Indonesian Media Needs to Cover Religion, Not Radicals

Here is an excellent article from the Jakarta Globe copied below which really makes an excellent point about covering the topic of religion in Indonesia in an objective and non-biased manner and in accordance to widely accepted journalistic norms or standards.

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Indonesian media need to work together to ensure that religious extremists don’t have a voice in print, the International Association of Religion Journalists said on Wednesday.

“Don’t give any room to the hard-liners,” said Endy Bayuni, of the steering committee of IARJ. “Please cover them when they’re violating the law, but don’t give space to small group of people when they rally against something absurd. They used the media effectively and deceive the media to suit their own means.”

Journalists’ objectivity — which is usually present in business and political news — often gets forgotten when covering religion, Endy said before listing off examples of bias in coverage of religious conflicts with Shiites and Ahmadiyah.

“Islamophobia in the West in the past could not be set aside from the media,” Endy said. “The growing hatred among Muslims toward people of different religions is also influenced by the media.

When Indonesian media covered attacks against Ahmadiyah and Shia, many in the media called them heretics.”

The media should staff a religion beat with reporters committed to providing balanced and objective coverage, Endy said. Senior staffers need to remind young journalists of their responsibility to pluralism, he said.

“In most of [Indonesian] media, religion is not a prioritized beat,” he said. “There’s rarely news about religion on the front page or at the top of the news on TV unless it is a scandal or it involves violence. Even if the media does cover religion, they fail to do it according to good journalism standard.”

Mixed-Nationality Marriages (UU 6/2011)

Below is an article appearing in the Jakarta Post which gives an update on implementation of the new immigration law which affects foreign nationals living in Indonesia who are married to an Indonesian citizen with regard to obtaining either a temporary visit Visa (KITAS), or a permanent residency status or "PR" (KITAP), and also the right of a foreign national who is married to an Indonesian to work in Indonesia.

For a digest of other articles and background relating to this issue, please see my previous articles:

• http://brianindonesiaexpat.blogspot.com/2011/01/foreign-spouses-married-to-indonesian.html

• http://brianindonesiaexpat.blogspot.com/2011/03/transnational-mixed-marriages-property.html

• http://brianindonesiaexpat.blogspot.com/2011/04/indonesian-expatriate-spouses-new.html

• http://brianindonesiaexpat.blogspot.com/2011/10/update-on-new-immigration-law-pr-kitap.html

• http://brianindonesiaexpat.blogspot.com/2012/01/indonesian-mixed-marriage-couples-right.html

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Indonesian Mixed-Marriage Society (PerCa) chairwoman Melva Nababan told The Jakarta Post on Saturday that the government should immediately issue an implementing regulation (PP) and technical guidance for Law No.6/2011 on Immigration; so, any Indonesians in mixed-nationality marriages would no longer face problems regarding their marriages.

She said the PP should have been issued one year at the latest after the government replaced Law No.9/1992 on Immigration with the new immigration law issued in May 2011.

“In the absence of a PP that contains both implementation and technical guidelines for the new immigration rules, many immigration officials in the field still refer to the outdated regulations in dealing with problems related to mixed-nationality marriages,” Melva said.

Unlike the old law, the 2011 Immigration Law gives recognition to marriages between Indonesian citizens and foreign nationals.

“The existence of foreign nationals in Indonesia either to work or through marriage to an Indonesian national has been acknowledged,” said Melva.

In fact, she said, many mixed-marriage couples still found difficulties in obtaining temporary stay permits (Kitas) and permanent stay permits (Kitap) from the Immigration office due to the absence of the PP.

A lawyer from Prasetio Erawan & Partners, Deny Hariyatna, said the 2011 Immigration Law clearly stipulated that any foreign national married to an Indonesian had a right to live in Indonesia.

