Statement by the Chan and Sukumaran Families

Jakarta Globe, Feb 09, 2015

Convicted Australian drug smugglers Myuran Sukumaran, left, and Andrew Chan
are set to be executed in Indonesia. (AFP Photo/Sonny Tumbelaka)

The following is a statement addressed to President Joko Widodo by the parents of Andrew Chan, 31, and Myuran Sukumaran, 33, two Australians on death row in Bali for drug-trafficking offenses. Both men have exhausted all legal avenues of appeal, and the Attorney General’s Office says they will be among the next batch of condemned inmates to face the firing squad, although it has not said when. The statement below is reproduced in its entirety. — Editor

I am here to beg Mr President Joko Widodo, Mr Vice President Jusuf Kalla and Mr. Attorney General Prasetyo and the Indonesian people to show mercy on our children, Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan.

I beg you to take the time to look properly into the facts of this case. You will see many reasons why the case is different from other cases.

I understand the serious crime my son committed. They are both very sorry for this. We are very sorry for this. They are not the same people who committed that crime almost 10 years ago. These days Myuran and Andrew think very little of their own needs. They are far more focused on making life better for others. They have helped so many other prisoners over the years. Together with the wardens and local government, they have been the driving force behind making Kerobokan a better a prison for inmates who want to take the opportunity to gain better qualifications and job skills for when they are released into the community. Demonstrating that rehabilitation truly works inside Kerobokan, they set up many programs for others to better themselves.

Myuran and Andrew started programs to teach computer skills, painting, drawing, film, photography, graphic design, screen printing, music, dance, gamelan, sewing, reflexology, drug rehabilitation, first aid and so many more.

The good things that Myuran and Andrew have done from within Kerobokan Prison has become big news all around the world. Please take the time to investigate this. The world has heard many testimonies from people they have helped.

I beg that if you do not think this enough, to please give more time for them to continue to do good works for many other prisoners.

I know the Indonesian people are very kind and believe in second chances, all who have come to learn of their works have been supporting of mercy in this case.

I learned about the second principal of Pancasila which is about a just and civilized society, I pray that the Indonesian people will learn of this strong case and the good works before it is too late. All people can be better people and improve themselves.

We have become so proud of the work they have done to try and make up for their crimes. Andrew and Myuran have learned a lot and apologised for the past mistakes. We know they are so deeply sorry for their role in what they know is a very serious crime. They are trying to pay back in the only way they can. The only way that they know how.

Myuran has made a lot of friends in the prison by helping them and has a lot of respect for the prison guards, who see him and Andrew as role models for other prisoners. When I visit Myuran in the prison I meet other families who tell me how much their loved ones have benefited from Myuran’s encouragement. This makes me so proud of my son and I thank your country for giving my son this opportunity in the Bali prison, but I just want you to please spare him from the firing squad.

The former prison governor, Bapak Siswanto spoke at the PK [judicial review] appeal very highly of Myuran and Andrew’s work with other prisoners and how they have helped so many people. Bapak Siswanto surprised everyone when he came into the court and asked the court to spare the life of Myuran and Andrew because it would be a waste of their lives, both of them have so much to give. Please read the testimony of Bapak Siswanto, it is here that we as mothers can see how much our sons have tried to pay back and atone for their crime.

We beg you for mercy for our sons, we beg you to spare our sons’ lives, we beg you that they not be killed.

Raji Sukumaran and Helen Chan

Jakarta, Feb. 9, 2015

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Indonesian Court Hears Interfaith Marriage Petition

Fighting for Recognition: Plaintiffs argue interpretation of 1974 Marriage Law is inconsistent with Constitution and Pancasila

Jakarta Globe, Kennial Caroline Laia & Yustinus Paat, Sep 05, 2014

If plaintiffs prevail at the Supreme Court, couples of different religions may soon find it
easier to have their marriages legally recognized in Indonesia. (JG Photo/Fajrin Raharjo)

Jakarta. Five people filed a petition for a judicial review at the Constitutional Court on Thursday that, if successful, would legalize interfaith marriage in Indonesia.

The petitioners argue that the 1974 Law on Marriage, which requires all marriages in Indonesia to be conducted in accordance with the respective religious beliefs of the bride and groom, violates the Constitution and principles of Pancasila.

