1. DISCOURCSE: 1 LINE, 49 COUNTS

1. DISCOURCSE: 1 LINE, 49 COUNTS

Social movement improves Indorayon's green awareness

With his dissertation Gerakan Sosial Baru di Toba Samosir:
Studi Kasus Gerakan Perlawanan Rakyat Terhadap Indorayon (New
Social Movement in Toba Samosir: A study case on people's
opposition movement against Indorayon) last month, Victor Silaen
obtained his doctorate from the University of Indonesia. In a
discussion with The Jakarta Post staff on Friday, including
Adianto P. Simamora, Silaen talked about the people's struggle
against pulp and rayon producer PT Indorayon, which is located in
Porsea, North Sumatra.

Question: What is the main focus of your dissertation?

Answer: I studied a social movement in Toba Samosir, North
Sumatra, in this case people's opposition to the giant Indorayon
company from 1983 to 2000. The company was set up in 1983 but in
1999 its operations were temporary halted following public
pressure. After a Cabinet meeting, Vice President Megawati
Soekarnoputri decided to reopen Indorayon, but this time it was
only allowed to produce pulp, and not rayon.

Why have you described the opposition to Indorayon as a new
social movement?

Theoretically, there are two kinds of social movements; the
old and the new. Old social movements are primarily concerned
with issues relating to economic justice. These movements are
heavily reliant on the power of mass action, that frequently hold
protests against high-level groups. Members of these kinds of
organizations are mostly farmers or laborers.

Meanwhile, new social movements struggle for broader issues,
such as human rights, or about cultural, social or environmental
issues. These movements depend more on networking than mass
movements. Members of these groups include businessmen, well-
educated people and prominent community figures.

In Indorayon's case, the new social movement has been
struggling for the closure or the removal of Indorayon from
Porsea. The movement uses their powerful links extending from
Porsea, Pematang Siantar, Medan to Jakarta, and even overseas to
countries such as Germany, England and Belgium, in order to
achieve their objectives. They don't stage many rallies but these
groups continue fighting for the closure of Indorayon.

Though they failed to achieve their ultimate objective (the
closure of Indorayon), the movement has made a great impact in
terms of the changes that the company has had to make. Indorayon
has changed its paradigms to be a environment-friendly company
producing only pulp products. The company has also applied more
sophisticated technologies to minimize pollution. The company's
management has also employed increasingly more local residents
that contributes some Rp 500 million (US$ 55,000) annually for
community development in that area. Currently, about 90 percent
of employees working in Indorayon are local residents.

How do you see the impact of Indorayon's presence on the
economic condition of local residents?

If we learn from the past, before the reopening of Indorayon,
the presence of the company caused relatively big losses to local
residents. For example, many people suffered from diseases, fish
were being killed, and the production of paddy continued to
decline. Farmers' income dropped sharply due to direct pollution
because 90 percent of local residents still depend largely on
natural resources to make a living.

Regarding the changes that were made by Indorayon due to the
new social movement, do you know of similar cases in other
companies in Indonesia?

Unfortunately, I have yet to see similar cases in other
companies in Indonesia. Indorayon case is very different; the new
social movement demanding the closing of Indorayon has been
struggling for about 20 years. The opposition comes not only from
local residents but also from other communities within and
outside Indonesia. As a result, the management of the company,
the government and the legislative, whether they liked it or not,
were forced to listen to the people's voice.

But why seemingly there is much less opposition now?

First, we must look back on the tragedy of 2002 when then
minister of manpower and transmigration, Jacob Nuwawea, gave
permission to reopen Indorayon. There were repressive measures
taken by the government and security officials who arrested some
people including a Protestant reverend and his wife, and who were
sent to jail. This incident might have discouraged people from
further opposition.

Second, Indorayon currently has been hiring more and more
local residents. The company is no longer as arrogant as they
were in the past.

I think these two factors were very significant in reducing
opposition to Indorayon. Today, opposition is only on a small
scale.

Do you think that changes at the national political level have
also influenced changes made by Indorayon?

Yes, the fall of president Soeharto in 1998 had encouraged
local residents to be more open in expressing their aspirations
for the closure of Indorayon.

Meanwhile, Indorayon's management felt that they couldn't rely
any more on the power of the government. That's why months after
Soeharto era closed, President B.J. Habibie ordered Indorayon to

2. TNI: 2 LINES, 15 COUNTS

TNI chief to be
replaced soon

After a rigorous debate between the President and lawmakers
over the replacement of the Indonesian Military (TNI) chief, a
Presidential aide disclosed on Monday that a reshuffle of the
military's top leadership would take place in February.

"Yes, his replacement will take place in February," Cabinet
Secretary Sudi Silalahi told reporters after a ceremony at the
State Palace on Monday.

He said that the President was finalizing talks on the issue
with TNI headquarters.

Sudi refused to confirm whether Army Chief of Staff Gen.
Ryamizard Ryacudu would be named as the new TNI Commander,
replacing Endriartono Sutarto, saying that the President had yet
to decide.

A source close to the Palace, however, said that the President
delivered a letter proposing Ryamizard as the next TNI chief
about two weeks ago. It has also been reported that the President
plans to replace National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar.

The rumor mill has it that Insp. Gen. Sutanto, a former East
Java police chief, will get the top police job.

