[Nasional-e] CSVI/GPDI NEWS, January 2003
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Sun Feb 9 07:00:38 2003
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CSVI/GPDI NEWS, January 2003:
* Suharto Era Abuses To Be Probed [incl: '65-66 Killings; Tanjung Priok; Aceh]
* UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) - Indonesia
* Students ask Aceh peace monitors to probe shooting of brothers
* Japan Donates US$ 5 MLN for WFP Operations in Aceh
* ML Update A CPI(ML) Weekly News MagazineVol.6 ; No. 5; 29 Jan - 4 Feb 2003
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Suharto Era Abuses To Be Probed [incl: '65-66 Killings; Tanjung Priok; Aceh]
Security forces shot dead four university students before riots targeting
Agence France Presse
January 28, 2003
Human rights team begins wide-ranging probe of abuses under Suharto
By IAN TIMBERLAKE
JAKARTA - Indonesian state human rights investigators have begun a
wide-ranging probe of violations committed during the long dictatorship of
former president Suharto. Chief investigator M.M. Billah said the team
would research a series ofincidents starting with the murder of hundreds of
thousands of alleged communists as Suharto rose to power from 1965-66 --
the first time a government agency has properly studied the killings.
Although the Indonesian National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas
HAM)created by Suharto in 1993 has examined individual cases of abuse
during the former general's rule, this is the first time it has examined
his entire 32years in office. "It's true we have a heavy task and maybe
we will face some tough obstaclesalso," Billah told AFP in a recent
interview. "There has been a distortion of history and this can influence
the way Indonesian people look at themselves," Billah said.
Correcting the historical record could be a way to prevent similar abuses
in the future, he added. Billah credited a change in Komnas HAM's
membership last year for the agency's decision to study Suharto-era abuses
almost five years after the former president resigned.
Komnas HAM is now led by the founder of a respected local human rights
group,while Billah himself is a long-time human rights activist as well as
a University of Indonesia sociology lecturer. His 15-member team includes a
law professor and a historian as well as representatives from the Chinese
and Papuan communities. He said many survivors of the 1965 tragedy, which
remains a sensitive topic for Indonesians, have expressed willingness to be
interviewed by the humanrights team. The team will also rely on press
clippings, books, government and military records as well as information
from experts. "We have started gathering data and information related to
various incidents," said Billah.
The team is also to review the mysterious shootings of criminals in
the1980s; the 1984 murders of 24 people by security forces at Tanjung Priok
in Jakarta; military operations in separatist-leaning Aceh and Papua
provinces; andthe deadly 1996 raid on party headquarters of Megawati
Sukarnoputri by military-backed thugs. The disappearance of political
activists, allegedly at the hands of specialforces soldiers in the dying
days of Suharto's regime, as well as the events in May 1998 that eventually
forced his resignation, will also be investigated.ethnic Chinese killed
more than 1,000 people and brought an end to his 32-yeardictatorship.
The study, which Billah hopes will be finished within five months, will
seek to show whether gross human rights violations took place, whether
state policies provided a basis for rights violations and whether Suharto
was directly involved. "This is the preliminary step," he said.
The team's recommendations will be forwarded to a full session of
KomnasHAM's members, who will then decide whether to form a follow-up
investigative committee to possibly submit findings to state prosecutors.
More than two years ago the attorney general's office accused Suharto of
embezzling 571 million dollars in state funds.
Lawyers have argued he is too illto be tried and the Supreme Court ruled he
cannot be brought to court until his health improves. Suharto, 81, rarely
leaves his home in a plush central Jakarta neighborhood.
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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
31 Jan 2003Indonesia -
OCHA Consolidated Situation Report No. 11325 January - 31 January 2003
1. NATURAL DISASTERS
Landslides in Garut, West Java
Triggered by torrential rains, a series of landslides occurred in Garut,
West Java at 02.00 a.m. on Wednesday (29 Jan.). Three villages (Nenggeng,
Budi Anten, and Bojong Jambu) of Mandalasari and Karangmulya sub-district,
Kadungora district, were affected. Bojong Jambu village was the
worst-affected area. The SATLAK, represented by the Head of Social Welfare
District Office, reported 16 deaths. Search and Rescue workers at Garut
district level are working to find other victims. From the three villages
mentioned, 126 homes were reported damaged, with 1,308 people evacuated to
two public facilities (i.e. Islamic school [madrasah] and a primary school)
in Karangmulya sub-district. Electricity was disrupted four times during
the course of the day. The media reported a total of 830 homes and other
public buildings in two villages affected by the landslides.
The landslides have disrupted the trans-link road from Palengan to Cisewu
districts. The media have reported that landslides have cut off the railway
linking Jakarta to cities in Central and East Java via southern railway
tracks. (see www.reliefweb.int for full Situation Report).
To contribute to the relief efforts, the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) has
allocated a significant quantity of dry food to be sent to the affected
populations. A two-person assessment team has been assigned, with the
support of the IFRC, and is waiting for proceeding for a detailed assessment.
Other
The Jakarta Post reported on Tuesday (28 Jan.) that the Governor of West
Kalimantan, Usman Ja'far gave a report to Vice President Hamzah Haz who
visited the capital Pontianak on Friday (24 Jan.) on the floods in four
areas of West Kalimantan that have lasted from 10 to 22 January. Some
17,000 families (or 33,000 people) were evacuated from the flooded areas,
while 5 deaths have been reported. The floods affected 10 sub-districts in
the districts of Pontianak, Bengkayang, Sambas and the city of Singkawang.
A Papuan local media, Cendrawasih Pos, reported on Wednesday (29 Jan.) that
following a landslide in Ninia sub-district of Jayawijaya district on
Friday (24 Jan.), another landslide occurred in Okbul village of Okbibab
sub-district. No casualties were reported, but 5 houses were damaged, and
coffee and potato plantations were ruined. BAKORNAS PBP conducted several
follow-up assessment missions to flood-affected areas starting from Monday
(27 Jan.).
