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