Jakarta (H5N1, skulls, sex, demonstrasi, religion, politics)

 

At the Citayam rail crossing

Whatever is said about Jakarta NEVER let it be said that it is not an interesting place.  I have returned from three weeks of walking and driving the streets of Jakarta.  I have been busy with jet lag and reverse culture shock. That is MORE shocked to be home than to be in Jakarta. Odd, I know. I must be part Jakartan. I take that with a bit of pride and a bit of insanity. So it is.

It is time to turn to the news.  This week has been busy and there is a lot which can slip by so there is some catching up to do.

 From Reuters, April 29, 2008

Idonesian Boy Dies of Bird Flu

JAKARTA, April 29 (Reuters) - A three-year-old boy from Indonesia’s main island of Java has died from bird flu, pushing the country’s total confirmed human cases to 108, a health ministry official said on Tuesday…  …The national bird flu commission said the virus had infected poultry in 31 out of 33 provinces in Indonesia. It said five provinces had not reported new cases in the past six months.

Experts say the danger is the virus might mutate into a form that people easily catch and pass to one another, in which case the transmission rate would soar, causing a pandemic in which millions of people could die.

Since the virus resurfaced in Asia in late 2003, it has killed 240 people in a dozen countries, the World Health Organisation says. Indonesia has the highest toll of any nation. (Reporting by Mita Valina Liem; Editing by David Fogarty) …> go to article

 This was just three days after this…

From AFP…

Indonesia runs massive bird flu drill
Apr 25, 2008

TUKADDAYA, Indonesia (AFP) - Hundreds of Indonesian villagers and health workers took part in a massive drill here Friday to prepare for a potentially devastating outbreak of human-to-human bird flu.

The largest bird flu drill ever held in Indonesia, the country worst hit by the virus, involved the simulated outbreak of a pandemic which experts say could rapidly spread across the globe killing millions of people.

“This is the biggest drill in Indonesia. The objective is to test the preparedness of bird flu officials to manage an outbreak in case it happens,” health ministry disease control chief I Nyoman Kandun told reporters. …> go to article

 According to this article the first thing which would be done in a major outbreak of H5N1 would be to “seal off” the area. This probably would have to done with the army. The second thing which would happen (not mentioned in the article) is that people would run.  This is a losing game. It is potentially one of the most serious issues Indonesia faces.

Last month the United Nations FAO issued the following, as reported by Reuters.

FAO says Indonesia needs help fighting bird flu 19 Mar 2008 02:27:59 GMT

MILAN, March 18 (Reuters) - Major efforts have done little to control H5N1 avian influenza in Indonesia and the country needs more help in controlling the virus, the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said on Tuesday.

Surveillance and response teams are working in 193 out of 448 districts in Indonesia, yet birds in 31 out of 33 provinces are affected, FAO Chief Veterinary Officer Joseph Domenech said in a statement.

By June 2008, more than 2,000 surveillance and response teams will be active in more than 300 districts in disease-endemic areas of the country, he said.

But that may not be enough.

“Indonesia is facing an uphill battle against a virus that is difficult to contain. Major human and financial resources, stronger political commitment and strengthened coordination between the central, provincial and district authorities are required to improve surveillance and control measures,” Domenech said. …> go to article

 Skulls

Skulls. They keep showing up in the oddest places and god knows that there are plenty of skulls knocking about Indonesia.

From the AP comes this…

Indonesian customs officers seize 3 human skulls at airport

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - Three humans skulls being sent to Britain were seized at Indonesia’s international airport, a customs officer said Thursday.

The sponge-wrapped skulls were packed in separate boxes and labeled as handicrafts, said Eko Darmanto, chief of customs at Jakarta’s airport. Two were intricately carved or decorated and the third remained in its original form.

“Police are investigating a possible crime,” he told reporters, adding that the skulls originated from Bali island and were destined for Yorkshire via air courier.

Indonesia’s criminal code says anyone who intentionally digs or moves human remains from a grave for sale or collection faces up to 14 months in jail. …> go to article

 SEX

Yes, of course, SEX. It is one of the major themes of my new Urban Studies Theory.

From ABC News…

Nude Casinos: All in a Night’s Work
Nightlife Is Racier Than You Might Think in This Muslim City
Reporter’s Notebook By MARGARET CONLEY
JAKARTA, Indonesia, May 2, 2008 

 Sashimi sex and nude casinos: It’s hardly what you’d expect to witness after the sun goes down in the world’s most populous Muslim nation.

But best-selling author Moammar Emka, known as Emka, knows otherwise. He’s been tracking the steamy nightlife scene in Indonesia’s capital city, Jakarta, for the last six years.

“It was unusual because the sashimi, a Japanese delicacy of sliced raw seafood, was not served on a tray with chopsticks, but presented on the naked body of a beautiful, sensual girl,” Emka writes in his first book.

Today, as he continues prowling the seedy underground for its latest trends, the former reporter is most surprised by the basic concept of sex as entertainment.

“You can find anything at anytime here,” the East Java native says over the pumping music in his black BMW, heading out for a night of research.