BAKORNAS PBP sent separate teams to Gorontalo city of North Sulawesi
province, where floods and landslides affected 9 villages. Five schools and
838 hectares of farmland were reported damaged. BAKORNAS PBP also sent a
team to flooded sites in Ogan Komering Ilir and Ogan Komering Hulu of South
Sumatra province. A total of 10,087 hectares of farmland have been affected
and 2,439 families have been temporarily displaced.
An assessment team bringing humanitarian assistance was also sent to Mt.
Semeru, Lumajang district of East Java province to monitor the volcanic
activities/eruption, which affected 5 sub-districts and caused evacuation
of 493 families. Social services and additional assistance have been
provided by the local authorities and the Central Government respectively.
2. ACEH (Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam)
General Situation According to local media, one civilian and one GAM member
were reported killed in the province during the week.
A local newspaper, Serambi Indonesia, reported on Thursday (30 Jan.) that
seven high ranking ministers led by the Coordinating Minister for Social
Welfare, Yusuf Kalla would visit Aceh to launch the social rehabilitation
programmes and the distribution of humanitarian assistance to communities
in Meureudu sub-district of Pidie district, on Saturday (1 Feb.). The
ministers will proceed to Bireuen, East Aceh, Tamiang districts and Banda
Aceh with the same agenda until 2 February.
Some 200 students launched a protest in front of the Joint Security
Committee (JSC) headquarters in Kuala Tripa Hotel, Banda Aceh, on Tuesday
(28 Jan.). The protesters urged a JSC monitoring team to investigate an
incident in which two students on a motorcycle were shot by unidentified
gunmen in Lamreng village, Darussalam sub-district of Banda Aceh district
on Saturday (Jan 25.). One victim died, while the other was critically
wounded. A spokesperson of JSC stated that the Committee would launch an
on-the-spot investigation and would announce the findings through the press.
The Jakarta Post reported on Sunday (26 Jan.) that Indrapuri sub-district
of Great Aceh district was declared as the first Peace Zone in Aceh on
Saturday (25 Jan.). The declaration ceremony took place near a traditional
market and was attended by some 2,000 local settlers and representatives of
Great Aceh district. At a media briefing after completion of the ceremony,
HDC Senior Envoy, Major General Tanongsuk Tuvinun stated that JSC would
extend the Peace Zones to another 8 districts before 8 February. A GAM
spokesperson T. Kamaruzaman revealed that Banda Aceh, Great Aceh, South
Aceh, Bireun, North Aceh and East Aceh districts would be demilitarised
within the next two weeks.
Health
SC US conducted training on "Posyandu Cadres" from 28 to 31 January in
Tangse sub-district.
Some 270 cadres from 27 villages in Tangse participated in the training.
The purpose of the training was to train and select volunteers for posyandu
cadres and to increase their knowledge and skills in mobilising
communities, especially for addressing public health problems.
Water and Sanitation
A water sanitation team from CARDI conducted a field trip to Nagan Raya and
South West Aceh districts from 20 to 25 January to assess two villages in
Nagan Raya district for possible inclusion in its "Rehabilitation of Water
and Sanitation Facilities Programme" funded by OFDA/USAID. In addition,
CARDI conducted interviews for recruitment of Field Monitors in South West
Aceh and Nagan Raya districts as part of its "Flood Emergency Response
Programme" funded by DFID/OCHA Emergency Reponse Fund.
Economic Recovery and Infrastructure
ICMC travelled to South Aceh and South West Aceh districts from 16 to 26
January to meet its partners and communities in relation to its "Reducing
the Vulnerability of Female-Headed Households in Aceh" programme. New
community training will begin in these areas in February and will include
training on community organisation, and technique for producing nutmeg and
peanut products, and for embroidery. Some 90 people from South Aceh and 154
people from South West Aceh will attend the programme.
CARDI and its local partners (Gardamedina, Sue Support Group [SSG] and
Muhammadiyah) conducted a field trip to the selected sites in Bireuen and
Central Aceh from 19 to 24 January to monitor its "Livelihood Programme"
funded by Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Through this programme,
CARDI provides farming tools and seeds for farmers, as well as fishery kits
for fishermen.
3. CENTRAL SULAWESI
Assessments
CARE started a one-month assessment for its "Poso's Emergency for
Agricultural and Livelihood Security (PEARLS)" project in selected sites in
South Pamona, Lage, Poso Pesisir and Tojo sub-districts on Sunday (26 Jan.)
CARE completed its one-month "Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and
Capacity Vulnerable Analysis (CVA)" assessment for some 165-220 families in
11 villages across Poso Kota, Poso Pesisir, Lage, North Pamona and East
Pamona sub-districts on Friday (24 Jan.). This assessment aimed at
obtaining general information on income sources and urgent needs of the
IDPs and returnees, and also identifying the strengths and vulnerabilites
of the IDPs when returning to their places of origin. CARE also had a
meeting to obtain further information on the issue on Tuesday (28 Jan.).
Some 15 people from relevant government institutions, security forces
(Police/TNI) and NGOs attended the meeting.
Food Security and Agriculture
CWS distributed rice, red beans and vegetable oil to some 785 families in
14 villages of Mori Atas sub-district on Friday (24 Jan.).
CARE completed its two-month "Supplementary Food Programme" for 227 infants
in five areas of Poso Kota sub-district on Friday (31 Jan.).
Health
IMC conducted health examination for children and Intensive Education
Campaign (IEC) on drug abuse for 234 children in two elementary schools in
Lawanga and Rononuncu villages of Poso Kota sub-district from 27 to 28
January.