An Army source said that TNI headquarters would call for a
hearing to decide on the replacement of the Army chief first,
before the appointment of the new TNI chief.

Ryamizard's deputy Lt. Gen. Djoko Santoso has reportedly been
earmarked for the Army top post.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has been under pressure
from the House to immediately replace Endriartono, who actually
tendered his resignation last year. Some lawmakers have even
insisted that Susilo appoint Ryamizard.

Meanwhile, House of Representatives Speaker Agung Laksono said
on Monday that he had not received any letter from the President
regarding the replacement of the TNI chief.

"Not yet. Had I received the letter, I would have reported it
during the plenary meeting," Agung told The Jakarta Post by
phone.

A staff member, Fauzi Saidi, added that usually such a letter
from the President was brought directly to the House leader by
courier.

"As far as I know, the House speaker has not received any
letter," he said.

The chairman of the House's Commission I on political,
security and foreign affairs, Theo L. Sambuaga, also denied that
the letter had been sent to the House, saying that "as of today,
the House leaders have yet to ask us to arrange a hearing with
the candidates for the TNI commander's post."

3. PILKADA: 2 LINES, 24 COUNTS

First direct elections
in Aceh regencies delayed

While other regions across the country are gearing up to hold the
first direct regional elections in June, five regencies in Aceh
will have to delay the event following the tsunami disaster.

Minister of Home Affairs M. Ma'ruf said on Monday that
regional elections in five regencies of Aceh including Calang,
Meulaboh and the mayoralty of Banda Aceh will be postponed
indefinitely.

The three areas were severely affected by the Dec. 26 tsunami.

"Public facilities have been badly damaged, and officials are
not ready and residents are still suffering," he told reporters
after a breakfast meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
at the Merdeka Palace.

Ma'ruf could not say when residents in the five regencies
could exercise their right to elect their respective leaders
directly.

"We don't know yet because these regencies are still under
emergency rule," he said.

Ma'ruf said that the President would issue a presidential
decree on the postponement.

Various regions across the country are set to hold regional
elections in June to directly elect more than 200 regional
leaders including regents, mayors and governors whose terms will
end soon.

The government has ruled that other regencies in Aceh, which
survived the earthquake and ensuing tsunami, must conduct the
regional election as scheduled, including voting for a new
governor.

Aceh's current governor, Abdullah Puteh, was suspended by the
President after he was charged with corruption last year.

For Papua, Ma'ruf said that the government would conduct the
election in line "with existing legislation", referring to a
government regulation on the establishment of the Papua People's
Assembly (MRP) and Law No. 21/2001 on special autonomy in Papua.

"We'll push for the establishment of the MRP first (before
conducting the election)," he said.

Separately, the General Elections Commission (KPU) announced
that it would issue national guidelines for KPU branches (KPUDs)
in a bid to standardize the regional election process across the
country, Antara reported.

KPU Chairman Nazaruddin said that the technical guidance, such
as budgeting and ballot logistic preparations, was mandatory for
KPUDs as it would be the first experience for all of them in
conducting regional elections.

"Currently, different KPUDs have different guidelines for

4. BYLAW: 1 LINE, 32 COUNTS

Jakarta drops plan to ban old cars

There was good news for owners of old cars when the City Council
dropped its proposal to introduce vehicle age restrictions.

People will, however, need to ensure that their vehicle
emissions remain within the set limits as otherwise they will
face a Rp 50 million (US$555) fine or six-months in prison.

The final draft of the new air pollution bylaw made public on
Monday does not include a restriction on vehicle age as had been
demanded by a number of councillors, environmentalists and
administration officials.

Instead, it increases the fines for emission limit violators
to Rp 50 million from the Rp 5 million originally envisaged in
the draft bylaw submitted by the administration.

Council deputy speaker Ilal Firhard said on Monday that the
final draft of the air pollution bylaw did not include age
restrictions as the Jakarta public was opposed to such a policy.

"We believe, however, that a large fine for polluters will
force everyone, including the owners of polluting vehicles, to
abide by the regulations," Ilal told the press after chairing a
council leadership meeting to discuss the final draft.

The meeting was attended by the chairmen of all of the
council's five commissions and its seven factions.

Previously, the council's legal and administrative affairs
commission had proposed a ban on vehicles of more than 15 years
of age in the case of private cars and 1O years of age in the
case of public transportation vehicles as part of the effort to
curb air pollution.

Chairman of the City Environmental Management Agency (BPLHD)
Kosasih Wirahadikusumah supported the idea, saying that such a
policy would not only be good for the air, but also good for
curbing the high growth of vehicles that sparked traffic
congestion.

The chairman of the council's team that drafted the proposed
bylaw, Muhayar, said the team failed to agree on the vehicle
lifetime issue as a number of councillors argued there was no
correlation between air pollution and vehicle age.

"What we are concerned about is the need to reduce air
pollution. Therefore, we need to focus on how to the minimize
pollution caused by both vehicles and industry," Muhayar told The
Jakarta Post, adding that emission tests for private cars would
have to be conducted every six months.

Apart from threatening polluters with fines and jail terms,
the draft bylaw also contains a range of administrative sanctions
that may be imposed on them. According to Article 39, these