Kendeng Mountains' Farmers Protest the Construction of Cement Factory by Leg Cast Action

Sunday, March 19, 2017 (23:54 WIB)

Kendeng Mountains' Farmers Protest the Construction of Cement Factory by Leg Cast Action

Kendeng Mountains' farmers want to request time to meet with the 4th President Megawati Soekarnoputri. 

They want to talk about the construction of cement factory around the Kendeng Mountains. Gunarti, a farmer from Pati, Central Java, this afternoon, Saturday (18/3/2017) came to Megawati's residence in Jalan Teuku Umar, Menteng, Central Jakarta. Together with Ranti, Marsih, Parni, and other Kendeng farmers, they asked whether the letter inquiring to meet Megawati has been received. The letter was sent on February 14, 2017 last.

A week after the letter was sent, Gunarti traveled to Jakarta to deliver a letter directly to Megawati's residence. At that time, Gunarti was requested to deliver a letter to the PDI-P. However, Gunarti did not do so. He wanted to know the fate of the first letter that was sent.

Suggestions to come to the PDI-P also appeared this afternoon. They were asked to meet with the Secretary General of the PDI-P Hasto Kristiyanto. From Hasto, the desire to meet Megawati has been delivered. But they have not yet decided when it will come to it. Gunarti said that Megawati has an obligation to know the problems farmers are facing. Right now, they wish to protest the construction of the cement factory.

Friday (17/3/2017), is the fifth day of Kendeng farmers' actions of protesting and resisting the cement factory. The protest action is attended by 50 people. The previous day, 40 farmers have done the action of cementing their legs in casts first.

Last year, on October 5, 2016, the Supreme Court issued Reconsideration Decision No. 99 PK/TUN/2016 which was in favor of Kendeng farmers and revoked the Environmental and Mining Development Factory PT. Semen Indonesia Permit in Rembang regency.

Earlier on August 2, 2016 President Jokowi also received the Kendeng farmers and ordered the Presidential Staff Office with the Ministry of Environment and Forests to make a strategic environmental assessment and suspend all mining permits in Kendeng Mountains.

The strategic environmental assessment team has reached a conclusion which initially mentioned that Cakungan Groundwater White Watu Region in Kendeng is a karst area [a landscape formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks such as limestone, dolomite, and gypsum. It is characterized by underground drainage systems with sinkholes and caves] that should be protected in the environment and may not be mined.

Although there was a court decision that is legally binding and a presidential order of memoratorium permission, but on February 23, 2017 Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo re-issued environmental permits. 

This action of leg cast second volume to protest the establishment of the cement factory is done in front of the Merdeka Palace. It is carried out by a number of farmers—citizens who are members of the Network of Concerned Citizens of Kendeng Mountains (JMPPK) from Kendeng Mountains, Central Java, since Tuesday, March 14, 2017. It has attracted the attention of Vice Chairman of the House Fadli Zon.

"I followed the actions taken by the Kendeng Mountains farmers. And I regretted the statement of Minister of SOEs which states that the President will soon inaugurate a cement factory in Rembang in April next year. I think the government has hurt the public's sense of justice," said Fadli via short messages, Sunday (19/03/2017).

Fadli remembered that President Jokowi has decided to suspend operations until the completion of a cement factory till Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is carried out by an independent team. This was done when the action of the foot cast which was first performed in April 2016, which then led to an invitation to the Palace on August 2, 2016. The study is expected to be completed within one year.

"It's a positive decision, given the litigants with PT Semen Indonesia. In a way, the results of the SEA can be completed by April 2017. So, would not take a year to get settled," said Fadli.

Surprisingly, said the Gerindra (Great Indonesia Movement Party) politician, the Minister of State Enterprises seems to have been aware of the results that indicates that next month the President will soon inaugurate a cement factory in Rembang. While the results of the SEA hasn't gotten out yet.

"This could provoke mistrust of the government," said Fadli.

Moreover, on October 5, 2016, Fadli said, passing the Verdict Review (a.k.a. Peninjauan Kembali/PK), the Supreme Court (a.k.a. Mahkamah Agung) has ruled in favor of farmers of Apex and Foundation Forum for Environment (WALHI), which also canceled the environmental clearance of the cement factory in Rembang.

"The SOE Minister's statement had hurt Kendeng public's sense of justice," Fadli said.

Fadli asked the President to be cautious about taking decisions. Do not damage the principle of legal certainty by taking decisions that are not in sync with each other, let alone which is against the law. "Legal rights and social rights of people must be properly addressed. Do not let our law to be contrary to justice," said Fadli.

Looking ahead, Fadli asked any form of investment should no longer violate procedures and rules, as it will lead to controversy and conflict in society. Fadli requested the Government not to be 'minded investors' and underestimate the voice and rights of the community in the development process.

