Poor Protests Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and ExxonMobil

(Jakarta, 10/07) On Thursday afternoon, hundreds of poor from the Indonesian Poor Union (SRMI), mostly mothers and their children, came to ExxonMobil HQ located on the capital's main street, Sudirman street. SRMI Jakarta Chairperson, Hendri, said that Indonesia is actually a rich country endowed with all kinds of natural resources enough to prosper its people. "However, these resources do not reach the hands of people," he added, "but instead were handed over by Yudhoyono and Kalla to foreign capital owners, like ExxonMobil. Because they and some political elites, like those in Golkar and Demokrat Party, are more willing to be 'lackeys' to foreign interests, the people must themselves move to demand the nationalisation of foreign-controlled extractive sector."

Bilal Muhammad, LMND Jakarta Chairperson, supported the protest by saying that nationalisation has received wide support from various groups in the movement and has become common demand in student actions. Similarly, Desi Arisanti, Central FNPBI General Secretary spoke of the need for the people to monitor the inquiry into fuel price, because it can open the door to solve the 'intricacy' of current pro-foreign-interest energy policy.

The protest then moved to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) office in one of Jakarta's business district, Kuningan. In front of KPK office, protesters sang revolutionary songs and yelled their demands. Rudi Hartono, one of LMND National Executives spoke: "If KPK previously succeeded in breaking through the parliament wall to snatch some Members of Parliament involved in cases of corruptions and bribes; now KPK has to prove itself capable of fighting corruption by monitoring and supervising all members sitting in the Fuel Inquiry Special Committee, which can easily be bought off." Roads to inquiry have often stopped halfway due to the betrayals of parties and political lobbies involving 'bribes' for the special committees. "Considering the inquiry is a matter of utmost importance, it is very regretful if it has to stop due to bribery. The inquiry must be carried out to the end and national sovereignty over natural resource must be upholded as stated on Article 33 of 1945 Constitution" he added.

KPK eventually received five representatives from SRMI and People Accuse Front (FRM) for a dialogue. However, using old excuses and cliches, KPK refused to sign an MoU to monitor and control Fuel Price Special Committee. According to Lalu Hilman Afriandi, FRM coordinator, KPK's refusal is evidence that KPK favors certain cases. "KPK has the courage to inquire into cases with small political consequences, but avoid big cases, especially those that will shake Yudhoyono-Kalla" he explained. The refusal made protesters yelled that KPK is "coward", "discriminate cases", "not for the people, and "Yudhoyono-Kalla's tool".