IMC distributed anti worm tablets in North Lore sub-district from 27 to 30
January.
Shelter and Non-food Items
CARE provided shelter materials for 196 returnee families in the
sub-sub-districts of Lawanga, Tegalrejo and Madale of Poso Kota
sub-district from 29 to 30 January.
Other
IMC reported that starting from 10 February 2003, IMC would reduce its
mobile clinic activity due to lack of basic drugs.
4. MALUKU
General Situation A local newspaper, Ambon Ekspress, reported on Friday (24
Jan.) that an unknown sniper shot at a car carrying vegetables on Jl.
Sudirman in Galungun area (a suburb of Ambon city). One person was reported
injured. The incident did not escalate further.
Population Movement
Ambon Ekspress, reported on Monday (27 Jan.) that at least 721 IDPs from
Bacan sub-district of North Maluku province have left Amahai, Taniwel and
Kairatu sub-districts on Seram Island to return home. The departure of the
IDPs was seen off by the Head of District (Bupati) of Central Maluku.
Assessments
ICMC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with four national NGOs
(MODCA, LAKPESDAM Tkt.1, ERIKAWAN and Diakonia) to conduct joint
assessments on the IDP situation in Werinama, Bula, Wahai and Tiong Nila
Serua sub-districts of Central Maluku district.
Health
IMC this week conducted a total of 2,678 medical consultations at its
health stations in Buru district (covering Wamsisi, Leksula and Waemulang
sub-districts) and Seram district (covering sub-districts of Taniwel,
Tehoru, Werinama, Wahai, Kobisonta and Masohi hospital), and at its mobile
clinic operating in Masohi area of Seram Island.
IMC's clinic boat "The Srikandi" visited villages along the coast of West
Seram Island for routine health assessments and provided 388 medical
consultations.
A mobile clinic team from MSF-B had 346 consultations at MSF-B supported
health centres on Ambon Island.
Water and Sanitation
AcF continued implementation of its water and sanitation programme, which
consists of well cleaning and water trucking programmes in Tawiri village
and Wailiha area of Benteng Karang (a suburb of Ambon city), construction
of spring catchments and Gravity Force System (GFS) on West Seram Island,
and instalment of five tap stands and a pump in Tawiri village. The
construction of one well and one water storage in Tawiri village has been
completed.
Education
ICMC sponsored a three-day training on "Conflict Analysis and Facilitation
Skills" for its Programme Officers and four LNGO partners. The training was
designed and implemented by members of INSIST (a research and training
organization based in Yogyakarta) and Yayasan Baileo from 13 to 15 January
in Ambon city.
Other
ICMC signed an MOU with an LNGO, Tiara Pusaka, to continue facilitating
dialogue within and among Nuniala, Patahuwa, Wakolo and Lisabata villages
in Taniwel sub-district of Seram Island.
5. NORTH MALUKU
General Situation A local newspaper, Mimbar Kieraha, reported during the
week that a debate on the creation of the municipality of Tidore Island
City (Kota Tidore Kepulauan) has been going on, even though the People's
Representative Council of the Republic of Indonesia (DPR RI) has ratified
the bill on the Creation of New Districts in North Maluku province together
with other 25 areas all over Indonesia on Monday (27 Jan.).
Several youth organisations rejected the creation of Tidore Island City as
a municipality since it was not part of the initial plan of the division of
the previous Central Halmahera district.
Mimbar Kieraha reported on Tuesday (28 Jan.) that the Programme and
Planning Bureau of North Maluku Provincial Maluku planned to build some
6,000 houses typed T-36 for returnees and other public infrastructure in
the year 2003. The programmes require some IDR 25 billion from the Local
Government Budget (APBD). The Government of North Maluku has built some
28,000 houses, 16 elementary schools and 2 pustu during the year 2001-2002.
Food Security and Agriculture
WVI conducted training for fishermen groups in: all villages of North
Morotai and South Morotai sub-district, which were under its operation
coverage, from 23 to 29 January; in Toguraci village of South Jailolo
sub-district from 28 to 29 January; and in all area under its operation
coverage in Galela sub-district.
FAO commenced implementation of "Livelihood Support to Resettling
Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Vulnerable Populations in North
Maluku " projects (OSRO/INS/201/NET), by recruiting an international
fishery expert and fielding a national consultant to North Maluku. The
project is a response to the FAO proposals included in the CA 2002. The
budget of US$475,000 is funded by the Government of the Netherlands. The
project is aimed at providing fishing gears and equipment to 7,000
fishermen and women, and also food processing equipment to 50 farming
communities. The project will also include construction of 300 fishing
canoes by involving local carpenters and craftsmen. The project agreement
was signed on 22 January between FAO and the Ministry of Marine Affairs and
Fisheries, with the presence of a representative of the Royal Netherlands
Embassy in Jakarta.
Health
IMC this week treated some 1,331 patients through its mobile clinic in Kao,
Malifut, Tobelo, Galela, South Morotai and North Morotai sub-districts and
in Posi-Posi Rao Island.
IMC conducted various health education programmes at various sites. Topics
covered were: malaria, self hygiene and worm disease in SD Makarti,
Kao-Malifut sub-district (soap was also distributed); TB and Upper
Respiratory Tract Infection (URTI) in Sambiki Tua village of South Morotai
sub-district; malaria in Miradengan village; TB in Sopi village; Pneumonia
in Lusuo village of North Morotai sub district; skin disease, and low birth
weight and sex education for students in SMPK Posi-Posi in Posi-Posi Rao
Island.
IMC conducted training on Traditional Birth Attendant (TBA) and distributed
TBA kit in: Wawama and Sangowo villages of South Morotai sub-district; and
Miradengan village of North Morotai sub-district.