"The leg cast action is a form of frustration, because people no longer know how to draw the government's attention. Do not let the government be blind and deaf to ignore the voice and rights of farming communities of Kendeng in the name of development, "said Fadli.

References:

http://www.tribunnews.com/nasional/2017/03/18/gagal-mengadu-ke-jokowi-petani-kendeng-ingin-temui-megawati

http://www.tribunnews.com/nasional/2017/03/19/fadli-zon-minta-pemerintah-jangan-cederai-rasa-keadilan-masyarakat-kendeng

Historical Events on this Day!

March 19, 2011: The moon appears 30% brighter and 14% larger than its furthest point; it reaches its closest point to Earth since 1993.

March 19, 1997: Supreme Court hears Internet indecency arguments.

March 19, 1977: France performs nuclear test on Muruora Island.

March 19, 1965: Indonesia nationalises all foreign oil companies.

March 19, 1958: Britain's 1st planetarium opens at Madame Tussaud's in London.

March 19, 1918: S. Potter becomes 1st U.S. pilot to shoot down a German seaplane.

Saturday, March 18, 2017 (16:06 WIB)

De-radicalisation Against Perpetrators of Terrorism Must be Enhanced, says Khairul Ghazali

De-radicalisation against the perpetrators of terrorism and those who have contracted the virus of radicalism and terrorism must be enhanced and continued in order to overcome terrorism in Indonesia.

So far, the government-run de-radicalization is good, but still must be maximized for the right target and succeed in curbing terrorism.

"Current de-radicalisation is pretty good. The success is also significant. The proof is a lot of the people who were once radical have now become moderate," the former terrorist Khairul Ghazali stated when contacted on Saturday (18/03/2017).

However, he acknowledged there are some of them who have not been 'cured' and back to the understanding of jihad that has actually wrong. But it was only a handful, and groups that still support radicalization is only a small fraction.

This former perpetrator of terror and robbery of Bank CIMB Medan is assessing the government's move to embrace the ex-combatants to help the de-radicalization program is also quite effective. Because the people have been exposed to violent ideology would be difficult to be approached by people outside them.

"One key to de-radicalise it is that we must be close to the former perpetrators of terror. It should be close and to be with the heart. It can not be argued, they were not the person who should be advised. Because they already feel that they are dissuaded by themselves," Khairul said.

A better approach, according to Khairul is an economic approach, not ideology. This new economic future of their ideological tension will decrease. "Why? They see the country taking care of me, paying attention to my children, oh country pay attention to my wife and family. Then they will soften, especially if the condition of the economy is also good," Khairul said, who is now active in building schools for the children of victims of terrorism in Deli Serdang, North Sumatra.

According to him, the former perpetrators of acts of terrorism after serving definitely need a job so they do not return to the wrong road. Therefore they must be trained skills. In this case, BNPT as counter-terrorism coordinator in Indonesia can cooperate with other agencies to train. BNPT can cooperate with social services, the Provincial Government, the City/County where former terrorists were, to monitor and continue to direct them.

"This step should be fast. That day they were released the same day is already beginning to be noticed," said Khairul.

Khairul appreciates the steptaken by BNPT Chief Commissioner General Pol. Drs. Suhardi Alius, SH with a de-radicalization program from upstream to downstream. According to him, what the BNPT head doing is going to be good.

"They (former terrorists) are ordinary people who have a heart. As I said before do not preach them on and on. After getting out of prison they should not be stigmatized or ostracized, and their families and children must be assisted economically. After that, slowly change their ideologies. This is the approach taken by Suhardi Alius. This kind of approach has always been what I did and now I realize this by building schools, "he said.

Khairul cited by giving free education to children perpetrators of an offense of terrorism; he was optimistic that someday the kids can bring wisdom to their parents, especially about the wrong understanding of jihad.

He reveals that there are still about 600-an ex-terrorist who was out Penitentiary (Prison) and 200 are still in prison.

"They must be approached with care. Find their positions, aid economically, and have their skills trained in the right way. So do their family and children's education. There should be no omission of these former perpetrators, or people who are already infected with the virus of radicalism, "said Khairul Ghazali. Because that would only be annihilating large portions of our citizens. In this era, radical ideologies are taking roots with the speed of a virus because we are screening ourselves. This is our greatest peril. With advertisement, meme, etc about offensive issues booming and being screened as 'jokes', we stopped taking it seriously, or taking it too seriously. 

References:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/feb/28/greatest-peril-screening-reality-4chan-pewdiepie-nothing-matters-fascism

http://www.tribunnews.com/nasional/2017/03/18/deradikalisasi-harus-dilanjutkan-dan-ditingkatkan-kata-khairul-ghazali

Historical Events on this Day!

March 18, 2015: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the ruling Likud party have retained victory in this week's election; Netanyahu will now focus on forming a coalition government.