“We feel that our constitutional right can potentially be harmed by Article 2(1) of the law, which states that a marriage is only legitimate if it is conducted according to one’s religion and belief,” Anbar Jayadi, one of the plaintiffs, said on Thursday after a preliminary hearing.

Anbar argues that the clause has been interpreted by officials to mean that all marriages inconsistent with the parties’ stated religious affiliations — as interpreted according to the officiants’ understanding of that religion’s tenets — are illegitimate and unlawful.

“The clause has therefore created legal uncertainty for those who want to get married in Indonesia because implementation of religious law is highly dependent on the interpretations of different individuals or institutions,” Anbar said.

The plaintiffs’ petition may be helped by a 1989 Supreme Court decision, Andy Vony v. The State , which found the 1974 Marriage Law does not apply to interfaith marriages.

The case involved the a Muslim woman and Protestant man. The Supreme Court held that “the Marriage Law did not regulate marriages between partners of different religions” since the 1974 law only repealed colonial laws to the extent they were inconsistent. Because the woman sought to register her marriage at the Civil Registry Office, the court allowed it to be formalized as a non-Muslim marriage.

However, the 1989 Supreme Court decision failed to clear the way for interfaith marriages, as many attest.

“The experience of having an interfaith marriage in Indonesia is really infuriating and bothersome. Why? Well, I am a Catholic and my husband is Muslim. We couldn’t register our marriage in the Religious Affairs Office (KUA) because they oblige everyone who wants to register to be a Muslim — which is not fair,” Antonia Timmerman said.

Antonia is a reporter for Investor Daily, which is affiliated with the Jakarta Globe.

“We couldn’t register our marriage in the KUA, so we went to the Civil Registration office, which was also difficult. They asked for a ‘Certificate of Baptism for the non-Catholic or non-Christian’ [presuming conversion],” she said. “So, my husband signed a letter that stated he was in the process of studying my religion even though he did not intent to convert.”

A woman who asked to be identified only by her initials, A.D., shares a similar experience.

“My husband and I agreed to pretend that I would convert to his religion solely for the purpose of getting a marriage certificate. But in fact, I’m still practicing my own religion,” she said. “I believe it’s a country’s duty to issue regulations protecting its citizens, but as an individual I also have the right to choose to keep my religion. Therefore I lied,” she said.

University of Indonesia sociologist Johannes Frederik Warouw said that the regulation of marriage in Indonesia is premised on its citizens’ protection.

“The regulation is created to ‘protect’ society in terms of living their lives peacefully, without having difficulties that stem from interfaith marriage,” he told the Globe on Friday.

“Problems that could come from interfaith marriage are marriage certificate and recognition of children from the marriage, especially when it comes to social institutions. Many will question it,” he said. “However, the regulation becomes quite discriminative, as we know that there are also many people who marry people from other religions. People should start to look things differently and critically. However, we also couldn’t blame people for being not open-minded about it.”

Legal expert Frans Winarta said the 1974 Marriage Law is inconsistent with the state ideology, Pancasila.

“At one time, a marriage was considered already legal by only registering it to the Civil Registration Office. But now with the unclear and burdensome law it’s become so complicated. The law forces people to look for loopholes, marrying overseas and returning home to register their marriage. So, what’s the use of the law?” he said.

“The law is clearly discriminative and irrelevant with our nation’s current condition. It should be eliminated because it doesn’t reflect Pancasila,” he said.

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"The Recalibration of Awareness – Apr 20/21, 2012 (Kryon channeled by Lee Carroll) (Subjects: Old Energy, Recalibration Lectures, God / Creator, Religions/Spiritual systems  (Catholic Church, Priests/Nun’s, Worship, John Paul Pope, Women in the Church otherwise church will go, Current Pope won’t do it),  Middle East, Jews, Governments will change (Internet, Media, Democracies, Dictators, North Korea, Nations voted at once), Integrity (Businesses, Tobacco Companies, Bankers/ Financial Institutes, Pharmaceutical company to collapse),  Illuminati (Started in Greece, with Shipping, Financial markets, Stock markets, Pharmaceutical money (fund to build Africa, to develop)), Shift of Human Consciousness, (Old) Souls, Women, Masters to/already come back, Global Unity.... etc.) - (Text version)

