Solidarity Statement for Bolivia
6:47 AM Posted by National Liberation Party Of Unity (PAPERNAS)
Stop US Interference in Latin America;
Respect the National Sovereignty of the Bolivian People;
Forge Anti-Imperialist International Solidarity;
Last August, the Bolivian people show significant support for Evo Morales leadership in a referendum that gave him the mandate to extend, expand, and deepen social transformations carried out by the MAS party led government. He won 67.41% of votes in 95 out of 112 provinces across the country. The opposition, centred around an oligarchy of big businessmen, landlords and multinational supporters in four departments (Santa Cruz, Beni, Pando and Tarija), has been fighting for autonomy and secession, fearing the encroachment of the Morales administration's progressive projects, which seeks to transfer the profit of natural resources, particularly oil and gas, from the hands of the transnationals and oligarchy to the Bolivian people.
Bolivia is a country rich in natural resources. Although it gained formal independence from Spanish colonialism since 1825, Bolivia today - particularly its numerical majority indegenous population - is still struggling to free itself from colonial racist mentality and US imperialism. Recently, the US made another vulgar intervention through its ambassador, Philip Goldberg, who publicly supported and actively backed right-wing groups by providing funds and logistic support, as well as directing the media to lead the coup. This is similar to US subversion in Venezuela in 2002, which cooperated with the oligarchy to overthrow Chavez, but with failed results. At this moment, Bolivian opposition's right-wing groups, supported by the US, are launching violent attack against the poor, Morales supporters; taking over and destroy public facilities; blockading the roads to disrupt distribution of goods; as well as bombing and shooting civilians in several places, such as at CEJIS office, an NGO that defends indigenous rights.
There are at least several reasons for US interference in the coup: first, the US wishes to stop Latin American integration process that will potentially create another international political bloc that would diminish US influence in the region, as well as internationally. Second, the US attempted to blockade or stop the influence of leftist governments - born out of people's rebellion against neoliberalism - particularly in hydrocarbon producing countries, such as Bolivia, Venezuela, and Ecuador to safeguard US geopolitical interest and its corporations' control over raw materials and hydrocarbon.
Bolivian people's struggle to uphold their national sovereignty and control over natural resources have never been acknowledged and respected by the imperialist states, particularly the US. They, the US and its allies, not only do this to Bolivia and Latin America, but also to other countries in Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe which attempt to be self-sufficient and self-reliance. In Indonesia, the intervention of the US and its transnational power have overthrown Sukarno's progressive government in the 60s and paved the way for full capitalist exploitation of Indonesia's natural and human resources. Up until now in Indonesia, the US remains the most powerful and dominant imperialist power that have been committing economic violence in its implementation of the "Washington Consensus", which have thrown more than half of the population to the abyss of poverty, destroyed domestic industries, and doomed the workers into exploitative working condition. Therefore, the Indonesian people also find itself in the midst of the struggle against imperialist domination.
In connection with increasing US intervention in the political crisis in Bolivia and Latin America in general, we the National Liberation Party of Unity (PAPERNAS), who fights for the national liberation of Indonesia from the yoke of imperialism, declared the following:
1. to demand that the US immediately stop its intervention in destabilising Evo Morales government, - A government which was elected and given the mandate by the people of Bolivia to bring about changes in the country;
2. to demand the end of violence carried out by right-wing groups; fascists armed gangs, militias and other irregular organisations formed by the local rulers under US assistance;
3. to demand the UN to sanction and to press the US to withdraw from Bolivia and Latin America;
4. to call for the international community to strengthen its solidarity with the Bolivian people and Morales government by sending protest letters to any US representatives;
5. to support the struggle of the Bolivian people and the Morales government that strive to uphold its national sovereignty, to free itself from foreign interference and pressures that want to control Bolivia's natural resources.
To Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono administration:
1. To demand that the President file a protest to the US government, asking them to immediately withdraw from Bolivia and other regions in turmoil due to US interference;
2. To expel US ambassador for Indonesia as a form of solidarity for Bolivia, if the protest was not responded;
3. To start the process of expropriating US companies in Indonesia and directed them to serve the needs and welfare of the Indonesian people;
4. To forge cooperation with exploited countries in the world, as a way out from the domination of the US and its allies in international political arena.
Jakarta, September 18, 2008
Chairperson
Haris Sitorus
Secretary General
Labour Press Inquiry Into Fuel Price Rise, Denounce Pro-Neoliberal Golkar-Demokrat
6:59 PM Posted by National Liberation Party Of Unity (PAPERNAS)
(Jakarta 30/06) Hundreds of workers from the National Front of Indonesian Labour Struggle (FNPBI) staged a protest action at Exxon Mobil HQ in Jakarta to demand the nationalization of oil industries.
Afterwards, the workers moved the protest to the House of Representatives. They demanded that the government cancel fuel price increase, nationalize mining industry, and abolish foreign debt.
On June 24, the majority of house members - mostly, but not all, from opposition parties - voted for an inquiry into the fuel price rise. Meanwhile, two parties; Golkar Party (which support the Vice President, Jusuf Kalla) and Democrat Party (which support President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono) rejected the inquiry.
The protesters demanded an inquiry into the intervention of foreign corporation in Indonesian energy crisis and called upon the people of Indonesia not to elect parties that take side with foreign interests, support fuel price increase, and vote against parliament's right for inquiry against the SBY-JK (Golkar & Demokrat) government.
STATEMENT by FNPBI
Cancel fuel price rise. Nationalize oil, gas and mining industries, and abolish foreign debt; No to pro-neoliberal parties (Golkar/Demokrat); Implement nation-wide minimum wage as the solution for increasing labour welfare!
Government has announced the fuel price increase that led to the rise of transportation cost and prices of basic goods. On the other side, indicators of people's welfare such as income level and purchasing power are experiencing a decline. According to some economic analysts, the 30% fuel price rise will shoot up inflation rate from 8.33% to 10.6%. The Institute of Study for Mining and Energy Reform predicted that 30% fuel price increase will likely throw 15.68 millions people into poverty.
The Indonesian Enterpreneurs Association, APINDO, stated that they can no longer adjust wages to face fuel price rise. Entrepreneurs only agree to add transportation and meal support. However, economic burden is not only about transport and meal, more than those!