March 18, 1990: 1st free elections in East Germany, Conservatives beat Communists.

March 18, 1987: U.S. performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site

March 18, 1972: China performs nuclear test at Lop Nor PRC

March 18, 1963: France performs underground nuclear test at Ecker Algeria

March 18, 1190: Crusaders kill 57 Jews in Bury St. Edmonds England

Monday, March 13, 2017 (15:38 WIB)

9 Arrested in Sulawesi Suspected to Plan Terror Attack to Police and Military HQ

Densus 88 (Special Detachment 88) anti-terror police arrested 9 people in Tolitoli and Moutong Parigi, Central Sulawesi, Friday, (10/3/2017). Syamsuardi et. al was detected to be planning a terror attack to the police and the military HQ.

"9 people who were arrested are still in the web. However, this is a surveillance and early detection on terror attack movements towards the headquarters of the police and military in Sulawesi," Head of Public Relations of Police, Inspector General of Police Boy Rafli Amar, at Police Headquarters, Jakarta, Monday (13/03/2017).

Those 9 were suspected to be a new group in Sulawesi whom are affiliated with ISIS. So far, there is no proof of relation between this group's movement with the Santoso in Poso (one of the most hunted terrorist in Southeast Asia). Santoso, a.k.a. Abu Wardah, is in allegiance with ISIS, and in addition to having a special grudge agains the police force, Santoso also did not hesitate to challenge the personnel of the Special Detachment (Densus) 88 by sending a letter:

"We as Mujahidin Indonesia East task force challenge Detachment 88 Anti-Terror to fight openly and manly! Let us fight as men! Don't you just dare to shoot, arresting our members who were not armed! If you are really a group of men, then face us! Don't you win only through TV! "Santoso wrote (14/10/2012).

Two of the 9 involved are under aged children, as stated by Boy on Monday (13/3/2017).

According to Boy, as well as Law No. 15 of 2003 on Combating Criminal Acts of Terrorism, it has 7 days to conduct post-arrest interrogation.

"We are waiting for the result of the team Densus 88 related to the role and involvement of one by one of them. For some of them were under age. Approximately two people. We still have four days to determine their status," said Boy.

References:

http://www.tribunnews.com/nasional/2017/03/13/9-orang-ditangkap-di-sulteng-diduga-akan-serang-markas-tni-dan-polri

http://www.tribunnews.com/nasional/2017/03/13/dua-dari-sembilan-terduga-teroris-di-sulteng-masih-anak-anak

http://www.rappler.com/indonesia/140180-hal-yang-perlu-kamu-ketahui-soal-santoso

Historical Events on this Day!

March 13, 2015: Scientists have concluded that a large ocean exists beneath the icy surface of Ganymede, the largest moon of Jupiter; the discovery was made by using the Hubble Space Telescope to observe aurora movements at the moon's poles

March 13, 2012: A Harvard Medical School study claims that red meat increases the risk of death and has additional negative health implications

March 13, 1969: Apollo 9 returns to Earth

March 13, 1963: Indonesia and Netherlands recover diplomatic relations

Sunday, March 12, 2017 (15:59 WIB)

Accepting 3.000 Complaints on Public Services Ombudsman Campaign on Car Free Day

On Car Free Day (12/3/17) at the Hotel Indonesia roundabout, Ombudsman Indonesia urges public service providers to continue to improve their utilities.

This is related to the 3.000 complaints they have received due to poor public services that have been received by the Ombudsman from the beginning of this year until the beginning of March 2017. 






Ombudsman Indonesia's Commissioner, Ninik Rahayu mentioned the issue of health care, education and the judiciary is the aspects society complained about the most.

Here is the video link.

References:

http://www.tribunnews.com/nasional/2017/03/12/terima-3-ribu-pengaduan-pelayanan-publik-buruk-ombudsman-kampanye-di-cfd

To Prevent Foreign Claim, President Joko Widodo Established 111 Minor Outlying Islands of Indonesia

Saturday, March 11, 2017 (20:58 WIB)

To Prevent Foreign Claim, President Joko Widodo Established 111 Minor Outlying Islands of Indonesia

President Joko Widodo established 111 minor islands as the outlying islands of Indonesia. These minor outlying islands are located in 22 provinces, and mostly came from the Riau province—which amounted to 23 minor outlying islands. It was established in the Presidential Decree No. 6 year 2017 that President Joko Widodo signed in the second of March, 2017—As quoted from the official website of the Cabinet Secretariat.

This is based on the consideration of Government Regulation (PP) No. 38 of 2002 on List Baselines of Indonesia as amended by Regulation No. 37 Year 2008 that has changes of the number of minor outlying islands of Indonesia.

