commercial sex workers and transvestites. "The number of comm sex workers and transvestites who contracted this deadly disease because free sexual interc which they routinely do to meet their life needs," he said. According to him, the root cau HIV/AIDS are not only in terms of health, but also social and family background of a weak econ Full Text

RI sees lower TB cases

The Jakarta Post/ February 25, 2011 - After 10 years of holding status as the wo third-largest country with tuberculosis, this year Indonesia dropped to fifth ran official says. Health Minister Endang Sedyaningsih said that the rank drop w Millennium Development Goal achievement. She said that in 2010, the numb people with tuberculosis numbered 300,000, with deaths caused by tubercu reaching 61,000, or 169 people per day.

She said that the handling of tuberculosis cases was already put in the minis 2010-2014 national strategy. The availability of medicine from hospita community health centers also helps push down the number of tubercu patients. Full Text

INFID Activities
Discussion The Dynamics of Egyptian Constellation in Middle East

Politics

on

Contemporary

Politic

INFID held a discussion on 4th of February 2011 in INFID office. The main theme of the discussion is The Dynamics of Egyptian Politics on Contemporary Politic Constellation in Middle East. The main speakers on this dialogue are Guntur Romli (alumnus of Al-Azhar and actively engaged in Islam Liberal Network/JIL), Mufti Makarim (Director of Institute for Defense Security and Peace Studies/IDSPS), and Zuhaeri (Chief of Center for Moderate Muslim, activist of Nadhatul Ulama, and the Indonesian witness of Egyptian revolution). Participants of the discussion are NGOs with various backgrounds that interested with this issue. The discussion is trying to answer and analyze what has happened in Egypt specially and Middle East generally, there is relation between mass movement in Tunisia with movement in Egypt or not, and how the impact of mass movement in Egypt to Middle East region and also global politics. There are many statements and questions from participants during discussion. Those are covered discussion about what will happen with Egypt and Middle East after Mubaraks downfall, the role of military in Egypt, relation between Indonesia and Egypt, the role of US in Egypt, and relation between crisis in US and Europe and mass movement in Egypt.

INFID stands for the International NGO Forum on Indonesian Development and was established in June 1985.

INFID is an open and pluralistic network of NGOs from Indonesian and various member countries of the Consultative Group for Indonesian (CGI) as of International organization with an interest in and commitment to Indonesia More information please visit: www.infid.org