Indonesian labour is currently facing several challenges: First, the current wage policy is unable to compete with price increases. Second, the national industries which both entrepreneurs and labours depend on also suffer tremendous hit from fuel price increase policy. Under those conditions, there is no choice but to fight to cancel fuel price increase and to rescue national industries.
Legislative Plenary meeting on 24th of June has agreed to use their right to open an inquiry into national oil and gas industries. Two political parties, Golkar and Demokrat, rejected the inquiry right, thus revealing their true character: puppets of foreign corporations. Political and financial institutions such as USAID and World Bank are behind this government. In 2001, these institutions used large amount of aid to change our oil and gas legislation. Golkar and Democrat Party are complicit in liberalizing our economy policy!
In relation to the use of inquiry right in the parliament, labour should asserts that; first, the legislatures reaffirm their commitment to push the government for immediate cancellation of fuel price rise. This measure needs to be accompanied by the passing of a decree to nationalize foreign-controlled mining and energy industry in order to supply domestic energy demand. The government could also increase royalty tax up to 40% for foreign contractors so that windfall profit can be used to maximise national income and overcome state budget deficit. Second, legislatures' commitment to solve the enduring problem of our oil and gas industry needs to be followed by ensuring a system that control our nation's entire natural resources. The management and marketing of these sectors must prioritize national needs. Therefor, the legislatures shall agree to withdraw Law 22/2001 on Oil and Gas and Law 25/2007 on Foreign Investment. Third, state's endeavour to extract maximum profit from oil and gas sector needs to be followed by the transfer of that profit to education, health care, subsidy for basic needs, and national minimum wage standard.
All this time, the indonesian government has no resolute concept regarding energy and mineral (mining rights) against foreign companies. Using the lack of capital and technology as pretext, the government has handed over the right to manage energy and mineral resources into the hands of foreign companies, without considering such concepts as transfer of technology and autonomous economic system.
The labour has interest in the state-management system of oil and gas industry for the development of national industries. High productivity of national industry would also strengthen the position of national labour. This would come true only if our economy has been released from the grip of neoliberal economy
Therefore, FNPBI states these following demands :
1) Cancel fuel price increase
2) Nationalize mining and energy industries and abolish foreign debt.
3) Cancel or rewrite all contracts with foreign energy and mining companies in such a way as to benefit the people and domestic industries by attaching clauses that maximize benefit, technology transfer, and tax increase (royalty). Prioritizing national need is an obligation.
4) Develop national industries, especially oil and gas industry, petrochemical industry, natural resources management, etc.
5) Release the detained student activists and civilians! Investigate the death of Maftuh Fauzi.
6) Leave political elites that take side with foreign interests, parties that support fuel increase and reject inquiry right against SBY-JK government (Golkar and Demokrat)!
7) Implement national minimum wage standard based on proper living standard, as a solution to improve labour welfare!
8) Build a National Front that involves all people and political parties that are against the political elites who support foreign interests!
For new economic system!
Jakarta, 28th of June 2008
National Front of Indonesian Labour Struggle
Read more...
Statement of the People Accuse Front (FRM)
8:54 PM Posted by National Liberation Party Of Unity (PAPERNAS)
Release all activists of FRM, FIS Mercubuana, FORKOT, and FRM/LMND detained in various parts of Indonesia!
Reject Fuel Price Increase!
Reduce Prices of Basic Needs!
Fight Neoliberal Policies and Kick-Out Its Lackeys!
Since the government proposed its plan to raise fuel price, waves and waves of mass actions spread all over Indonesia. The rejection has reached and involved almost all poular sectors such as workers, peasants, poor, students, fishermen, and small businesses. It has been expressed in various creative ways like hijacking a fuel tank, sealing fuel/gas stations, sit-ins, rallies, and petitions. Those were the means by which students and the people deal with government's measures that does not have the slightest care for people aspirations.
Ini several places, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice-President Jusuf Kalla (SBY-JK) through their coercive apparatus (Police/Army) carried out brutal attacks resulting in clashes with anti fuel price increase protests. In Bima, NTB, 11 activists were arbitrarily detained. In Manado, North Sulawesi, three people were arrested during a protest against fuel price increase. In Ternate, North Mollucas, police dispersed a protest rally and arrested 14 protesters.*
In Jakarta, the People Accuse Front (FRM) had carried out several anti-fuel price rise protests on May 12th, 20th, and 21st. On the 20th, thirteen activists from FIS and Mercubuana who were about to join FRM rally from Hotel Indonesia roundabout to State Palace, were arrested for no apparent reason. Today (May 21st) 18 FRM activists were also arrested and beaten by police. The 18 activists currently detained in Jakarta Police HQ are Bilal Muhammad (LMND), Maximilian Renaldo (LMND), Wahyu, Ilal, Teddy, Aris, Humuntal, Murherodian, Chubal, Hadi, Iksan, Ferdinand, Irvan, Bimbi, Eko, Hardi, Syarifuddin, and Murdani. Police had also arrested tens of activists from City Forum (FORKOT) who also demonstrated against fuel price increase.
Police's arrests and brutal attacks against the masses that reject fuel price rise are evidences of SBY-JK fear and reactionary measures in dealing with students and people's protests.It also affirmed our conviction on the powerful foreign interests behind the fuel price rise plan. This foreign interest manifested itself in the form of control over Indonesia's petroleum fields, and oil and gas export orientation that serve energy demands of developed countries at the expense of scarce domestic supply. Up to this day, Indonesia's natural wealth especially oil and gas has poured into pockets of foreign transnationals such as Shell, Chevron, ExxonMobil, BP, CNOOC, ConocoPhilips, and many more. Foreign intervention in the nation's hydrocarbon management is clearly seen in the Law 21 year 2001 on Oil and Gas, and Law 25 year 2008 on Capital Investment. Neoliberal economic figures, ministers, and their supporting political parties stubbornly defended the exploitation of the Indonesian people. They are the real culprit of current economic disaster. It is them that police should arrest and detain for being lackeys of foreign interests, selling off the nation's sovereignty and independence to imperialist powers.
Fuel price increase will bring destructive impacts on the Indonesian people's livelihood. Prices will soar further despite the already high basic need prices due to food crisis. Fuel price increase will also negatively affect the manufacturing industry, one of the pillars of national productive forces. Rising production costs will increase higher farming equipments and fertilizers. The Direct Cash Assistance (BLT) program will not in any way alleviate the negative impacts of fuel price increase because the value received by BLT recipients is almost nothing compared to the skyrocketing expenses caused by the increase.