Clubs with sex menus, invite-only swingers parties and orgies at people’s private homes are detailed in Emka’s little black books.

 Arriving at the night’s chosen venue, Emka doesn’t need to wait in line. Well-known in nightlife circles, the doorman greets him and waves him through security.
Once inside, a scantily clad, pale-skinned beauty on stage makes eye contact with Emka. Recognizing him, she breaks into a smile and points.

They share a dance from a distance, and it’s clear why Emka fans remain curious about whether he’s an observer or a participant.

Emka, who is Muslim and studied at schools with strong Islamic backgrounds, including the Government Institute for Islamic Studies in Jakarta, makes a point of omitting graphically explicit material when he writes about “after-lunch stripteases,” “midnight lesbian packages” and “drive-thru sex.” …> go to article

 I am almost certain this article will increase the tourist arrivals at Soekarno-Hatta.

On the flip side…

From ANTARA

I am posting the entire article here.  You can read between the lines. It is more than obvious.

News Focus: Workers must not commit anarchism on May Day rally
By Bustanuddin

Jakarta (ANTARA News)- Some ten thousand workers are expected to launch rallies to mark international workers day or May Day on Thursday (May 1) in Jakarta and in its satellite towns of Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi.

Although the workers have the right to stage rallies after getting permission but Manpower Affairs Minister Erman Suparno asked them not to create anarchism during the rallies.

In Jakarta an organization called Revolutionary Workers Command (Kobar) said on Tuesday it was preparing to mobilize about 10,000 workers for a rally to mark international workers day.

“The main gathering point for Kobar`s workers will be the West Irian Freedom Monument Square (Banteng Square),” Kobar spokesman Syahganda said.

He said the thousands of workers of Kobar would come from at least 21 labor unions in Jakarta and in its satellite towns.

The the labor unions include SP Pelindo II, SRBIINDO, SPOI, Gaspermindo, PPMI-98, Sarbumusi, FSPSI, SBNMI and KSPSI Bekasi.

To hold the rally, workers would converge on Banteng Square between 10 - 12 a.m, where the rally would be filled with orations by labor leaders voicing their demands, stage performances of street musicians, and the reading of an “Indonesian Labor Manifesto.”

“The manifesto will focus on criticizing national development which does not benefit the workers,” Syahganda said adding that the theme of the manifesto would be “Redirecting the Aim of Indonesia`s Development.”

After the orations at the Banteng Square, the Kobar mass would march to the State Palace to join about 40,000 other workers, he said.

Meanwhile, Jakarta Metropolitan police chief Insp.Gen. Adang Firman said his office would mobilize 15 thousand security personnel and the military to control the mass rallies.

Adang made the remark after meeting with Jakarta Vice Governor Prijanto here on Tuesday.

Prijanto said some groups of workers including the National Labor Union (SPN) had asked permission to launch a demonstration.

Police chief Adang Firman also said his men will take stern action against any one trying to disrupt peace.

“Those who broke the parliamentary building gate two years ago have been brought to justice,” the police chief said.

Vice Governor Prijanto on the occasion also appreciated some groups of workers who intended to perform an art show including singing “Dangdut” songs to highlight May Day instead of launching rallies.

May Day in Bandung, West Java province to be observed by 2,000 industrial workers, will be commemorated in the People`s Struggle Monument (MPRJB) on Jalan Dipati Ukur.

Although May Day will fall on Thursdy (May 1) but it could also be observe on Wednesday.
Not scarred by rallies

Despite many demonstrations will happen in the country foreign investors also from China remained interested in doing business in Indonesia.

Some 70 Chinese investors have expressed keen interests in investment in different business fields in Indonesia, Deputy Chief of the Indonesian Mission in Beijing, Mohamad Oemar, said in Beijing recently.

Oemar was responding to a plan to organize an investment forum at the Indonesian Industry Ministry in Jakarta from May 15 to 16. The two-day meeting will serve as a forum between Chinese investors and Indonesian state officials and businessmen.

The forum was the fruit of efforts made by the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing to attract as many Chinese investors as possible to invest in Indonesia, he said.

He said Chinese investors had a high motivation to attend the forum. They would attend it not merely to get first hand information on investment opportunities but also to confirm their plan to invest in different business sectors in a number of regions in Indonesia.

“They will come not merely to get first hand information. They have expressed their seriousness to invest in Indonesia,” he said.

Judging by the Chinese investors` seriousness, he expressed hope the central government as a regulator and private companies as business partners would prepare themselves for the inflow of Chinese investments.

The Chinese investors include oil company PetroChina and Bank of China.

According to a report from the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing, some of the Chinese investors have been operating in Indonesia.

Indonesia and China launched a strategic partnership in 2005 aimed among others at enhancing investment cooperation by increasing mutual understanding and networking among investment authorities, including the private sectors, and by creating more conducive eco-socio-political and legal climate for the flow of investments.

Indonesia hopes to raise its trade volume with China to 30 billion U.S. dollars by 2010.