“Any foreign national who is married to a person with Indonesian citizenship for more than two years is allowed to permanently stay in Indonesia,” said Deny. (ebf)

United States - Indonesian Trade Relations

This article below appearing in the Jakarta Globe compounds my previous assertions that Indonesia will accept foreign aide from the United States (mainly in the form of contributions through the United States Agency on International Development or "USAID") and pay mere lip service to the U.S. in its foreign diplomatic relations; but then turns right around and blocks the U.S. from any meaningful or substantial bi-lateral trade agreements or commerce or military hardware or technologies purchases from the U.S.  

• Indonesia is one of USAID's "Top 20 Benefiting Countries" for Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 - Indonesian is ranked number 16 in line to hold out their hands and receive $171,036,145 (one hundred seventy one MILLION, 36 thousand, one hundred forty five) U.S. Dollars (USD) from the United States through USAID alone in humanitarian and economic assistance.

• For FY2011, Indonesia received $252.3 MILLION in total Economic & Military Assistance from the United States.

Indonesia does do some marginal trade with the U.S.; however there is a big gap or trade deficit between the two countries.  For further data on this, please see my previous article: "Indonesia Export / Import Trade Facts Summary"

It is very clear and obvious that Indonesia does not appreciate nor value the $200 +/- Million USD it receives from the U.S. !!  The United States needs to wake up quickly and re-prioritize its foreign policies with regard to Indonesia.  There are clearly no mutually beneficial or rewarding bi-lateral agreements between the two countries with regard to trade, commerce, or other "strategic" benefits or initiatives.   

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Indonesia Blocks US Request for WTO to Proble Farm Import Rules

Indonesia blocked a US request for World Trade Organization judges to probe Indonesian curbs on imports of horticultural goods, animals and animal products ranging from beef and vegetables to fruits and dried flowers.

The US, which challenged Indonesia on Jan. 10, said non- automatic import licenses and quotas hinder trade and break global commerce rules. Indonesia won’t be able to block a second US request for the Geneva-based WTO to set up a panel of judges to rule on the complaint.

“Indonesia has created a complex web of import-licensing requirements that, along with quotas, have the effect of unfairly restricting US exports,” the US Trade Representative’s Office said in a March 14 statement from Washington.

“These measures appear to be designed to protect Indonesia’s domestic agriculture industry.” Indonesia adopted the rules in late 2011 and tightened them last September to include what the US called even more onerous requirements for horticultural imports.

In December, Indonesia announced “drastic reductions in quotas for beef and other animal product imports, further restricting access to the Indonesian market,” the USTR said.

The WTO challenge is the second initiated by the US against Indonesia. In 1998, judges backed a joint complaint by the US, the European Union and Japan over Indonesian measures favoring domestic automobile producers.

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UPDATE:

Indonesia Relaxes Import Rules After U.S. Goes to WTO

Indonesia has eased restrictions on some agricultural imports after the United States complained to the World Trade Organization over Jakarta's "opaque and complex" rules, the trade ministry said.
The US first raised the issue with the trade body in January, citing Indonesia's "broad use of import licensing measures that restrict imports" on a range of agricultural products.

It criticised the licensing system, which came into force last year, as "opaque and complex", saying it was inconsistent with Indonesia's WTO obligations and was having an impact on US exports to the country.

Last month Indonesia rejected a US request for the creation of a WTO panel to settle the dispute but late Wednesday the trade ministry said it had eased the restrictions.

The number of horticultural products regulated has been reduced by 18, the trade ministry said in a statement, adding that the new rules came into force on Monday. It made no mention of the WTO dispute.

The import of only 39 products would now be regulated, the ministry said. Products that are no longer regulated include garlic, garlic powder, chili powder and cabbage.

For those that are still regulated, the process to apply for import permits had been simplified and could now be done online.

"We want the permit process to be simpler and administration of imports to be more orderly so that a higher degree of business certainty can be achieved," said ministry official Bachrul Chairi.

The case has put Indonesia under the spotlight at a time that former trade minister Mari Pangestu is in the running to lead the WTO, and as the country gears up to host the trade body's ministerial meeting later this year.