IMC also conducted training for posyandu cadres and midwives in Aru Burung
village of Posi-Posi Rao Island.
IMC has continued its UNDP funded programmes to rehabilitate pustu in
Tobelo sub-district (covering Leleoto and Ruko villages) and Igobula
village of Galela sub-district, and polindes in Tobelo sub-district
(covering Paca, Tobe, Wari and Popilo villages) and in Galela sub-district
(covering Ngidiho, Dokulamo and Lalonga).
CORDAID reported that there has been an outbreak of malaria and high fever
in Golao village of Jailolo sub-district.
Shelter and Non-food Items
CORDAID reconstructed: 10 houses in Talaga village of Ibu sub-district; 10
houses in Susupu village and 15 houses in Peot village of Sahu
sub-district; 30 houses in Golao village of Jailolo sub-district; 15 houses
in Biamaahi village of South Jailolo sub-district; 8 houses in Sosol of
Malifut sub-district; and 7 houses in Sosol village in Kao sub-district.
Projects in Biamaahi village has reached 80% of completion and 50-60% in
other areas.
UNDP monitored its "Assistance to Government Housing Programme" for 520
houses through Satkorlak.
Education
WVI conducted a census for damaged school buildings in Galela sub-district
from 23 to 24 January.
WVI also conducted training on magazine production in Tobelo sub-district
from 23-29 January 2003.
Economic Recovery and Infrastructure
WVI monitored its Community Recovery Project (CRP) II in Galela
sub-district from 23 to 29 January and CRP I in Gorua, Ruko and Togoliua
village of Tobelo sub-district. WVI also monitored its infrastructure
project in Galela, Malifut and South Jailolo sub-district.
Other
UNDP placed one Senior Programme Officer and one Housing and Infrastructure
Project Coordinator in its Ternate office.
UNDP organized a Security Workshop attended by staff of all UN agencies and
INGOs in North Maluku, as well as UNDP staff of "Maluku and North Maluku
Recovery Programme".
6. PAPUA
General Situation Associated Press Washington and the The New York Times on
Thursday (30 Jan.) quoted the U.S. States Department, as stating that it
has asked the GoRI to carry out a serious investigation into the deaths of
the two American teachers killed in Papua in August 20002. Spokesman
Richard Boucher gave no details but it was reported that U.S. Officials
have learned that the Americas were killed in an ambush carried out by
Indonesian soldiers.
The Jakarta Post reported on Wednesday (29 Jan) that the National Police
Chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar gave assurances to legislators that the U.S.
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) would not dictate the Indonesian
police in the ambush investigation. He further explained during a hearing
with the House of Representatives, that the foreign investigators were here
to provide assistance for their Indonesian counterparts.
The Jakarta Post reported on Tuesday (28 Jan.) that five Papuan witnesses
testified in court at the military tribunal in Surabaya on Monday (27 Jan.)
that they had never seen the soldiers charged with the murder of the Papuan
separatist leader, Theys Hiyo Eluay, in 2001. The witnesses could not
identify any of the defendants from the Army's Special Force (Kopassus) as
the killers of Theys.
A local media, Cendrawasih Pos, on Tuesday (28 Jan.) quoted the Chief of
District Police in Manokwari district, AKPB Drs. Yohanes Prapto Wirahadi as
stating that his team would continue sweeping for weapons until they could
catch the civil armed group led by Otis Koridama.
The Jakarta Post on Saturday (25 Jan.) quoted TNI spokesman Maj. Gen.
Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin that the two FBI agents (Mr. Edward Montoth and Mr.
Robert Deardorss) met with TNI Chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto and other
high-ranking military executives on Thursday (23 Jan.). Both parties agreed
to cooperate and ensure that the investigation on deaths of two American
teachers was mutually beneficial.
Food Security and Agriculture
Cendrawasih Pos reported on Wednesday (29 Jan.) that the heavy hail over
the last few weeks save damage to crop farmlands and agriculture in Ninia
and Okbibab sub-district of Jayawijaya district. Food shortage is likely to
be a problem.
Health Cendrawasih Pos on Monday (27 Jan.) quoted the Head of District
Health Office in Jayapura, Dr. Esterlina Ayomi, as saying that one of the
main tasks of the district health office was to reduce the mortality rate
of mother and children. In cooperation with UNICEF Papua, her office has
been implementing "Kelangsungan Hidup Perkembangan Perlindungan Ibu dan
Anak (KHPPIA)" programme. The mortality rate is reported to have been
significantly reduced.
Cendrawasih Pos reported on Wednesday (29 Jan.) that Phrambosia disease has
spread in 9 villages in Atsy sub-district of Merauke district. The local
health center stated on Saturday (24 Jan.) that approximately 60 patients
have been treated daily at the center and it has no supply of medicine
since November 2002.
Selected Abbreviations Key
ACF Action Contre la Faim
BAKORNAS PBP National Coordinating Board for the Management of Disaster and
IDPs/Refugees
BRIMOB Police Mobile Brigade
BULOG National Logistics Agency CWS Church World Service GAM Free Aceh
Movement GoRI Government of Indonesia
CARDI Consortium for Assistance to Refugees and the Displaced in Indonesia
CORDAID Catholic Organisation for Relief and Development
HDC Henry Dunant Center
ICMC International Catholic Migration Commission
IMC International Medical Corps IDP Internally displaced person
IRD International Relief and Development
JRS Jesuit Refugee Service
KOMNAS HAM National Commission on Human Rights
KOPASSUS Army's Special Force
KOSTRAD Army's Strategic Reserve Command
MSF - B Medecins sans Frontieres Belgium
MCK Combined Bathing, Washing and Latrine Facility
OPM Free Papua Organization
PMI Indonesian Red Cross Poliandes Field Health Post Posyandu Integrated
health service Puskesmas Primary health centre Pustu Primary health unit
SATKORLAK PBP Provincial Coordinating Unit for the Management of Disaster
and IDPs/Refugees
SATLAK PBP District Executing Unit for the Management of Disaster and
IDPs/Refugees SC US Save the Children US
TNI Indonesian Armed Forces
WVI World Vision International
This report and previous ones can be found at www.reliefweb.int Office for
the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
UN Building 5th FloorJl. MH Thamrin 14P.O. Box 2238, Indonesia
FAX: (+62-21) 319-00-003
PHONE: (+62-21) 314-1308, Ext. 126, 150
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Agence France Presse
January 28, 2003
Students ask Aceh peace monitors to probe shooting of brothers
JAKARTA - About 200 students on Tuesday urged monitors overseeing a peace
pact between the Indonesian government and Aceh separatist rebels to
investigate the shooting of two brothers.