Faced with problems above, the most appropriate way for the people to fight and reject the policy is through - like it or not - direct mass actions in the streets. Statements from SBY-JK that seeks to discredit people's protests are signs that the pro-imperialist regimes is getting more and more afraid of losing people's legitimacy, hence their downfall. There is no other way, the people must initiate a new way - a new economic direction, and a new government!
Therefore, we, the People Accuse Front, put forth these demands:
1. Release 18 FRM activists detained yesterday (May 21): Bilal Muhammad (LMND), Maximilian Renaldo (LMND), Wahyu, Ilal, Teddy, Aris,
Humuntal, Murherodian, Chubal, Hadi, Iksan, Ferdinand, Irvan, Bimbi, Eko, Hardi, Syarifuddin, and Murdani; 13 activists of FIS and
Mercubuana, tens of City Forum (FORKOT) activists, and tens of activists from FRM and LMND detained in other parts of the country.
2. Cancel government's plan to raise fuel price and cut prices of basic needs.
3. Fight neoliberal policies and kick out pro-neoliberal political - ministers and political parties - and economic power.
Jakarta, May 22nd 2008
People Accuse Front - Front Rakyat Menggugat (FRM)
Spokeperson: Lalu Hilman Afriandi (HP +62 818467080)
* Due to some misunderstanding in communication, when reports received from other parts of the country were urgent and sometimes, unfortunately, not very consistent, we made a mistake by claiming that all 14 protesters arrested in Ternate were LMND members. Only one of the fourteen arrested was LMND activist, although LMND's role in the protest was prominent. Apology for the mistake.
Read more...
Joint Political Statement; Let's Build National Unity For the Nationalisation of the Foreign-controlled Mining Sector
6:53 AM Posted by National Liberation Party Of Unity (PAPERNAS)
National liberation greetings!
Indonesia is a nation rich in natural- (mining and minerals) and
agricultural resources. At a time when the prices of oil and minerals
are high, and in the midst of high agricultural prices, the welfare of
the people has not improved; instead it is declining – not least of
which is the welfare of workers. Why is this? The welfare of the people
and the state of national industry are worsening because of the effects
of the economic policies of the government, since the New Order until
the SBY government, which are wrong and which betray the people and the
1945 Constitution. Unfortunately until now, there is no political action
that has successfully changed this situation yet.
Almost all the mining sector in this country has been handed over to
foreign interests. This has resulted in increases in the revenue of
large mining companies, companies such those belonging to the forces of
imperialism such as ExxonMobil, Freeport, Inco, Newmont, Chevron,
British Petroleum, ConocoPhilips, Freeport, Newmont – these companies
are the biggest robbers of the minerals we produce in this country. They
are the ones that control the largest gas reserves in the world (170
trillion cubic feet); the largest coal exporter in the world (117
million tonne each year); oil resources (9 billion barrels), gold
resources (4.4 tonne), copper, nickel in the soil, silica, mangan,
alumunium, iron ore, zinc, tin and other strategic mineral deposits. The
rise in food prices and plantation products could only be enjoyed by a
few, namely food importers and plantation capitalists who are greedy and
who congregate around the small ruling class.
Wrong government policies on agriculture, such as the liberalisation of
agricultural products; and plantation policies which prioritise exports
have destroyed the agricultural sector and destroyed the people’s buying
power. What have the imperialists, the government and its comprador
opposition left for the people, the workers and for the national
industry? Kerosene queues, scarcity and price rises in gas, electricity,
the nine basic commodities, in fertilisers; cooking oil queues, the
bankruptcy of national industry, mass sackings, low budgetary allocation
for education so that the cost of education is no longer affordable for
the majority of people. People have been limited to just being able to
read and write. As if these attacks were not enough, the rice bowl of
the majority of the poor continues to be plundered politically – the
state budget is plundered to pay for external debt and the debt
inherited from the corrupt conglomerates of the New Order cronies. The
majority who enjoy these debt repayments are imperialist governments and
their capitalists.
This is the basis of our thinking for why this May Day in 2008, we feel
it is necessary to urge again that all the people, all political
elements that care about what happens to the people, that we all unite
and struggle together in all political arenas to end the control of- and
theft by foreign imperialists and the government that acts obediently on
its behalf. This kind of political and economic situation must be
brought to an end. To save the republic, to defend the people and the
workers, Indonesia needs a NEW ROAD, needs A CHANGE IN DIRECTION. A new
road for the Indonesian economy by saving natural resource assets. This
means that imperialist control in the mining industry must be ended. The
demand of the people for nationalisation, for contracts to be renewed in
the mining sector that include provisions for social justice must be
rolled out. This also means that the people’s money, the State Budget
must be rescued from being used for debt repayments. The abolition of
debt repayments and at least a long-term moratorium on debt repayments
must absolutely be two components of the struggle program.
The Change in Direction is a movement to change the economic system,
which has thus far been on the side of the imperialists, change it to
becoming an economic system that is independent, prioritises development
and rescue of the national industry from the jaws of destruction and
death. The economic program will be successful if the structure of
government and power is changed, so that it can consequently implement
public welfare and the advancement of the people through free education
and health care. Because of this, the Change in Direction Movement is a
movement for unity to struggle for a new government, a new president, a
new political party – as our common instruments of struggle.
As it was in the past, and it will be in the future, May Day represents
to us an opportunity for stressing again the struggle program which in
our opinion is important to implement, in order to bring about an
independent economic and political system, one that aims to be
self-sufficient, to ‘stand on one’s own feet’ as Sukarno once said; and
to be socially just.
1. Subsidise the prices of the nine basic commodities so they can be
accessed by the people. At the same time, there must be policies to
normalise the prices of food and plantation products, so that the prices
of these items are accessible for the people, by subdising the price of
inputs, such as fertilisers, seeds and so on, so that people who are
dependent for their livelihoods on the agricultural and plantation
sectors can improve their well-being.
2. To make education and health care free for everybody.
3. To provide cheap energy (oil, gas and coal) for households and
industry. Through cheap supplies of energy, the national industry
(thousands of industrial manufacturers and millions of small and medium
enterprises) can reduce production costs so they can avoid bankruptcy –
with the proviso that some of these savings are directed to improve
workers’ welfare and wages.