Orang Pendek - Indonesia's Little Bigfoot (Sasquatch)

  

  

The Finding Bigfoot team from America travels to Sumatra, Indonesia to investigate "orang pendek"

Orang Pendek at Gunung Salak  B )~

U.S. Immigration Reform Proposal from Barack Obama's Administration

U.S. President Barack Obama (the Indonesian "prodigal son") has laid out a new proposal or plan for U.S. immigration reform.  Be careful who you vote for or support, as that political candidate can and does turn into a wolf in sheep's clothing.

The proposals will make it even more difficult for Indonesians to emigrate out from Indonesia and immigrate into the United States; and for any Indonesian Visa over-stays or illegal immigrants, don't expect lenient or blanket "amnesty" to be granted to you. 

Here is a summary of President Obama's proposals below. Full story here.

"Gang Of Eight"

A bipartisan group of senators have come together to address the issue of immigration reform. The group consists of four members of each party -- Democratic Sens. Chuck Schumer of New York, Dick Durbin of Illinois, Bob Menendez of New Jersey and Michael Bennet of Colorado, plus Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Marco Rubio of Florida, John McCain of Arizona and Jeff Flake of Arizona. Their framework was announced Monday.

Pathway To Citizenship

A "tough but fair" road to citizenship is the main tenet of the bipartisan immigrant plan. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) is the most significant supporter of this idea, giving hope to those who doubt Republicans will support the plan.

The New Process

The new process of obtaining citizenship would be just that -- a process. Probationary citizens would be required to pass an additional background check, learn English, pay taxes and show that they have a history of employment to apply for permanent residence and a green card.

Undocumented immigrants will receive green cards after all probationary citizens have been processed, ensuring that documented immigrants are addressed first.

Separate processes would be designed for young undocumented immigrants who came to the US as children and agricultural workers.

Enforcement, Then Green Cards

The first goal, before any green cards are handed out, is to "demonstrate our commitment to securing our borders and combating visa overstays," the senators say in their framework.

Enhance Border Security And Drones

Emphasizing enforcement measures, the framework calls for increased boarder control, including more border agents and aerial surveillance and drones. A new system would be added to ensure visa stays are being adhered to, along with a commission of border lawmakers to aid legislation.

Increase Employment Verification

The senators have proposed to create an "effective employment verification system" that would help prevent identity theft while allowing employers to feel secure in hiring documented immigrants.

No Benefits For Probationary Immigrants

Immigrants who are in the probationary category would not be eligible for federal benefits in the senators' framework. This addresses the concern that public benefits, particularly health-related ones, are being spent on undocumented immigrants.

An Easier Path For 'The Best And Brightest'

The framework recognizes that a different sort of process would be needed for "the best and brightest," including highly-skilled workers and those with higher education. This has been previously addressed in the STEM Act which was ultimately vetoed by the White House.

How Muslims Are Treated in the USA vs. How Christians are Treated in Indonesia

I received a comment on one my articles that is so preposterous that it deserves it's own article.  The comment was posted on my previous article below:

http://brianindonesiaexpat.blogspot.com/2012/05/indonesia-most-intollerant-country-in.html

I would not want this reader's comment (and my rebuttal) to be hidden in the original article above so I have devoted and dedicated a separate stand alone article (and web page) devoted to this issue.

Before I delve more into this issue, I want to thank the reader, Ms. Miranty Lestari in all sincerity for sending me her comments and remarks.  The purpose of this rebuttal is not to harangue and berate Ms. Lestari, but to give a brief factual discussion and let the you the reader make their own independent conclusion(s).  This open (and respectful) dialogue is EXACTLY what I set out to do and accomplish by this website; that is, to foster greater understanding between the people and government of the Republic of Indonesia and the people and government of the United States to foster better and more harmonious bilateral relationships between the two countries.