Unidentified gunmen shot the two brothers who were riding a motorcycle
onSaturday evening in Aceh Besar district, killing one of them and
critically wounding the other.
The students picketed the office of the Joint Security Committee in the
provincial capital Banda Aceh, the official Antara news agency said. They
said that the committee might as well be dissolved if it was unable
topinpoint the perpetrators of the attacks.
The protestors gave the committee one week to investigate the incident
andannounce the culprits. The committee was set up following the signing
of a ceasefire agreement between Jakarta and the separatist Free Aceh
Movement (GAM) on December 9.
Steve Daly, spokesman for the Henry Dunant Centre which mediated the
peacetalks and sits on the security committee, said the committee would
launch anon-the-spot investigation and announce the findings through the
press.
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Japan Donates US$ 5 MLN for WFP Operations in Aceh
JAKARTA, Jan 27 Asia Pulse/Antara - The United Nations World Food Programme
(WFP) on Friday welcomed a US$5 million donation from the Japanese
government for WFP operations in Indonesia, particularly an aid programme
designed to bolster the fragile new peace process in the formerly
conflict-torn province of Aceh.
Announcing the contribution, Japanese ambassador to Indonesia Yutaka Iimura
said: "The sufferings of conflict- affected persons in Aceh have to stop
now. I count on WFP's role to alleviate their hunger. I hope Japan's
contribution will help consolidate the ongoing peace process in Aceh."
WFP Country Director Mohamed Saleheen said the donation would be used
immediately to give short-term food aid to the most vulnerable people in
Aceh such as widows, children and refugees. A WFP team is currently
carrying out a detailed assessment of food needs and sorting out the
modalities for distribution with the local government in Aceh, the
westernmost province in the country. " In this post-conflict transition
period, we can give the most vulnerable people the food they need right now
to get them through to the next harvest," Saleheen said.
A ground-breaking study on the more than 1 million internally displaced
people in Indonesia, published by WFP in May 2002, identified Aceh as the
province with a 90 percent poverty rate and the highest unemployment ( 100
percent in two of the province's four districts).
But when the province is not affected by drought or war, it is a rich
territory capable of producing food surpluses, Saleheen noted."This
operation will be a bridge for the people of Aceh as they cross over to an
era of harmony and hopefully, prosperity,"he said.
The Japanese government, which this week co-chaired a donor conference on
the Indonesian island of Bali, is one of the WFP's biggest supporters.
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MLUpdateA CPI(ML) Weekly News MagazineVol.6 ; No. 5; 29 Jan - 4 Feb 2003
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----Marandi Cannot Save His Skin by Unleashing Terror on the People On 22
January, the trigger-happy Jharkhand police once again went berserk and
killedthree people who were demonstrating against the police-criminal nexus
outside theMarkachcho police station in Koderma district. Not a single
month has passed withotsuch instances of police brutality since Babulal
Marandi was sworn in as the firstChief Minister of the Jharkhand state in
November 2000. And till date no action hasbeen initiated against the
killers in uniform. Advani had rightly declared at thetime of inception of
the new state that Jharkhand would become an ideal policestate. Giridih is
Marandi's home district and it is in the Giridih-Koderma region that thenew
governmnet is having to face the most sustained and powerful movement of
thepeople under the leadership of the CPI(ML). Defying police repression
and defeatingthe government's attempts to divide the people, the masses
have continued to rise intheir thousands against various instances of
Marandi's misrule. Like everydictatorial ruler who is afraid of his own
people and wants to secure his rule byunleashing more and more terror,
Marandi too is trying out the worn-out strategy ofterrorising the people
into silence and submission. But if the powerful Koderma Bandh of 24
January and the Rajbhavan March of 27January is any indication, Marandi's
terror tactics can only ignite a bigger popularresistance. It is just not
possible for the BJP to rule Jharkhand at gunpoint. Ironically, in
neighbouring Bihar, the BJP is trying to wear the mask of democracyto
mislead the popular indignation against the reigning police-criminal nexus
andits patron, the Laloo-Rabri government. The activists of the
pro-democracy movementin Bihar must now ask the loud-mouthed leaders of the
BJP to shut up. Both in Bihar and Jharkhand, the new year promises to be a
year of powerful popularassertion for democracy. Revolutionary communists
must seize the initiative and makeevery effort to mobilise the people in
ever larger numbers and lead the agitation tonewer and greater victories.
CPI(ML) Calls for Jharkhand Bandh on Jan 31 Against Killing of Innocents by
Police in Koderma.
The Communist Party of India (M-L) strongly condemns and protests the
incident ofpolice firing on peacefully protesting people and killing of
three innocents atMarkachcho PS in Koderma district of Jharkhand on Jan 22
and demands the resignationof Babulal Marandi government, arrest of all
police personnel deputed at Markachchothana at the time of firing that they
be punished for committing murder andimmediate suspension of DM and SP of
Koderma.