4. Provide the bountiful raw materials (nickel, gold, copper, aluminium,
zing, tin, iron ore etc) to develop national industrialisation in the
future. All foreign companies in mining, of course after they have had
their contracts revised to include provisions of greater social justice,
must process their raw materials into semi-processed products in this
country and must prioritise the needs of domestic industry. This is
important to lay the foundation for kickstarting and advancing national
industry.
5. Because of the above, the entire mining sector needs to be
nationalised in stages; all contracts with foreign mining companies must
be redrafted in such a way as to benefit the people and domestic
industry.
6. Protect domestic industry from the ravages of greedy imperialists who
pretend to be advocating ‘free trade’, where in reality the imperialist
countries and their capitalists conduct their ‘free trade’
discriminatively and dishonestly.
7. Abolish foreign debt. The policy of devoting the state budget to debt
repayments must be stopped, within the next 10 to 15 years. All of the
state budget must be prioritised for assisting the recovery of- and
advancing domestic industry and to improve the people’s well-being.
8. The struggle program to alter the economic system and this
pro-imperialist government can only succeed if the entire people’s
movements struggle tenaciously in all political arenas.
As well as continuing to organise the mass movement to demand the urgent
and immediate rights of people, the people’s movements must unite with
intellectuals, artists, religious figures that are on the side of the
people, and nationalist capitalist-democrats to struggle in the
electoral arena, in the general and the presidential elections, local
elections, local Representative Councils, in political parties or as
independents.
The political power of the rulers and the so-called opposition who in
reality simply act as agents of imperialists must be cast aside, as much
as possible, as quickly as possible from their seats in the Central
Government, Regional Government, House of Representatives, Regional
Representative Councils and Regional Houses of Representatives.
This is our call to the nation and people of Indonesia
Indonesian Front for Labour Struggle (FNPBI), National Student League
for Democracy (LMND), Indonesian Urban Poor Union (SRMI), and National
Peasants’ Union.
Happy May Day 2008!
Enough of being a coolie nation, time to rise up to be an independent
nation!
Fly the Three Banners of National Unity:
Abolish the foreign debt,
Nationalise (take over) the foreign-controlled mining industry!
Construct a national industry for the people’s welfare
A new road with a change in direction:
A new economic system
A new president!
A new party!
Jakarta, 29 April 2008
Dominggus Oktavianus
General Chairperson
PP-FNPBI
Lalu Hilman Afriandi
General Chairperson
LMND - National Executive
Marlo Sitompul
General Chairperson
DPN-SRMI
Yudi Budi Wibowo
General Chairperson
KPO-STN
New Order Ruins Democracy and national Foundation
5:25 AM Posted by National Liberation Party Of Unity (PAPERNAS)
The media widely broadcast positive coverage of Suharto during his illness, making key leaders of the New Order regime seem good and innocent of their crimes. The elites took advantage of this situation and expressed appreciation of the services rendered to the nation by Suharto.
Amien Rais is one of the first elite figures who called for the people’s forgiveness and demanded an end to the Suharto legal case (a $1.6 billion civil corruption case). President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono even sent his attorney-general to the Suharto family to discuss a win-win solution to the case. (Then later denied giving the instruction.)
The government declared national mourning and for the Indonesian flag to be lowered for a week after Suharto’s death. Suharto’s Golkar Party proposed making the dictator a national hero.
In 1966, Suharto’s new order came to power by destroying the Indonesian revolution, which at that time was in the process of building national sovereignty after winning independence from Dutch colonialism in 1945. A bloodbath — claiming more than 3 million progressive souls — delivered Suharto to power.
Since then, he and his New Order government eliminated all progressive potential and depoliticised
The first law enacted by his government handed over the Papua goldmines, Kalimantan forest and
There are several facts that need to be taken into account in the case of Suharto. Firstly, it is not the case of just an individual but of the crimes of corruption and human rights violations committed by the New Order regime. Therefore, an investigation must not just be conducted into Suharto, but also into his New Order cronies.
During his rule, Suharto misused national assets to build an empire of wealth for his family and cronies. The government should create an institution to investigate and seize all the assets of Suharto’s family and cronies. As they are state assets, there is no reason to end this process with Suharto’s death.
The New Order deliberately abused human rights. Democratic space was closed and there were only three legal political parties, with a mechanism to ensure Golkar won elections. The New Order created the dual function of the military: defence and a social function, which meant the military was authorised to control the people’s daily lives.
Histories were rewritten to support the New Order regime.
Unlike the Sukarno government, which built the nation based on voluntary unity, Suharto forced unity militarily — with repression in
“Humanitarianism” is not an excuse for the government to avoid dealing with New Order human rights violations. Massacres in 1965, mysterious deaths in the mid-’80s, martial law in Aceh, repression in Papua, the invasion of East Timor, the Tanjung Priuk case, the kidnapping of activists in the ’90s, the July 27, 1996 tragedy, racial hatred and discrimination, the riot in May 1998 — these should make clear that Suharto does not deserve the title of national hero.
Therefore we demand the following:
•Continue the investigation — bring the case of Suharto and his cronies to trial;
•Immediately seize the wealth of Suharto and his cronies;
•Cut the prices of the people’s basic needs;
•Revoke repressive New Order laws;
•The rewriting of history by the New Order regime must be reversed, and history books revised.