“.   New Tolerance

Look for a softening of finger pointing and an awakening of new tolerance. There will remain many systems for different cultures, as traditions and history are important to sustaining the integrity of culture. So there are many in the Middle East who would follow the prophet and they will continue, but with an increase of awareness. It will be the increase of awareness of what the prophet really wanted all along - unity and tolerance. The angel in the cave instructed him to "unify the tribes and give them the God of Israel." You're going to start seeing a softening of intolerance and the beginning of a new way of being.

Eventually, this will create an acknowledgement that says, "You may not believe the way we believe, but we honor you and your God. We honor our prophet and we will love you according to his teachings. We don't have to agree in order to love." How would you like that? The earth is not going to turn into one belief system. It never will, for Humans don't do that. There must be variety, and there must be the beauty of cultural differences. But the systems will slowly update themselves with increased awareness of the truth of a new kind of balance. So that's the first thing. Watch for these changes, dear ones. ...."

Indonesian Government Warns Citizens Not to Support ISIS

Crossing the Line: The religious affairs minister appeals to Indonesian Muslims to refrain from joining the radical group

Jakarta Globe, Aug 01, 2014

A video uploaded  to YouTube recently purporting to show an Indonesian ISIS
 member calling for support and jihad in the nation with the world’s largest Muslim
population. (JG Photo)

Jakarta. Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin appealed to Indonesian Muslims not to support the extremist Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS.

He called on local Muslims to be wary of ISIS’s request for support, stating that it is a radical movement that employs violent means to establish an Islamic state in Iraq and Syria.

In a press release on Friday, Lukman said that supporting ISIS runs counter to Indonesia’s state ideology of Pancasila.

He said Indonesians guilty of supporting ISIS, or pledging allegiance to the radical group, which seeks to establish an Islamic Caliphate in parts of the Middle East, will be considered as having pledged “allegiance to a foreign country.”

This can result in the revocation of the offenders’ citizenship.

Lukman also denounced ISIS affiliates in Indonesia that seek to recruit support while renouncing the state ideology.

“To say Pancasila is thogut, or pagan, which needs to be resisted, is crossing the line,” the minister said.

Lukman called on all Muslim leaders and organizations in Indonesia to guide their members to an understanding of Islam as rahmatan lil alamamin (a blessing to all humankind), adding that the unity of the nation must be preserved.

“Islamic teachings are about inviting and embracing all creeds graciously with wisdom, not through terror and violence,” said the minister, who is a member of the moderate Islamist United Development Party (PPP).

Meanwhile, senior figures in some of the country’s largest Muslim organizations have criticized ISIS.

Hasyim Muzadi, former chairman of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Indonesia’s largest Muslim association, spoke out against ISIS’s influence in Indonesia.

“ISIS is an extremist movement that has no respect for national sovereignty,” he said, as quoted by Tempo.co on Friday.

Similarly, Ahmad Syafii Maarif, former chairman of Muhammadiyah, Indonesia’s second-largest Muslim organization, said the jihadist group was committing “terror in the name of religion.”

“Do not bring it here, Indonesia is a safe country,” Maarif said as quoted by metrotvnews.com on Thursday

The religious affairs minister also called on law enforcement agencies to be prepared to take action against the spread of ISIS in Indonesia.

The jihadist group has sought to gain support in Indonesia, which has the most number of Muslims in the world, by various means. More recently, a recruitment video was uploaded to YouTube showing an Indonesian member calling for jihad and support in his home country.

While Lukman anticipates an increase in support for ISIS in this country, Ansyaad Mbai, the head of the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT), reported on Friday that there was currently only an estimated 30 Indonesians who have joined ranks of ISIS in the Middle East, as quoted by Kompas.

He said the 30 people were from various regions, including Jakarta, East Java and West Nusa Tenggara.

National Police chief Gen. Sutarman, meanwhile, gave his assurance that hard-line groups in Indonesia affiliated with ISIS will be dealt with.