Previously, according to the Presidential Decree No. 78 year 2005 on the Management of Minor Outlying Islands, the small outlying islands of Indonesia amounted to only 92 islands. You can read what this decree has established in this link.

The Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Susi Pudjiastuti said that adding those outlying islands of Indonesia has a goal of national importance. 

"The establishment of these islands is to prevent the issue of occupational or claim ownership of the island by citizens of other countries," she said in a press statement, Jakarta, Saturday (11/04/2017).

They will oversee the 111 islands from any illegal activity. For example, drug smuggling, slavery, or illegal fishing. In addition, she hopes that the natural resources of the 111 minor outlying islands can be utilized for the benefit of the government and society around.

With the issuance of Presidential Decree No. 6 year 2017, the Presidential Regulation No. 78 year 2005 Article 1 paragraph (2) of the Management of Minor Outlying islands is revoked and declared invalid.

References:

http://www.tribunnews.com/nasional/2017/03/11/presiden-joko-widodo-tetapkan-111-pulau-kecil-terluar-indonesia

http://www.hukumonline.com/berita/baca/lt58be4bfe820f8/melalui-keppres--jokowi-tetapkan-111-pulau-kecil-terluar

Extras:

Read also Understanding the Court on the Profession of Seafarers.

Suicide Attempt: Failed to Drown, Succeeded to Float

Friday, March 10, 2017 (WIB)

Suicide Attempt: Failed to Drown, Succeeded to Float

A woman of an unknown identity had tried to commit suicide by drowning herself into a river in Guangdong city, Zhongsan (27/2/2017). [See the video]

But whoever could have guessed that instead of drowning, this woman actually floats in the middle of the river. 



Experts say she failed to drown because her fat percentage in her body was too high, in an unusual term.

She was eventually saved manually, meaning that she was pulled by both of her hands up onto a boat. The manual route was used because apparently, the safety belt that was usually used for evacuation didn't fit her.

She was then taken to a hospital by an ambulance and it is still not known as to why she attempt to off her life.





References:

http://www.tribunnews.com/internasional/2017/03/10/coba-bunuh-diri-lompat-ke-sungai-bukan-tenggelam-malah-mengambang

http://shanghaiist.com/2017/02/27/too-fat-to-drown.php

Extras:

Should you encounter someone who's dramatic enough to jump off a building because they want to quit life...

You: “I’m not stopping you. It’s just that if you jump, blood will splatter everywhere and it will be a huge pain in the ass to clean it up later. Besides… your body will be retrieved by the police and stripped naked.”

Whoever who want to suicide: “N-naked?!”

You: “Of course. They’ll need to perform an autopsy to investigate the cause of death and everything will be exposed. It doesn’t stop there… If you don’t die, you will remain in a vegetative state, bound to a bed, until the end of your life.”

Whoever who want to suicide: “W-What!! Are you threatening me?!”


You: “I’m just telling senpai that things won’t happen the way you expect them to.”

Direct quotes from the manga Battle Rabbit by Yuki Amemiya who also created 07-Ghost.

Today marks the day of my little sister's tenth birthday, and my golden retriever's death day after 9 years of living. I had known that he was going to die soon when he started coughing up a lot on New Year's Eve, but he managed to live till March. The news came unexpectedly, even though technically I was expecting it. But his death somehow feels worse now that I just found out that he died not because he couldn't fight to live, but because my Grandpa fed him fish.

I hate fish. Now I loathe it. (Aside from Finding Nemo/Dory)

Thursday, March 9, 2017 (20:56 WIB)

Oikumene's Church's Bomber Spends Time Jogging 

Juhanda (33 years old), the bomber of Oikumene's Church yard, which is located on Cipto Mangunkusumo Road, Samarinda Seberang, is judged by the local residents as a closed off person.

Oddly, several weeks before Juhanda bombed the Church's yard locals witnessed that he took up jogging regularly, running along the road near the mosque nearby this bomber's house.

"Every evening we'd see him (Juhanda) jogging, for a far way's off, and he did it routinely right before he started the bombing," said one of the locals, Alvin Aspianur (16 years old), Thursday (9/3/2017).

Other than jogging, Juhanda also spends his time swimming along the Mahakam river, even through the area where the water runs deep and too fast.

"Maybe it's preparation for the bombing. Out of the blue he started to work out regularly, and he was so strong in swimming when Mahakam river's current is quite deadly," Alvin said.

References:

http://www.tribunnews.com/regional/2017/03/09/sebelum-mengebom-halaman-gereja-oikumen-pelaku-rajin-joging

Extras:

How to Prepare for a Terrorist Attack --> http://www.nationalterroralert.com/default/

What We Need to Prepare for a Nuclear Event --> http://theconversation.com/what-if-it-happened-again-what-we-need-to-do-to-prepare-for-a-nuclear-event-45564