Solidarity Statement by the National Liberation Party of Unity (Papernas) of Indonesia for the the Coalition Against Inflation (Protes) of Malaysia th
5:22 AM Posted by National Liberation Party Of Unity (PAPERNAS)
The decline in society's living standard due to neoliberal policies implemented by the ruling government is a global trend affecting the majority of world's population. People's resistance against this threat to their welfare is experiencing its upsurge in
On the other side, the regime still upholds and retains obsolete legislation that stifles basic human rights and democracy such as the Internal Security Act (ISA) to keep suppressing the ever growing movement of the Malaysian people. In the recent months, the world has witnessed a series of protests carried out by the Malaysian opposition that were met with large scale repression by the security forces. On January 26 2008, the Malaysian police once again used excessive force in dismissing peaceful demonstration organised by the opposition under the Coalition Against Inflation (Protes) at the heart of
Therefore the National Liberation Party of Unity (Papernas)
1. Condemn the use of force by the Malaysian police and demand the release of all detainees;
2. Expresses its solidarity with the Coalition Against Inflation (Protes) in its struggle against price hike;
3. Expresses its solidarity with the Malaysian pro-democracy and anti-neoliberal movement that struggle against the Barisan Nasional regime;
In Solidarity,
Agus Jabo Priono
Chairperson
PAPERNAS
Read more...Protest letter to President Musharraf,
5:13 AM Posted by National Liberation Party Of Unity (PAPERNAS)
We have heard about the arrests of Farooq Tariq and other members of Pakistan Labour Party at September 27, 007 in
Peaceful demonstrations of groups of unarmed people, rejecting the second presidential nomination of Musharraf, is a political expression that does not tolerate any kinds of repression. Only an authoritarian government could act that way. And by really doing so, we think that this even confirm the rightness of the rejection by the Labour Party of Pakistan toward the second presidential nomination of Musharraf. We believe that authoritarian government, whose violating the political rights of the people should not, in any way, be given mandate and trust to lead the nation in the future. Putting the Anti-Terrorist Act as a charge against these political activists has shown us further that the government of Musharraf is using the George Bush’ War on Terror instruments to forcibly strengthen his undemocratic power. We demand our comrades released at this very moment. We also strongly demand that other political prisoners must be released as well. Autoritarian government should have no place anywhere in this world at this 21st century of the human civilization.
We express our comradely symphaty to our comrades-in-arrest as well as their families. We hope that they could be released immediately so that they could go back to their struggle and their families. In the mean time, let us then strengthen our solidarity and political relation to continue our struggle against imperialism, both at home and all over the world.
Agus Priyono
Chairperson of Papernas
Solidarity for the People of Myanmar
5:08 AM Posted by National Liberation Party Of Unity (PAPERNAS)
National Liberation Party of Unity (PAPERNAS) -
Solidarity for the People of
The Struggle for Popular Democracy.
Withdraw The Indonesian Ambassador from
The political crisis in Myanmar has entered its boiling point after days of consecutive protests led by monks, hundreds of thousands of people, including pro-democracy groups, were met with violent reaction by the military Junta. These protests were an accumulation of previously widespread protests by the people against a 500% fuel price hike, which also rocketed prices and transportation costs. A stagnant economy, worsened by the centralization of the entire economic resources in the hands of the Junta creates huge disparity in
After gaining its independence in January 4, 1948, the democratic government led by U Nu only lasted a few years before being overthrown by a military coup in 1962. Since then the military regime has carried out a planned economic development strategy named the “
The political-economic situation that currently reigns in Myanmar bears some resemblance to the situation in Indonesia under Suharto’s 32-year dictatorial rule. Suharto’s government controlled all political aspects, and did not allow any freedom of union, organisation, or opinion. In the economic sphere, Suharto’s government built an economic kingdom named Soeharto .Inc where all the fruits of economic development could only be enjoyed by Suharto and his cronies. Although there are also some differences, the similarity in experience has become the basis of solidarity between the people of Indonesia and Myanmar. Myanmar military’s tendency to intervene in the political arena strikes a resemblance to the Indonesian military’s character in the past with ‘dual-function’ doctrine (that is, in essence, to be involved not only in military affairs, but also civilian - transl. )
Today the struggle of the people and pro-democracy activists in Myanmar is entering an important stage: whether they will be able to force the junta to release its power or the other way around. The situation is similar to the 1988 rebellion that failed to overthrow the military junta. There are some factors that influence the democratic struggle currently carried out by the pro-democracy activists and the Myanmar people; those are: (1) There has not existed a concrete political leadership to lead the masses. Junta’s dictatorship forced the opposition to carry out an underground struggle. The involvement of the monks in the demonstrations are still within the scope of anti-military junta, in the midst of foreign interests that has been working together with the military junta to exploit the country’s natural resources; (2) With abundant deposit of mineral resources, Myanmar has become the sought-after prize of the neighbouring foreign investor block, especially the ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) countries like Thailand and Singapore which have major investment interests under the military junta. (3) The economic sanction imposed by the US and its allies is not without interest either; the country’s natural wealth is the US’s primary target; (4) Although Myanmar represents all the characteristics of military dictatorship, it falls under the WTO and IMF economic mechanism. Therefore, the economic failure in Myanmar arises from the combination of limited liberalisation and its ruling regime.
The shooting of 9 demonstrators to death by the military junta is an unjustifiable form of atrocity. The peaceful demonstration that involved hundreds of thousands of people represents Myanmar people’s consciousness to achieve a democratic political future. Under severe military repression, we think that the main task of the pro-democracy movement and the people of Myanmar is to topple the military junta and to open as much democratic space for the political freedom and economic sovereignty for the people of Myanmar. This main goal could only be achieved when all pro-democracy forces in Myanmar--student movements, political party (NLD), armed guerillas, monks, workers, and peasants--are able to build a firm and strong united front. This united front will be the main force that will overthrow the junta, as well as carry out and lead the political transition process towards genuine democracy, Popular Democracy.
Therefore, the National Liberation Party of Unity (PAPERNAS) made the following statement:
1. To support the ongoing struggle of the people and the pro-democracy movement of Myanmar, and to call for solidarity action by people’s movement throughout the world for the struggle for democracy in Myanmar
2. The struggle for democracy is fundamental for the democracy movement in Myanmar that is striving to open up more just political space and to establish economic sovereignty. IMF and WTO’s involvement in Myanmar’s economy showed the true character of these two international institutions which have been supporting corrupt and militaristic regimes.
3. Stop the use of force against and arrests of pro-democracy activists in Myanmar. Release all opposition leaders and all political prisoners during the military junta’s rule.
4. International communities and institutions, especially the UN, must use their power to stop the military junta’s use of force. The UN must use its authority to pressure the junta government to open dialogue with the opposition and to release all political prisoners.
5. All Human Rights abusers during the military junta’s rule must be taken to the Human Rights Court to take responsibility for their deeds.
To demand the administration of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Jusuf Kalla to:
1. Withdraw the Indonesian Ambassador and diplomatic representation from Myanmar as a form of protest against the military junta, as well as a form of international solidarity commitment based on the upholding of Basic Rights as well as people’s sovereignty. This withdrawal should be done until the military junta stops any use of violence against the monks and the people of
2. Actively demand ASEAN countries and the international community to get involved in pressuring the junta to stop using any form of violence against the opposition and to hand over its power to a democratic government.