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Editorial: It’s Very Dangerous for Us to Stay Silent

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Bali Governor Airs Support for Miss World Pageant

Jakarta Globe, Made Arya Kencana, September 2, 2013

Dozens of Bali youths protest in support of the Miss World contest in Catur
Muka statue crossing in Denpasar, Bali, on Monday, Sept 2, 2013. (JG Photo/
Made Arya Kencana)

Denpasar. Despite mounting calls by state officials and mass organizations for the upcoming Miss World beauty pageant to be canceled, Bali Governor I Made Mangku Pastika voiced his support for the event, arguing that it will present Bali and the whole of Indonesia in a positive light.

“What is wrong with the Miss World [pageant]? What are the reasons behind the protests and objections?” Pastika asked on Monday.

He said that the contest would be conducted in line with his island’s customs and not be a showcase for indecent displays of the female figure.

“[Participants] will follow our ethics and procedures. They will also act in accordance with Balinese tradition and culture,” he said. “The Miss World pageant will not bring any losses to Bali or Indonesia.”

It will, instead, he said, boost Bali’s, and by extension Indonesia’s, international reputation.

“For Bali, the event could act as a free promotion. The [contest] could lead to economic benefits and encourage tourism to the country,” he said.

The Miss World contest has drawn criticism from the hard-line Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) and the more moderate Indonesian Council of Ulema (MUI).

An MUI official said the group opposed the event because exposing a woman’s body violated Islamic teachings. He said the decision by contest organizers to exclude the traditional bikini contest did not overcome the problem as contestants will still be required to wear tight dresses that showed their curves.

The FPI has also vowed to disrupt the event, which is scheduled to include a gathering in Bali before the main ceremony on Sept. 28 at the Sentul International Convention Center in Bogor, West Java.

Suryadharma Ali, Indonesia’s Minister of Religious Affairs, and Maneger Nasution, an official at the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM), also condemned the contest as not being compatible with Islamic teachings and for putting women’s bodies on display.

Pastika, meanwhile, dismissed concerns that the contestants will expose their aurat, or body parts that are supposed to be clothed as stipulated by Islam, as illogical.

Echoing the governor’s sentiments, dozens of college students and youths in Bali held a demonstration in Denpasar on Monday in support of the pageant.

“We don’t think the MUI should meddle [in this issue],” Gede Mas Megantara, a protest coordinator, said. “Such an attitude is against the principles of [Indonesia’s state ideology] Pancasila.”

The protestors also asked for security officials to ensure that the event runs smoothly.

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Pancasila Plan to Affect Foreigners

Jakarta Globe, Edi Hardum, August 29, 2013

Students visit the Pancasila Monument in East Jakarta on April 3, 2013.
(JG Photo/Safir Makki)

Foreign workers in Indonesia must comply with local regulations and follow cultural norms based on Pancasila, the philosophical foundation of the Indonesian state, a government official said on Wednesday.

Irianto Simbolon, the director general in charge of industrial relations and workers’ social security at the Manpower and Transmigration Ministry said the department was rolling out socialization training necessary to help foreigners adapt to Indonesia and to prevent intercultural conflict that could hurt foreign investment.

“Regulations and norms that apply in Indonesia are all based on Pancasila,” Irianto said at his office.

He said foreign workers in Indonesia must understand how to behave as prescribed by the principles of Pancasila.

Promulgated by President Sukarno in 1945, Pancasila features prominently in the national discourse, and espouses five principles aimed at uniting the diverse archipelago.

The principles of the Pancasila fuse together elements of socialism, nationalism and monotheism.

Irianto said foreign workers were expected to understand the five principles in order to maintain communication ethics between themselves and local workers.

“If this can be done, it could synergize industrial relations between the workers at their work places,” Irianto said.

The ministry has so far rolled out the socialization guidelines in regions with the highest number of foreign workers such as Cikarang and Bogor in West Java and Batam in Riau, where clashes between foreigners and locals have occurred in the past.

Irianto said several multinational companies in Indonesia had held cross-cultural training programs.

He added that the training and guidelines would work to prevent intercultural friction and conflict at workplaces and at home between foreign and local workers, adding that such conflicts could lead to social unrest which would eventually affect the business and investment environment in the country.

In a pilot program in Batam last week, the Pancasila socialization training was attended by 175 people.