The CPI(ML) also condemns the policeand local administration's attempts to
produce a concocted and false version of theincident in order to misguide
the people. The Party held a march to Raj Bhavan in Ranchi on Jan 27 and
protested the spate ofatrocities being committed by police on innocent
people of Jharkhand. This wasattended by a huge mass who came to express
their anger as well as to build uppressure on the govt. to punish the
guilty of this brutality. It was led by CentralCommittee members Subhendu
Sen and Mahendra Singh besides others.
Leader of JanSangathan Manch Dayamani Barla also led this protest. The
protesters criticised theGovernor who was not present at the moment despite
prior information and refused togive memorandum to his officials, instead,
it was pasted over the gates of the RajBhavan. It was also decided to call
for a Jharkhand bandh on January 31 if guiltypolicemen were not arrested
till that day.The Party observed the district bandh in Koderma on Jan 24
which evoked anoverwhelming and spontaneous response. The bandh was also
supported by CPI, CPI(M),Forward Bloc, Marxist Coordination Committee and
the RSP. People blocked railwaytracks and highways during bandh. Angered
people also blocked Grand Trunk road inDhanbad.A Black-Day was observed
throughout Jharkhand the next day of this incident on Jan23. CPI(ML)
supporters wore black badges on this day and effigy of Marandi was burntat
Bundu, while protest marches, mass meetings, road blockades and effigy
burningwere organised at Bagodar, Saria, Birni and Raj Dhanwar, Bokaro,
Ramgarh, Barkakana,Argadda, Giddi, Koderma, Garhwa, Daltanganj, Barwadih,
Lohardagga, Gumla, Dhanbad,Baliapur, Kumardubi and Fusro besides many other
centres. This incident was also protested at Patna on Jan 23 by holding a
demonstration andburning an effigy of Jharkhand CM Babulal Marandi.
Addressing the gathering on thisoccasion speakers said that this incident
is a product of a well planned strategy ofJharkhand govt. to curb growing
people's resistance against police and staterepression.
While in Delhi, a demonstration was held at Jantar-Mantar and amemorandum
was sent to the Governor of Jharkhand through its Resident Commissioneron
Jan 24. The Party has asked the Union Home Minister and the Chairperson,
National HumanRights Commission in Delhi to intervene in this matter.To
recall the whole incident, on January 22, a demonstration was being held
atMarkachcho PS in Koderma district of Jharkhand to protest the rising
crime andpolice atrocities and it wanted to present a memorandum and
discuss their grievanceswith the thana in-charge, Pavan Uraon.
When peaceful demonstrators reached to theMarkachcho thana and were
expecting a conversation, the thana in-charge instead ofgiving an ear to
the people ordered his policemen to start firing without anyprovocation.
Three persons, Mahesh Singh, Ashok Yadav and Ratan Modi,
diedinstantaneously after sustaining bullet injuries while Umesh Barnwal,
Garha Singh,Kishor Singh, Baban Kumar, Ram Chandra Yadav, Sushila Devi and
Rajesh Singh havesustained grievous injuries and four of them have been
sent to Rajendra Institute ofMedical Sciences at Ranchi. The condition of
Umesh Barnwal is said to be critical.It has been reported that more than
forty five people have been injured.
Thecircumstantial evidences themselves prove that this was pre-planned and
police wasalready prepared to commit such a ghastly crime as no warning was
issued, nolathi-charge was ordered, not even a single shot was fired in air
to scare thepeople if they were, as police says, getting violent. Moreover,
all killed andinjured people have sustained bullet injuries in upper
portion of their body andthana in-charge Oraon chased and shot Ashok Yadav
at point blank in a schoolbuilding where he went to escape from the police
brutality.
The People's Union for Civil Liberty and AIPRF have also condemned this
incident.BJP's Police StatePolice barbarism has surpassed all heights
during the tenure of BJP-led Governmentof Jharkhand. CPI(ML) MLA in
Jharkhand Assembly Com. Mahendra Singh said in astatement that since the
police firing on the day of Eid in Doranda nearly two yearsago, the fact
sheet of police excesses itself reveals that the guardians of the lawhave
been resorting to indiscriminate firing on innocents once every 47 days.
Peopleare not allowed to enjoy even basic human and civil rights under the
Babulal Marandigovernment. There have been at least a dozen cases of firing
on innocent villagerssince the formation of Jharkhand. And people of
Jharkhand can never forget some ofthem, like police firing in Tapkara, then
in Doranda, Semi Banjari, Bagodar andBokaro. These are yet to be probed and
guilty policemen are yet to be punished,because it is the government that
patronises them to serve its own vested politicalinterests.This fact is
quite explicit in state BJP spokesman Umashankar Kedia'sstatement which was
issued after Markachcho firing shamelessly defending policeaction and
terming this incident, which claimed three lives and rendered as many as45
injured, a "chhoti si baat" (a trivial issue).
With increasing democratic resistance by the masses this kind of police
repressionis becoming the order of the day. As CPI(ML)'s movement is fast
spreading inJharkhand involving lakhs of poor peasants and tribals, police
and BJP government'srepressive measures are earning more and more notoriety.
For the last two yearsCPI(ML)-led movement continues to march ahead braving
state repression and policebrutalities. On March 1, 2001 Party General
Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya wasarrested at the behest of Marandi
government on false criminal charges when he wasleading a big protest march
against police atrocities in Ranchi and Party legislatorMahendra Singh was
confined to jail in April last year and same was the case withParty State
Committee member Raj Kumar Yadav and many others. This incident has
onceagain exposed police brutality in suppressing common people who dare to
rise fortheir democratic rights.