Thus we present our political statement. Thank you,
Agus Priyono - Chairperson
Haris Sitorus - Secretary General
Open letter in response to attack on Papernas office involving members of the TNI
5:06 AM Posted by National Liberation Party Of Unity (PAPERNAS)
Papernas - May 14, 2007
[The following is an open letter issued by the National Liberation Party of Unity (Papernas) following the March 13 attack on Papernas’s regional office in the
An open letter to the leaders of the nation and
higher state institutions:
1. President of the
2. House of Representatives
3. Regional Representatives Council
4. Commander in Chief of the Indonesian Military
5. Chief of the Indonesian National Police
6. Minister for Defense and Security
7. Minister of Justice and Human Rights
8. Supreme Court of the
9. Constitutional Court of the
On May 13 at 1am local time around 30 people, including members of the army (one of which was arrested -- private first-class Makmur from the Raksatama 711 Infantry Battalion) attacked the South Sulawesi regional offices of the National Liberation Party of Unity (Papernas) in Palu City. At least three Papernas members were seriously injured and had to be treated in hospital.
This incident strengthens earlier suspicions of the significant involvement of elements from the Indonesian military (TNI) in a series of attacks and acts of violence against Papernas: Surabaya (September 17, 2006), Yogyakarta (January 18-20, 2007/May 1, 2007), Batu-Malang Raya (March 4, 2007), Jakarta (March 29, 2007), Tuban, Sukoharjo, Tangerang and similar incidents in other parts of the country over this period.
Based on direct and indirect observations, as well as evidence gathered at the scene of the incident, it can be concluded that this involvement was systematic in nature. Meaning the TNI as an institution, which should be able to identify or be aware of the activities of its troops, at every level of its territorial structure, has acted in a way or taken steps that contract the spirit of democracy.
The commander of the 132/Tadulako Sub-District Military Command (Korem) has stated that these actions were not carried out upon his orders. But in view of the pattern of repeated attacks on the ground, we can emphatically state that there are significant and influential elements within the TNI that are seeking to take the TNI as an institution,
directly or indirectly, back into the realm of practical politics. Moreover, the political role being played is one of terror, intimidation and violence against the Indonesian people themselves, in which the TNI is now caught up in a plot to sow disunity among the Indonesian people and the nation.
The problems facing the Indonesian nation at this time requires solutions that are democratic and that place the people as the highest holders of sovereignty. The people’s efforts to organise and strengthen themselves, among other things through establishing political parties, must be fully guaranteed as a basic right, which must be respected by one and all. If just a single violation against these rights is permitted, then it will become a precedent for similar kinds of acts. Not just against Papernas, but against all democratic
activities that are frowned upon by those with different interests. Because of this therefore, all elements of society must take a serious stand against these fascist tendencies.
Aside from this, for us, the organisation of the people’s struggle within a united vehicle is
urgently needed in order develop the country’s political life, that up until now has been dominated by a handful of people who clearly take no responsibility for the people, the nation or the state. Because of this, arbitrary actions, whether it be the attack that took place recently in Palu as well as the series of incidents that proceeded it, is a manipulation and an endeavor shift the people’s attention away from the concrete problems they are facing. This is an attempt to revive the seeds of stupidity that were been planted by the New Order dictatorship of former President Suharto to create an atmosphere of fear, to prevent the people from struggling in a united vehicle to confront the economic and political interests of global corporations owned by the United States and associated countries (read imperialism).
Based on the views presented above, the Central Leadership Committee of Papernas states the following:
1. Because the latest attack against Papernas clearly involved the state apparatus, and indicates the institutional involvement of the tools of state power, we call on all higher state institutions (the President, the House of Representatives, the Supreme
Court, the Constitutional Court and the Regional Representatives Council) to openly declare their commitment to democracy, by affirming our right as Indonesian people and citizens to the freedom of association, assembly and expression as an endeavor to find a solution to the problems of this nation in a manner that is peaceful, transparent and
democratic.
2. By taking a firm stand such as this, it will be followed by legal action being taken against the parties that have been utilised to attack, slander and falsely accuse Papernas. The police must arrest the perpetrators, uncover the real motives behind the attacks and reveal these to the people so as to turn this into a lesson for the our future democratic life together.
3. Because this crime comes within the domain of civil law, with regard to the latest incident in Palu, we are calling for the perpetrators to be
indicted in a civil court in order to be able to seek an outcome that is just, transparent and in accordance with the principles of civil law.
4. We urge the TNI as an institution and its members of all ranks to consistently follow the doctrine of Three Missions One Deed (the three wings of the military), that is to be free from involvement in politics and is not be provoked into falling into the errors of the past by acting in the name of safeguarding the state.
5. We have always called on all elements of this nation, the working class, peasants, students and the oppressed ordinary people to unite their ranks together with all democratic, nationalist and populist elements to confront all types of imperialist exploitation that brings suffering to and has the potential to destroy this nation. This also means therefore that we must shun efforts to sow disunity by parties that seek to continue to fool the nation, and in the end plunge the people into a never ending cycle of suffering and misery.
Raise the Three Banners of National Unity for the welfare of the people:
- Repudiate the foreign debt!
- Nationalise the mining industry!
- Build the national industry for the welfare of the
people!
We have been a nation of coolies long enough! Rise
up to be come an independent nation!
Agus Priyono, Papernas General Chairperson
Dominggus Oktavianus, Department of Political and
Democratic Affairs
Copies sent to:
1. The ambassadors of friendly countries in at their
respective embassies in
2. Amnesty International
3. The United Nations Human Rights Commission
4. The National Human Rights Commission
5. Colleges in struggle in the political parties
6. Colleges in struggle in the mass organisations,
trade unions, peasant organisations, student
organisations, youth, non-government organizations
and so forth
7. All ordinary people that support this open letter
(** Translated by James Balowski)
The statement on Newmont acquittal
5:03 AM Posted by National Liberation Party Of Unity (PAPERNAS)
It is increasingly clear that the attitude and actions of the SBY-JK government do not have a character of national sovereignty. The judge’s verdict in the judication of the case of environmental pollution in Buyat bay by the Newmont Minahasa Raya company was to exonerate this company. It was not proven that they committed environmental crimes on the basis of a limited investigation by CSIRO, WHO and the National Minamata Institute. The verdict was confirmed by the Judges’ council in the Manado state court without considering additional data that is more objective, despite the fact the Newmont has clearly committed environmental crimes in the process of mining.
