What award winning President SBY should say

It’s not every day that a world leader whose country frequently makes the news for sectarian violence wins a religious freedom award. 

But on May 30, the Appeal of Conscience Foundation in New York City will honor Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono with its World Statesman Award, given annually to an individual who supports “religious freedom and human rights throughout the world” and “promotes peace, tolerance and ethnic conflict resolution”.

In light of the deteriorating situation facing religious minorities in Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, news of the award came as a surprise. But in accepting the accolades, President Yudhoyono has an opportunity to transform an event likely to cast a harsh spotlight on Indonesia into a genuinely positive occasion.

To do that, here is the award speech Yudhoyono should give: 

“Members of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation, distinguished guests, citizens of Indonesia and citizens of the world:

“Thank you for this award. Indonesia has come a considerable way since the end of the repressive New Order policies of the late President Soeharto. Over the past 14 years the country has made great strides in becoming a stable democracy with a strong civil society and an independent media.

“But I wish to focus my remarks this evening on the issues of promoting religious freedom and tolerance and ending ethnic conflict.

“Awards such as this can serve two purposes. They can honor an individual for their past accomplishments. And they can publicly exhort, cajole and inspire an individual to future actions. 

“US President Barack Obama acknowledged this when he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009, just months after taking office. ‘I would be remiss,’ he told the Nobel committee, ‘if I did not acknowledge the considerable controversy that your generous decision has generated. In part, this is because I am at the beginning, and not the end, of my labors on the world stage.’

“I would be similarly remiss if I did not recognize the controversy that surrounds my receiving this award. Efforts to promote the equality of all religious beliefs in Indonesia, and to stop the discrimination and violence against minority religions, cannot even be said to have begun, let alone reached an end.

“This evening I will briefly share with you the threats to religious freedom that persist today in Indonesia and, more importantly, my concrete plans to address them. In this way, I hope not only to give meaning to this award, but also set the stage to improve the lives of all Indonesians. 

“In recent years, Islamist militant groups in Indonesia have committed increasingly aggressive harassment and assaults against members and houses of worship of religious minorities, including Ahmadiyah, Christians and Shia Muslims. Many people have been killed or injured just for practicing their faith. Local authorities and police often respond slowly or not at all to this violence. And few perpetrators have been adequately punished by the courts.

“Tonight I wish to announce my government’s ‘zero tolerance’ policy regarding attacks on religious minorities. I pledge that every attack on a religious community will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. 

“Second, government officials, instead of being part of the solution to sectarian violence, have all too often been part of the problem. Local authorities have responded to acts of arson and other crimes by blaming the victims. While some national officials have spoken out in defense of religious minorities, others have made discriminatory and disparaging statements. I must admit that I stood silent as my own minister of religious affairs has called for the banning of the Ahmadiyah religious community. 

“I pledge to take immediate disciplinary or legal action against all government officials, no matter how senior, who make statements or engage in actions that promote religious discrimination or condone violence against religious minorities. 

“Lastly, Indonesian authorities enforce discriminatory laws and regulations against religious minorities, including a blasphemy law that officially recognizes only six religions. These laws have facilitated harassment and intimidation of religious minorities by officials who refuse to issue building permits for minority houses of worship and who pressure their congregations to relocate. In two cases, local officials even refused to implement Supreme Court decisions granting minority groups the right to build houses of worship.

“My government will undertake a review of existing laws, regulations, and decrees on religion to identify provisions at odds with the rights to freedom of religion and conscience. I will then work closely with parliament to revise or repeal those provisions that are contrary to the constitution or Indonesia’s international legal obligations.

“As soon as I return to Indonesia I will establish an independent national taskforce on protecting the rights of religious minorities composed of experts and influential individuals who are committed to religious freedom. And I will begin a public education campaign to promote tolerance of all religious beliefs. 

“Ending harassment and violence against religious minorities in Indonesia is an important prize still to be won. Tonight I believe we are making a start. Thank you.”

The writer is legal and policy director at Human Rights Watch.

SBY told to be more decisive in resolving intolerance cases

Presidential advisor on human rights, Albert Hasibuan, has asked President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to be more decisive with his subordinates, including regional leaders, in resolving prolonged discrimination and persecution cases against minority groups.

Albert, who recently submitted a report to the President on the management of the rising number of cases of intolerance, said that he had found that police officers, as well as regional leaders, did not intend to resolve the cases even though the President had ordered them to address the incidents.

“I’ve made a field observation and I found that the President’s orders were simply ignored. I think the President should now act more decisively otherwise such cases will continue and this is dangerous for the nation,” Albert said at his office on Monday.