It is of course expected that the rallies will not scare the would be investors. (*) …> go to article

But here is something worth watching and something I am in total agreement with IF it could be done in a transparent manner and for the benefit of the people of Indonesia.

From People’s Weekly World come this…

Indonesia: No free ride for international corporations

Protests involving unionists, students and women’s groups have engulfed Indonesia. Demands center on sovereignty over natural resources, food and access to education.

Workers demonstrated outside Exxon’s Jakarta offices March 12 for nationalization of oil production.

In the eastern city of Ternat, labor activists joined the Coalition for Women’s Concerns in rallying for state control of mines. Five students were wounded.

In Makassar in Sulawesi, students confronted the PT Inco Company, notorious for land evictions and pollution of land and waters.

Hundreds demonstrated in North Sumatra, Maumere, and Palu City during March. The Reuters report attributes a leading role in the protests to the National Liberation Party of Unity and the National Student League for Democracy. …>go to article

 Finally we get to religion and politics…

From Spero News

Playing with fire in Indonesia
Tuesday, April 29, 2008

By Walter Lohman

The Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) is Indonesia’s version of the Muslim Brotherhood. It is focused, like no other party, on the battle of ideas. And it is on a roll. In the 2004 national elections, it won 45 out of 550 seats in the Indonesian lower house (DPR), captured the speakership of the joint assembly (MPR), and joined the government with three cabinet seats. At the local level, largely out of the national and international spotlight, it has won 88 out of 149 elections.

Gambling with Indonesia’s Future

The Indonesian political elite know who they are dealing with. They are simply gambling. They believe they can turn the PKS’s success to their own advantage-whether ultimately to the good of the national interest or their own personal interests-while simultaneously containing their aims. One cannot help but imagine comparisons to Sukarno’s effort 40 years ago to balance the advantages and influence of the communists. His manipulations ended in epic disaster for the country.

Rather than jockeying for partnership with the PKS, mainline politicians would be better advised to spend their time addressing the real grievances that fuel support for radical opposition: corruption, poor public services, poverty, and the perceived lack of real political choice. And the United States should do what it can to help, whether with resources, economic opportunity, or just honest advice.

Where Indonesia may be headed in the long term is of concern to the United States for many reasons. Americans are not opposed to a role for religion in the public square, as any perusal of American history will attest. There is no reason that faith and liberty cannot flourish together. This matters to Americans because, in a world that accepts this as truism, we are all safer and our rights are more secure. By the same token, we know that religious intolerance and government coercion on behalf of one particular set of religious beliefs are precursors of a wider tyranny and, ultimately, insecurity. …> go to article

At this point I think it would be proper to end with something from Jakartass regarding the increasingly volatile situation with Ahmadiyah.  But first one might want to consider the words below after checking  this link to Indonesian Matters.

“I am now witnessing a darkening intolerance going hand-in-hand with the deepening of Indonesian democracy is sad. Although some, such as Rima Fauzi argue that the alarming increase of intolerance among people of different groups and religions … could be the beginning of Indonesia’s journey into medieval times, I tend to disagree.

And this is in spite of such outrages as the burning of a mosque belonging to a supposedly heretical Muslim sect, Ahmadiyah, by a mob of presumably underemployed hooligans. That the government is being urged to ban the sect, founded over a hundred years ago, and that SBY should ignore Article 28 (1) of the Constitution which guarantees the right to worship the god (or gods?) of one’s choosing is an indication that there is currently little focus on the problems facing this country other than the here and now. The recent ‘anti-pornography’ bans on dangdut singers, the suggestion that masseuses should wear chastity belts, are surely just signs of sexual immaturity. (Those men who are so easily discomforted in the presence of women should be ones put under lock and key.)

Society has yet to learn how to make its way in the world following Suharto’s abdication ten years ago. Having been bottle-fed from birth, and punished, often brutally, by Suharto’s New Order, Indonesia’s emerging democracy is barely past the toddler stage. Children of just ten years old are rarely able to think beyond their immediate concerns and still tend to say still ‘gimme, gimme’. This accounts both for the gross consumerism and the lack of awareness that others have a right to personal space.

If you think about motorists with their shiny cars disregarding pedestrians and ignoring the white lines painted on the roads in order to rush into the next bottleneck, you get the picture. It’s just like children with toys which they won’t allow others to play with. Readers of the local news are well-aware that it is the so-called élite who are generally caught with their pants down and their hands outstretched. They are unable to offer true leadership because they have always been sheepish followers.

Yet it is the children, the next generation, that we have to look to for guidance. If they can see through the lies which their indoctrinated teachers and parents give them, and that older generations have shown little regard for the future well-being of their successors, then maybe, hopefully, the youth of today won’t fuck things up so much when it’s their turn to operate the levers of power.

I believe the world can be made a better place before it’s too late and that the majority of today’s children offer the hope and tolerance which Indonesia sorely needs.

But then, I remain an unashamed idealist.

And you?”

Sorry for such a long post.  Just pretend you were in a traffic jam of news.