And in Markaccho too, where the police unprovokedly openedfire, people had
been protesting police's high-handedness and rising incidents ofcrime in a
peaceful and democratic manner. CPI(ML) Launches "Naya Bihar Banaao"
Campaign The CPI(ML) has launched a statewide "Naya Bihar Banaao" (Build a
New Bihar)campaign on Jan 23 in a successful Cadre Convention held in Patna
and attended byaround a thousand Party activists from all over the state.
The main speaker of theConvention was Party General Secretary Com. Dipankar
Bhattacharya who reiterated theneed to oppose anti-people twin targets, the
Laloo-Rabri regime on the one hand andthe BJP on the other, in order to
build a massive movement to ensure Bihar'sdevelopment, turn it inot a New
Bihar. He said that Bihar needs a '74 like movementin terms of scale and
intensity, but at the same time it must be a positive negationof that
movement, because that spirit can now be revoked only by overthrowing
therenegades of 1974, like Laloo Prasad in Bihar and Narendra Modi in
Gujarat. Hefurther added that the 1974 movement failed to provide any model
even in terms ofgovernment, its only product being a meek and submissive
Morarji govt. as analternative to the Congress. Therefore, in retrospec,
re-evaluation of the wholephenomena and basic premises of that movement is
definitely needed.
Currentsituation has entrusted us a greater responsibility to build a
movement on widerscale by uniting diverse social forces and this can only
be achieved under thebanner of the Communist Party and the Red Flag. To
this end we have to guaranteeideological correctness along with vibrant
leadership and good mobilising capacity.
The participant activists came to attend the Convention from almost all 36
districtsof Bihar. Bihar State Secretary Ramjatan Sharma opened the
Convention with hisintroductory address and Polit Bureau member and Bihar
Legislative Party groupleader Ram Naresh Ram presided over it. The
Convention also passed several political resolutions that included a
strongcondemnation of Markachcho police firing, welcoming people's
aggressive mood againstRabri govt. which has patronised police atrocities
and crime. It announced to hold amass convention on 23 Feb in Patna and
programmes to protest BJP's attempts tospread communal violence through
various outfits of Sangh Parivar and appealed tothe people to hold high the
glorious democratic traditions and give a befittingreply to its fascist
maneuverings. It condemned repression of agrarian labourers ofWest
Champaran; resolved to carry forward the legacy of people's struggles till
thedream of a total change is realised; and expressed anguish and concern
over risingviolence by Ranvir Sena and other feudal and criminal forces,
who are working innexus with the state machinery, particularly in north
Bihar and appealed to thepeople to rise up for bigger resistance movements.
AISA-RYA's Student-Youth March in BiharFollowing a fortnight-long 'Rabri
Hataao - Naya Bihar Banaao' (Oust Rabri Govt. -For a New Bihar) statewide
campaign in Bihar, the AISA and RYA held an impressive'Student-Youth March'
in Patna on Jan 22 and called for a students' strike on 11February and a
series of other programmes for the coming month. While addressing themarch
CPI(ML) General Secretary Dipankar Bhattacharya appealed the student-youth
tooust the corrupt state govt. through a militant movement that will also
wipe out thecommunal fascist forces in the state. He said that people give
their mandates notonly through elections but also through mass movements
against oppressive regimes,which are more stable than electoral mandates.
Presently the situation is ripe tomarch forward for a more broad-based,
militant movement by associating it withaspirations of wide range of
people, from rural poor and dalits to urban proletariatto intelligentsia
and middle class. Such a movement can bring to the fore forces ofchange who
can build a new, 'People's Bihar'. He emphasised the need for unity ofall
Left and democratic forces against both RJD-Congress and BJP. He said Laloo
isproviding the opportunity to communal fascists by hobnobing with the
Congress aslatter's tainted record in giving grounds to BJP in UP and
Gujarat is known toeverybody. He added that the movement in Bihar will not
only change the face of thestate, it will also set an orientation for the
struggles for a genuine democracy andSecularism throughout the country.This
march was led and addressed also by CPI(ML) MLA Raja Ram Singh, RYA
PresidentMithilesh Yadav, AISA State Convenor Suraj Kumar and Kamlesh
Sharma among others,AISF leader Jitendra Kumar, who expressed solidarity
with the movement and appealedfor unity of all Left and democratic forces.
Rally Against War On Iraq in MysoreOn 20th January, a rally and public
meeting was held against the impending Americanwar on Iraq under the banner
of 'Forum against the War on Iraq' at Mysore. The Forumcomprised of CPI(M),
CPI, PUCL, KRRS (Puttannaiah) and CPI(ML) (Liberation) alongwith many other
democratic forces. The rally was addressed by G.N.Nagaraju, StateSecretary
of CPI(M), Venkatramu, DCS of CPI, K.R.Basavaraju of KRRS, Major
GeneralVombadkare (Rtd), Prof.Ramdas and Javaraiah from CPI(ML) along with
others.
US Strengthens military ties with NepalThe US administration has, in the
course ofthe last two years, been quietly securing closemilitary and
political ties with Nepal. The Bush administration has agreed toprovide $17
million in military equipment to the Nepali Army. The first consignmentof
3,000 M-16 rifles was delivered earlier this month and another 2,000 are
due tofollow. A US military team from the Pacific Command is currently in
Nepal for amonth-long joint trainingexercise with the country's military.
With this kind of US military aid in the nameof quelling insurgency the US
wants to fortify its presence in the strategic countryof Nepal so as to
utilise it as a base against its declared strategic enemy Chinaand also to
set up an observation post for the whole south Asia. The government ofIndia
has maintained silence over this development, which further exposes
itssubservience to American global interests.