The ministry is targeting workers from Asian and European nations, who form the bulk of foreign workers in the country.

The largest number of foreign nationals in Indonesia are reportedly Japanese, Korean, Indian and Chinese.

“It was issued as a social interaction guideline for foreign workers in Indonesia so that they can adjust easily when interacting socially at work in accordance with Indonesian law,” Irianto said.

Pancasila is the final and only state ideology of Indonesia: SBY

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Wed, 06/01/2011

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono says the Pancasila is and will always be the only state ideology of the Republic of Indonesia.

Speaking at an offical Pancasila Day ceremony on Wednesday, Yudhoyono said his government would not tolerate other ideologies such as capitalism, communism or religion-based ideologies.

"If anyone or any group attempts to grow a movement against the Pancasila, I say they don't have any place here in Indonesia," he said.

Yudhoyono said the government would be decisive, but "will not forget human rights principles".

Using in English several times during the speech, despite earlier suggestions he should only speak in Indonesian in official speeches, said he had ordered the State Statistics Agency to conduct a survey on Pancasila.

The survey, carried out from May 25 to 29, showed that 79.26 percent of respondents agreed that Pancasila should be the state ideology, he said, adding that 89 percent of the 12,056 respondents said religious and group conflicts were caused by poor awareness of Pancasila.

"From the survey, 30 percent of respondents said the values of Pancasila should be delivered through education," he said.

Yudhoyono said that he would talk to Education Minister M.Nuh to improve Pancasila education. (lfr)

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Eight State Institutions Agree to Promote Pancasila

Eight State Institutions Agree to Promote Pancasila

Jakarta Globe, Camelia Pasandaran & Arientha Primanita, May 24, 2011

The heads of eight state institutions met at the Constitutional Court on
Tuesday to discuss how to strength the state ideology of Pancasila
within Indonesia. (Antara Photo)

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In response to rising radicalism in Indonesia, the heads of eight state institutions agreed to strengthen Pancasila within the country.

“All state institutions should commit to actively strengthening Pancasila as the nation’s ideology according to their specific roles, positions and authorities,” the head of the Constitutional Court, Mahfud MD said, reading a joint statement issued by the president, vice president, the Constitutional Court, People's Consultative Assembly, House of Representatives, Regional Legislative Council, Supreme Court, Supreme Audit Agency and Judicial Commission.

"We need a national action plan for certain institutions to socialize and strengthen Pancasila values formally through education," he said.

Mahfud said the people in Indonesia had put aside the state ideology of Pancasila.

“As a result, in the middle of the nation’s achievements, mainly on political democracy in the reformation era, some problems threatening the national pillars have surfaced,” Mahfud said.

“Conflict and social violence are easily triggered by ethnic differences, primordialism, and religious [differences].

“The tolerance that had been the original character of the nation is now fading caused as a result of thought penetration and individual pragmatic actions.”

To solve the problems threatening peace and stability in Indonesia, the leaders aimed to strengthen the teachings of Pancasila.

“The values of Pancasila should be revitalized as the guiding star as well as spirit that flow through every attitudes and activities of all nation’s elements in their respective position, status and profession.”

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No more debate on Pancasila: SBY

Hans David Tampubolon, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Tue, 06/01/2010 12:21 PM

Pancasila Day: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono delivers a speech at the House of Representatives complex in Jakarta on Tuesday during a commemoration of the speech of the country's first president, Sukarno, on the state ideology Pancasila given on June 1, 1945. Yudhoyono said in his speech that the commemoration aimed to understand Sukarno's great ideas on Pancasila. Antara/Widodo S. Jusuf

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono says there should be no more doubts about Pancasila being the country’s basic ideology.

“Let us stop all the debate about Pancasila being our nation’s basic ideology, because doing so will be counterproductive and historically not correct,” Yudhoyono said during his speech at the birth of Pancasila commemoration ceremony at the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Yudhoyono said he hoped the spirit of the Pancasila ideology would continue to inspire the current and future leaders of the country.

The ceremony is to commemorate the speech of Megawati's father and Indonesia's first president, Sukarno, which gave birth to the country's ideology known as Pancasila.

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