Below is evidence that strengthens the conclusion drawn above:
* Based on the report by the ASEAN Marine Water Quality Criteria 2004 that lists arsenic and mercury as being present in the Buyat bay.
* The arsenic content in the drinking water has exceeded the acceptable level set by the minister for health.
* Based on the report by residents of Buyat Pante that found medical complaints of skin irritation, cramping and lumps and swelling on the residents of the area of Buyat. The same lumps have also been observed on the local fish that are caught by the Buyat fishermen.
* Based on Newmont’s own Environmental management plan and environmental monitoring plan: Before waste is emitted into the Bay of Buyat, the tailings waste from Newmont already exceeds the acceptable levels that have been set. These documents show that there have been at least 121 cases where it has occurred that arsenic, mercury, silver, iron, manganese and cyanide have exceeded the acceptable limits that have been determined by the environment ministerial decree LH no. 51/MENLH/10/1995 attachment C and acceptable limits for tailings that have been set by the state environmental minister’s decree
* Based on a company report, Newmont has also been proven to not have permission to dump tailings waste into the sea during the period 2001 until 2004.
* Based on the report of the investigation by Indonesian police headquarters and the findings of the integrated team that manage the pollution of Buyat bay, it has been proven that a variety species of phytoplankton and other microorganisms in the area of Newmont’s tailings removal in Buyat bay are experiencing significant disturbance such that they have been categorized as experiencing heavy pollution.
* Based on the government report on environmental monitoring (2004) and Evan and Edinger, from Memorial University, the concentration of iron, arsenic and antimony in front of the mouth of the pipe is extremely high compared to other research stations in other regional waters of Indonesia.
From the data we see above, there is adequate evidence to determine that PT Newmont has violated Government Regulation regarding management of B3 and also the multilateral agreement on investment.
Although various regulations have already placed the owners of the Newmonrt company in the position of being guilty of environmental destruction, the position of the government is precisely as if the opposite is the case. In this case the government is two faced. On one side the government announced that Buyat bay had been polluted by tailings from the Newmont company but on the other side the health department that is under the authority of the Minister of health simply allows Newmont’s claims to stand, based on the appearance of facts that are the result of limited studies by CSIRO, WHO and the National Minamata Institute. Worse again, the government is silent when the Newmont company makes public lies by building a campaign around the results of these limited studies that mention that the Buyat bay is not polluted by tailings waste.
In addition in the years 2001-2004 the government through the office of the minister for the environment did not express any position with regards to the Newmont company who were dumping waste into the ocean without government authorisation.
Enough is enough! The evidence is already complete. The Newmont company has been proven to have committed environmental crimes but the government does not care about these crimes. This means that the government is also involved in destroying the environment and robbery of a comfortable life for the people of Buyat. In light of this situation PAPERNAS states that:
The SBY-JK government is not a pro-people’s government but rather a pro-imperialist government.
Because of this we declare:
1. So that the citizens surrounding Buyat and the victims of the greed of the Newmont company organize themselves to continue their struggle to maintain the rights of the people.
2. So that all democratic elements the pro people elements at both national regional and international level give their support and solidarity to the people of Buyat,
3. The relocation of the citizens of Buyat Pante.
4. Free education and health for the people Buyat Pante.
5. Implement a public court hearing that is free from forein intervention.
6. Arrest, bring to justice and seize the wealth of the government and court bureaucracy who are involved in collusion and maipulation in the case of the Newmont company.
7. Take over the Newmont company for the prosperity of the people and the salvation of the environment.
8. Employment and cheap quality housing.
9. Abolish the foreign debt.
10. Build national industry.
Jakarta, 25 April 2007
The Millenium Development Goals have failed! - The World Bank and the Indonesian government must be held responsible
4:33 AM Posted by National Liberation Party Of Unity (PAPERNAS)
Papernas Statement - March 29, 2007
[The following statement was to be presented during action by the National Liberation Party of Unity (Papernas) at the Hotel Shangri-La in
The Millenium Development Goals (MDG) were born out a response or panic by the advanced countries and international donor institutions as a consequence of the failure of their neoliberal economic policies that have been forced onto Third World countries such as Indonesia. These economic policies have been proven to have bankrupted many nations and further increase the gap between the small number of rich and the billions of poor. This is the reason that after five years, the eight targets of the MDG to eliminate poverty by the year 2015 as declared by 189 of the poorest countries have shown absolutely no signs of success.
Over these five years, the MDG have failed to reduce the maternal mortality rate of the 500,000 women that die per year in the poor countries. The MDG have also done little for the 827 million people that will be living in extreme poverty in the next 10 years, the 50 countries that have become even poorer or countries that risk falling into poverty within the next 35 years (The Human Development Report: 2005).
At first glance the MDGs appear promising: as if poverty in the
But how can these false improvements confront the reality that the world economic order at this time is causing massive losses to the poor countries. An economy that is has resulted in 2.5 billion (40 percent) of the world’s people living on less than US$2 a day and sharing in only 5 percent of the worlds total income, while 54 percent of global income ends up in the pockets of just 10 percent of the richest people in the advanced capitalist countries. The poor countries must bear the burden of massive foreign debts while the foreign capitalists in the advanced countries take control the natural resources that should be used to bring prosperity to the people.
It is this globalisation of neoliberal economics that instead of globalising prosperity has globalised poverty. Which has facilitated a new colonialism through the enforcement of conditions to facilitate investment and free trade, cause the natural wealth of Third World countries to be completely owned by foreigners (the US, Japan and Europe) and the profits flow into the pockets of foreigners, ensure the free entry foreign goods (the import of rice, textiles and other consumer goods), the cutting of subsidies for food, education and healthcare, the selling off of state own industries (Telkom, the state water and electricity companies) including educational institutions (universities) to private foreign investors resulting in them becoming ever more expensive as each day goes by. This is the source of the suffering of farmers, workers and the poor throughout the world, which has already bankrupted many countries in
The MDG are a falsehood and lie because the target countries continue to be forced to pay off their foreign debts that should be used to create prosperity. The MDG cannot be achieved because governments are required to sell of state owned enterprises (BUMN) to foreigners. The MDG are nothing more than an illusion because foreigners own the produce from the exploitation of our natural resources. Moreover the World Bank and the ADB provide us with new loans to fund the MDG, which sooner or later we will also have to pay off.