Among the cases included in Albert’s observation were the hundreds of displaced Shiites in Sampang, East Java, who have been sheltering in a sports building for months following violent attacks on their village; the forced church closure and intimidation of the HKBP Filadelfia congregation in Bekasi regency despite a court ruling in favor of the congregation; the forced closure of the GKI Yasmin church by the Bogor city administration despite a Supreme Court ruling in favor of its congregation; and the recent attack at an Ahmadiyah village in Tasikmalaya, also in West Java.

“In Sampang, for example, the regent bluntly said that he did not want any Shia followers there and asked the displaced community members to leave,” said Albert, adding that the regent’s act was just like an open rejection of the President’s calls for resolution. 

Minister Dahlan Iskan Most Influential People in Indonesia

 Minister for State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Dahlan Iskan awarded Charta Politika Award 2011 for the category of the most influential ministry leaders."Charta Politika is the first Indonesian political research institute that rewards this kind, in order to give an appreciation of a number of influential figures in media," says Research Director Charta Politika, Yunarto Wijaya, in the evening bestowal Charta Politika III Award at the Film House Usmar Ismail, Jakarta, Tuesday night.Dahlan himself was unable to attend the event because it was out of town in order to assist the Head of State.Former Managing Director of PLN was superior over the other ministers to be nominated for the same category, including Coordinating Minister Hatta Rajasa, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto, Agus Martowardoyo Finance Minister and Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa."Dahlan Iskan figure considered a leader who successfully led the company to make changes and was considered successful when served PLN president director," the Charta Politika.Political research institute that rate, after becoming Minister for Enterprise, Dahlan is considered to make changes quickly. Dahlan who belongs to the entrepreneurs and traders did not seem like a long-winded bureaucratic, so accustomed to the private sector working with the principle of meritocracy and professionalism, as well as speed in responding to a problem.Charta Politika Award-3 is an event to an appreciation of the leaders of opinion in the mass media. There are six categories of awards given to a number of political leaders / people who are considered influential on the public perception is based on a thorough study.The study was conducted in six national newspapers that Kompas, Media Indonesia, Regarding Indonesia, Republika, Rakyat Merdeka, and Indo Pos issue by mapping trends, mapping social networks, and patterns of media support for an issue during the period February 20, 2011 to February 20 of 2012.

DEPUTY MINISTER: Fuel Savings Program Restrictions Rp40 Trillion

Deputy Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Widjajono Partowidagdo revealed, saving fuel restriction program will reach Rp40 trillion per year.

"If up to 2014 or during the three years of the subsidy can be saved reach Rp120 trillion," he said in Jakarta on Wednesday.

According to him, the great value of these savings menfaatnya for improving people's welfare.

"He said Indonesia needed funds, would increase the national capacity. If so then the subsidy should be abolished and the money will be used improve the ability of national subsidies," he said.

Widjajono said the State Budget Law 2011 actually mandates the elimination of fuel subsidies through price increases.

However, the option is not taken by the government and parliament also reached the time limit expires on December 31, 2011.

Then, the fuel subsidy removal option is shifted into fuel restrictions, and provide subsidies to those entitled.

"So, later this year in particular private four-wheeled vehicles may no longer use subsidized fuel, but are driven menggunankan nonsubsidized CNG or gasoline," he said, affirmed.

He added, he had asked the Deputy Minister of Transport to improve public transit systems to be more comfortable and safer.

"In order to use the fuel in private vehicles could be reduced, as will many are turning to public transportation," he said.

Widjajono admitted, installing a new conversion tool (CONVENTER kit) in his car with the cost of installing Rp2 million employees who work PT Dirgantara Indonesia.

He also plans to visit the Aerospace Indonesia in Bandung.

Government restrictions on subsidized fuel will run starting from the premium per 1 April 2012.

The plan, in 2012 will include restrictions on subsidized premium in Java-Bali region.

The program was mandated restrictions on Law No. 22 Year 2011 regarding State Budget 2012.

RI estimated Fuel and Electricity Subsidy-Free 2014

The government estimates that in 2014 Indonesia has been freed from the burden of budget subsidies for fuel and electricity.

This was conveyed by the Deputy Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, Widjajono Partowidagdo when met at the office of Energy and Mineral Resources, Jakarta, Wednesday (11 / 1). "(Year) 2014 final, chances are good energy subsidies for fuel and electricity is not there anymore," he said.

Widjajono menggatakan, elimination of government subsidies will be conducted in stages through the conversion of fuel to the BBG and LGV which will began in earnest again in this 2012. "If in three years this subsidy could be worth Rp120 trillion for infrastructure development dihematkan tolerable. He said Indonesia needed money for development," he said.

With the conversion to CNG fuel and LGV, the Widjajono hope in 2014 all motor vehicles in Indonesia has been using CNG or LGV.