USAID/OTI Indonesia Field Report
May 2002
Program Description
The Office of Transition Initiatives in Indonesia seeks to assist, accelerate, and secure the process of reform and democratization in this enormous island nation. Following thirty years of corrupt autocracy under former President Suharto, Indonesia inaugurated the first freely elected government in the country's history in 1999. This milestone, while very positive, unleashed social, economic, and religious tensions throughout the archipelago which ultimately consumed the Presidency of Wahid, resulting in his impeachment by the Parliament. This Parliament then elevated Vice-President Megawati SukarnoPutri to the Presidency, and named a new Vice President in Hamzah Haz.
OTI's programs in Indonesia addresses some of the most difficult regions and issues in the country. The objective is to assist in the resolution of dangerous regional crises that undermine the country's ability to move forward. Using tools, which include support to media and for good, and reconstruction, OTI's program focuses on conflict prevention, mitigation and resolution in those crisis areas that have national resonance. Additionally, OTI works on the civilian side of the civil/military equation in supporting reform.
Country Situation And OTI Program Highlights
Maluku
The violence that plagued Ambon in April continued into the month of May. The most recent violence in Ambon was in reaction to the arrest of Jaffar Umar Thalib, head of Laskar Jihad, on May 4 in Surabaya as he was en route from Ambon. Jaffar was charged with inciting violence and threatening the life of the Indonesian President during a speech in Ambon. Dozens of bombs, mortar rounds and shooting were heard throughout the city overnight, which resulted in two deaths and over 30 injured.
Sporadic violence continued for most of the month with many international organizations operating out of separate Muslim and Christian offices until late May. At the end of May the central government announced the formation of a special operations military command for Maluku to be headed by a two-star general named Djoko Santoso. This command will exist alongside the current Pattimura territorial command and General Santoso will succeed General Mustopo as head of the command. Legal experts and human rights activists have been quick to point out that there is no legal basis for establishment of the special command and that the move was tantamount to declaring martial law.
The ongoing violence during the month made implementing grants in Maluku very difficult. However, OTI grantee CSPS (Center for Security and Peace Studies) was able to carry out a needs assessment of the provincial government's working groups (Pokja) as part of the overall strategic planning process for the implementation of the Malino Peace Accord. Also this month, procurement of equipment for the IDP information center was completed and rehabilitation of Masohi General Hospital on Seram Island continued.
North Maluku
The Central Government (Ministry of Home Affairs) has annulled the previous two Gubernatorial elections for the province, which were conducted in July 2001 and March 2002. Based on a presidential decision, the current acting Governor, Sinyo Harry Sarundajang, is to conduct another election in consultation with the DPRD. The issue of the Governor's selection has added uncertainty and instability to the recovering province.
A plan has been developed for the return in early June of large numbers of IDPs from the camps in Bitung and Manado (Sulawesi) to Central Halmahera. The return is to be facilitated by the Government of North Sulawesi however, the process is being hampered by the fact that the IDPs are unclear of their rights.
The situation in North Maluku remains stable, with some returns and on-going reconstruction work. That said, the IDP situation remains problematic given the numbers of IDPs still residing in Ternate and Manado.
Papua
Papua has remained calm during this period, although there is still significant tension over the unresolved murder of Papuan leader, Theys Eluay.
OTI has signed two new grants for Papuan NGOs The organization, KIPRA, will operate a government watch program for the purpose of increasing transparency and good governance. LP3BH in Manokwari will be gathering Adat (traditional leaders) opinions and input for the formation of the second house of Parliament in Jayapura.
Aceh
The security situation in Aceh this month was marked by increased violence, which resulted in the deaths of 50 civilians. Despite these deaths, local and international NGOs were able to travel unrestricted. Informed sources describe a decrease in access to areas where conflicts are occurring and a decrease in access to information as security forces prevent movement to Aceh's interior. Local news during May focused on the implementation of direct elections as well as the recent Geneva talks between RI and GAM where GAM agreed in principle to use NAD (special autonomy) as a starting point for future discussions.
OTI increased grant activity in the province during the month, with several grants being conducted and MOUs signed for several upcoming grants. A public discussion was held in Banda Aceh through Syiah Kuala University to discuss a date for direct elections for mayors and regents in the province. The discussion resulted in the formation of a working group that would lobby the government for direct elections by 2003, the first in Indonesia.
The National Democratic Institute conducted the first of a two part series of training in organizational and financial management for Acehnese NGOs. Grants signed during the month of May include a series of training to be conducted by the Faculty of Economics at Syiah Kuala University on district level budgeting for district parliamentarians and a series of public reviews and hearings on the draft Qanuns currently under discussion in Parliament. OTI also met with members of the HDC to discuss support for the All Inclusive Dialogue on the Future of Aceh, an agreement reached recently by GAM and RI in their recent dialogues in Geneva. HDC also stressed the importance and value of on-going OTI support for the Wise Men Initiative in the dialogue process.