The main obstacle to the achievement of the MDG is the burden of foreign debt and foreign control of poor countries’ natural resources. For as long as this remains the case there will be no solution, and the MDG will remain nothing more than window dressing (or a way for governments to wash their hands of the problem) and will be unable to change the structural causes of poverty. Without abolishing the foreign debt, the MDG achieve little more than enabling those poor countries that are not yet bankrupt to continue to paying off their foreign debt.
The Indonesian government has no courage, the people must fight
The government of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Jusuf Kalla and the traditional political parties in the House of Representatives (DPR) has obediently continued to accept new loans, pay off the foreign debt and allow control of the country’s natural resources to fall into the hands of foreigners. This is the reason that the programs of the MDG have no basis and are impossible to attain. The Yudhoyono government like all of its predecessors, including the parties that won the elections have all submitted to and been ready to become accomplices in economic policies that facilitate the creation of a new colonialism. All of them have fought to become agents for the foreign domination of the Indonesian economy. They have never voiced any objections to and never truly struggled for the emergency demands in the MDG to improve the people’s welfare.
So, it is not therefore surprising that a report on MDG achievements that was compiled by the ADB and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) dated October 16, 2006 stated that Indonesia is one of the countries along with Bangladesh, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea and the Philippines that been the least successful in achieving the MDG.
Because of this therefore, the National Liberation Party of Unity (Papernas) along with all those struggling for the welfare of the poor, calls in the World Bank to:
* Accept responsibility for the failure of the MDG in
* To stop interfering in the macro-economic policy planning in
* To postpone the payment of the foreign debt until the MDG are achieved; or
* Abolish the foreign debt until the people have achieved a reasonable level of prosperity.
For us, the only way that the poor can rise out of poverty is by providing them with five basic prerequisites: Knowledge, land, credit (capital), technology and organisation. All development policies must be directed towards the people being able to obtain these five basic prerequisites. The initial means to achieve this is through the Three Banners of National Unity:
* Abolish the foreign debt;
* Nationalise the mining industries;
* Build the national economy.
For us, it is already clear that there can be no hope that the Yudhoyono government and the parties in the DPR will have the courage to uphold the people’s sovereignty. Everywhere at the moment, the poor are demonstrating that they are not prepared to be pushed aside. It is because of this that the people in fact already have the capacity, though existing democratic vehicles and methods of organisation, to struggle and win back the economic and political sovereignty from any government that has been shown to be unprofessional and against the interests of the ordinary people.
National Liberation Party of Unity (Papernas)
This statement is also supported by the Poor People’s Union (SRMK), the Poor Peoples Coordinating Post of Struggle (Popram), the National Student League for Democracy (LMND), the Indonesian National Front for Labour Struggle (FNPBI), the Indonesian Transportation Trade Union for Struggle (SBTPI) and the Mahardhika National Women’s Network.
SBY-Kalla have failed to achieve the MDG – Just some of the evidence
1. The government allocates a greater share (more than 30 percent) of the state budget to pay off the principle and interest on the foreign debt rather than social spending on the people’s welfare (the total public debt owed by every singe Indonesian child is around US$811 or 8 million rupiah).
2. The Medium-term Development Plan for 2004-2009 aims to reduce the number of poor to 8.2 percent by 2009. Instead, the total number of poor has now increased from 15.97 percent in February 2005 to 17.75 percent in March 2006 (2006 Central Statistics Agency Census, BPS) meaning that 108 million people are living on an income of less than 19,000 rupiah per day.
3. In the First Short-term Program is supposed to target the development of infrastructure such as irrigation, sanitation, roads, bridges and so forth. The reality is that in Jakarta alone, as the most advance and closest city to the center of capital power, 70 percent of the people have to access to clean water or adequate sanitation (Metro TV, 21/3/07). How will it be possible for clean water to reach the poor with the privatisation water resource management being ratified through Law Number 7/2004 and supported by the World Bank. Media sources have repeatedly reported on the poor road infrastructure resulting in actions by local people blockading roads and demanding repairs or for the roads to be surfaced.
4. In the Second Long-term Planning targets, the government promised to extend employment and business opportunities, concretely through micro-credits and small- and medium-scale businesses. But how is it possible for this to be implemented if out of the 141 banks in
5. The Third Long-term Program promised to meet the basic rights of the poor directly. The only thing that has been done so far is the distribution of funds saved from the cuts to fuel subsidies in the form of direct cash subsidies (BTL) and Askeskin (health insurance for the poor). In practice however it has not been easy for the poor to obtain BTL or Askeskin because of the complex and totally inhuman administrative requirements (for example the requirements to obtain a poor family accreditation card it is not based on the US$2 a day standard but rather on a minimum standard of living that is well outside of humanitarian values). Even if poor families are eligible to receive such assistance, third-class hospitals do not necessary accept or provide adequate service to the poor. Unless they demonstrate or political pressure is applied, hospitals continue to make it difficult for the poor to obtain healthcare.
6. With regard to the School Operational Assistance (BOS) and the Education Operational Assistance, aside from the fact that there is a seepage 40 percent of BOS funds (embezzlement), Educational Management Contributions (SPP) and other practice of charging fees in the majority of schools continues. These programs have clearly had no significant impact upon for example on the 15.4 million illiterate women in
7. Based upon the facts above, it is impossible for the fifth point in the MDG on equal education and empowerment of women to be optimally achieved likewise also point six that targets the eradication of HIV/AIDS and other fatal infectious diseases. Currently there are 6.5 million women who are in danger of infection and spreading HIV among the 25,000 people who are already suffering HIV/AIDS (2006). Hunger, malnutrition, the spread of the measles and polio virus, deaths from dengue fever and malaria have not declined significantly.
8. The ideals of the MDG in point seven on conservation of the environment are mere formalities. Not one of the giant multinational and transnational mining companies in
9. The final point in the MDG on promoting global partnership in reality represents a legitimisation for neoliberalism to be applied in the current unfair economic order and system of world trade. It is this kind of “partnership” that has resulted in the Indonesian nation becoming coolies in their own country.