We express grave concern over and condemnthe US-UK intervention in the
internal affairs of our close neighbouring country. Writers flay Sangh
Parivar's 'campaign' in KeralaSeveral prominent writers in Kerala have
condemned the Sangh Parivar's campaignagainst the Kendra Sahithya Akademi
Secretary, K. Sachidanandan, and the writer,Zachariah. It has been alleged
that the campaign is a continuation of the attack onKamala Surayya, who had
won this year's Ezhuthachan Puraskaram.
The writers andcultural activists said that it was a struggle for survival
against communal fascismand emphasised the need to forge an unity against
attempts to impose the wishes ofthe communal forces on society.
World Social Forum Meet in Porto AlegreThough a planned mass demonstration
against war on Iraq and globalization, which wasdue to be held near the
World Economic Forum (WEF) meet in Davos, was foiled by thepolice after
cracking down on some 1,500 people and preventing them from joining
themarch, it failed to dampen the mood of people resisting US war efforts
andGlobalisation worldwide and the capital Bern in Switzerland witnessed a
protestdemonstration few hours later the same day. The WEF meet in Davos is
being attendedby nearly 200 business and government leaders of the world
amidst high security. As a fitting rebuff to this event, in Brazilian city
of Porto Alegre around 100,000people, activists and leaders from various
streams opposing War and Globalisationfrom all over the world, converged to
discuss and share their experiences through17,000 workshops and Seminars in
a six-day World Social Forum (WSF) meet whichstarted on January 22.
Brazil's recently elected president Luiz Inacio"Lula" da Silva delivered a
speech to this annual WSF gathering ofanti-globalisation activists which
was initiated three years ago in directopposition to the Davos meeting of
world bankers and heads of states. Lula said inhis speech that his newly
elected govt. will continue to oppose the InternationalMonetary Fund and
world finance capital which is still dictating the limits ofBrazil's
possibilities. Though he flew to Davos to attend the World Economic
Forummeet, his party quelled all criticisms claiming that he is going to
the meeting ofthe financial elite to make a case for a global campaign
against poverty and hunger.Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez also addressed
the WSF meet and harshly criticisedthe American-style capitalism and lashed
out at Venezuelan opposition leaders sayingour struggle against the
terrorists and fascists has further strengthened the willof the Venezuelan
people. Activists here discussed on topics ranging from corporate misdeeds
to Third Worlddebt.
The Cuban delegation discussed Washington's criminal blockade against the
island andUS legislation knownas the Cuban Adjustment Act, which encourages
illegal immigration. It was alsoemphasised that Cuba will strongly denounce
the Free Trade Area of the Americas andexpressed solidarity with Venezuelan
President Hugo Chávez. It is poverty, not cold Amid reports of an imminent
war in the Persian Gulf and the mutual expulsions ofdiplomatic personnel by
India and Pakistan, the deaths across the northern IndianStates caught in
the cold wave, have hardly got the media attention they deserved. Though
the number of people reported dead is more than 700, conventional
wisdomwould convince anyone that the actual number of fatalities would be a
lot more. True, a cold wave of such intensity is not a new phenomenon in
the world and thereare places where the mercury dips several degrees below
zero. Though several times bitter than what is being experienced in India,
it does notkill people any longer in North America and Europe. Similarly it
does not kill allthe people living in Delhi and its environs. Instead, the
truth is plain and simple. That people do not die due to the cold assuch,
but because they are poor and cannot afford the protective clothing. At
leastmost of those reported dead are those who do not have a place to spend
the nightswithout having to expose their body to the harsh weather; those
whose daily dietdoes not contain enough calories to keep them warm when the
mercury dips; those whocannot afford the medicines when their lungs get
infected - pneumonia - by abacterium that strikes after the virus that
causes common cold weakens the bodyconsiderably. This process - anti-genic
shifts - takes place in such cold climes and affects thosewhose immune
systems are already weakened due to malnutrition. In this sense, the deaths
should fall in the same category of loss of lives due toan inadequate
healthcare system or malnutrition or infant mortality and hence causeddue
to an insensitive political setup. The deaths during this winter, hence, is
only a pointer to the State failing toensure the provisions of Article 21 -
the right to life - guaranteed by theConstitution. Indeed, the toll and the
choice of words by the media, knowingly orotherwise, presenting the deaths
as having caused by the cold wave (rather thandriving home the point that
it is poverty) is also reflective of the yawning gapbetween the concerns of
the articulate sections in society and the ordinary people. There were
instances when the civil society institutions (consisting of thearticulate
sections) could help widen the scope of Article 21 of the Constitutionwhen
the Supreme Court interpreted that the right to life did not mean mere
animalexistence (Olga Tellis vs Bombay Municipal Corporation or the
Pavement Dwellerscase) and that it also included the right to livelihood
and decreed that the Statewas bound to ensure this. The death of so many
men, women and children, indeed, warrants invoking theprovisions of writ
jurisdiction in the Constitution as was done in the PavementDwellers case.
For this, it is necessary to recognise that they died because they were
notprotected adequately from the cold.-- By V. Krishna Ananth as appeared
in"The Hindu" dated Jan 25 '03.
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CSVI/ GPDI
Coördinationgroup for Support the People's Resistance in INDONESIA/ Support
Movement for Democratization in INDONESIA
http://www.xs4all.nl/~peace
peace@xs4all.nl
STOP MILITARY OPERATIONS IN ACEH!
BOYCOTT OF ARMS TRADE TO INDONESIAN REGIME!
REPEAL OF ARMED FORCES TO INDONESIAN SOCIAL/POLITICAL LIFE!
ABOLISHING CORRUPTIONS, COLLOSIONS AND CONGLOMERATION!
DECREASE OF PRIMARY PEOPLE'S NEEDS PRICES!
INVESTIGATING OF ALL OWNERSHIPS OF SUHARTO'S CHILDREN, MINISTER'S CHILDRENS
AND OTHERS OFFICIALS CHILDREN!
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