Civilian/Military
After several months of speculation about the composition of the new Armed Forces leadership, President Megawati Soekarnoputri announced in May her candidate for the position of Commander-in-Chief. As expected, she nominated Army Chief of Staff Gen. Endriartono Sutarto to replace Adm. Widodo, who had held TNI's top post since November 1999. Endriartono's nomination was endorsed by Parliament, as required by law. His ascent to the TNI leadership comes at a time of increasing conservatism within the military, reflecting the wide-spread view within the officer corps that the post-New Order reforms have gone too far. Accordingly, TNI appears reluctant to allow any further changes to its command system and business interests, which form the basis for its independence from civilian control mechanisms. The reshuffle of key positions in the wake of Endriartono's appointment is expected to underscore this trend, with the tough-spoken Let.Gen. Rymazard Ryacudu tipped as new Army Chief of Staff.
TNI's reluctance to engage in further reform is also expressed in the proceedings of the human rights trials on the East Timor rampage. The OTI-sponsored monitoring of the trials reveals more and more irregularities and attempts at legal obstruction. Neither the prosecutors nor the judges have undertaken any attempt to establish a case of 'systematic' and 'wide-spread' human rights violations, which would be necessary to justify any conviction. At the moment, the trials are heading towards acquittals for all major defendants as the systematic engagement of TNI in the formation of pro-Jakarta militias in East Timor has not even been discussed.
OTI continued in May its efforts of supporting the institutional reform of the military. Despite the negative policy environment, several projects are currently concentrating on reforming TNI's legal framework. OTI-sponsored teams discussed the draft for a new Armed Forces Bill with TNI Headquarters, reviewed the government's draft for an Anti-Terrorism Bill, and debated organizational changes to TNI's command system with the TNI Staff and Command School in Bandung. Another Yogyakarta-based project focused on the State Emergency Act.
A. Grants Activity Summary
OTI Indonesia grants, FY02:
Total number of grants FY02: 234
Total grant funds committed: $5,183,032
Grant numbers by sector, FY 02:
Civil Society: 140 grants, $2,438,959
Civilian/Military: 21 grants, $364,814
Community Stabilization: 29 grants, $1,417,706
Governance: 21 grants, $582,338
Media: 23 grants, $379,213
Grants in current reporting period:
Civil Society: 7 grants, $261,353
Governance: 4 grants, $134,659
Community Stabilization: 2 grants, $64,309
Media: 3 grants, $78,487
Civil/Military: 6 grants, $72,891
TOTAL: 22 grants, $611,700
Next Steps/Immediate Priorities
Maluku
Future activities in Maluku will be determined in large part by the outcome of and response to the establishment of the special operations military command. The strategic planning program being carried out by CSPS will be redesigned to reflect the results obtained during the need assessment and the current security environment. In addition, OTI is developing programs with partners that build upon the outcomes of ICMC's OTI-funded Informed Decision-Making program for Seram. These activities include facilitation between local governments and citizens and removal of practical obstacles to voluntary returns (reconstruction of schools, markets, etc.). If these activities prove successful in securing a sustainable peace in these communities, OTI will fund an expanded Informed Decision Making program in other areas of Seram that have requested this. Finally, program development staff will visit the province again in mid-June to determine what new opportunities have emerged in light of the developments described above.
North Maluku
OTI is considering three grants related to the North Sulawesi/North Maluku dialogue. These are for one local NGO from each location to manage the dialogue; one media-related grant to get both local and national coverage for the dialogue; and one grant for news reporting about the on-the-ground situation in areas in North Maluku from which many of the remaining IDPs originate. Given a heavier presence of development-oriented INGOs in North Maluku and a larger influx of donor funds (mainly through UNDP), OTI does not plan to do much more work in the area of community infrastructure rehabilitation and will evaluate any further proposals on a case-by-case basis.
Civilian/Military
In the months ahead, OTI will continue to sponsor civil society groups to engage in several projects on security-related legislation. OTI will also support the drafting of the government regulations for the Police under Aceh's Special Autonomy Bill. These regulations will make clear the conditions under which the Police in Aceh can operate, and the way civilian authorities in the province can have a say in security policies. OTI has also begun talks with ICW , the Indonesian Corruption Watch, on projects focusing on the military budget and business.
Aceh
OTI will continue to support the mediation activities of the Henry Dunant Center between the GOI and the GAM. A process of "all inclusive dialogue" is planned to begin soon in the province.
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