Here is the comment that I received:

"Seems like you have forgotten about your country America. Their intolerant for a Muslim is very high. Have you seen YouTube and how Muslim is treated in there? Here is an example http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHCIVzG1dUE
At least in Indonesia, every non-Muslim still can pray and have their religion attribute.
Just want to remind you to see from 2 different side :)"

First let's all watch the video clip together that Ms. Lestari puts forward as a premise for her assumption and for her point of view.  The video clip is originally a broadcast of the ABC News series "What Would You Do?" with John Quinones. 

First of all understand that this video was a "staged" or contrived experiment conducted by ABC News.  It is a "what would happen if we did .X.." type of experiment.  It is not representative of all of America nor provides a sole basis in and of itself upon which  to drawn factual conclusions about how Muslims are treated in the United States. Trust me, a cashier would not be speaking like this (if he wanted to keep his job and not get fired) and if it were the owner, he would likely only care about how much his sales at the register are going, regardless who the paying customer was.

The only participants in this video clip who are not "actors" are the bystanders who witness this exchange between what appears to be a "Muslim" woman customer and the bakery store clerk or cashier.  This was all staged and set up.  The video camera angle taken of the cashier makes it look like this was a "sting" under-cover "hidden-camera" operation; but take a look at the camera angles taken of the "Muslim" woman customer which appears to be a POV (point of view) angle from the cashier's standpoint.  Did they put a hidden camera on the unsuspecting cashier also or trespass in the store or break in at night the previous day to hide cameras behind the counter?  Highly unlikely.  As they admit, in this video clip, the producers staged all this. What you should watch this video clip for and focus on is not the commentary or analysis of the ABC News correspondents but the reactions of the non-participant actor bystanders.

You will note the follwoing of this video clip:

• There were only two people in this experiment who condoned or gave approval of the cashiers treatment of the "Muslim" woman; a man who gives the "thumbs up" and exits the store and gets in the passenger side of a red SUV, and another older man in a floral or "batik" looking shirt.

• Nearly ALL of the other customers were so outraged over the injustice that they actually came to the "Muslim" woman's defense including a very patriotic gentleman who says his son is in the military and just returned from Iraq/Afghanistan (he is later in tears about the incident when interviewed).   He steps forward and confronts the cashier in support of the "Muslim" woman and tells the cashier that he has violated her rights and tells the cashier how "deeply offended" he was.

• The professor's commentary analysis at the 5:14 mark in the video states that the bystanders who came to the Muslim woman's defense were actually "Defending America" for a "just and fair society"!

• The bystanders who witnessed this were even moved to tears over this [staged] injustice.

• at the 5:45 mark in the video the "results" of this experiment are revealed where they state that "at the end of the day, 13 people stood up for the Muslim woman, while 6 sided with the clerk"

• they say or claim at the 6:08 mark in the video that the majority (22 people) "did or said nothing".  Actually ABC news does not know that they in fact "did nothing" and cannot make that claim as some of these 22 people, while not confronting the cashier directly as the others, may have in fact been so outraged that they filed a complaint against the bakery over the actions and comments of the cashier and the bakery. 

• notwithstanding these others who appeared to "not want to get involved" there were MANY store patrons WHO DID STEP FORWARD to say something and confront the cashier in support of the Muslim woman vowing never to return to the bakery again because they were so outraged.

Thank you so much for sharing this video clip with me, Ms. Lesatri, and for commenting on my previous article because what it shows is HOW WELL Muslims are treated in this country and how innocent bystanders will come to another person's defense and support in the face of such gross discriminatory mistreatment.  The United States is a very compassionate, JUST, and FAIR nation.

While racial or cultural or religious discrimination does take place in the United States it is the exception rather than the rule.  We have protections against such injustices in America and we actively (and proactively) work to eradicate (and prosecute) such injustices.

• Civil Rights Act of 1964  
• Hate Crimes that are investigated by the FBI.
• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
• Fair Housing - Equal Opportunity
• Equal Opportunity Employment Commission (EEOC)

We also do not have a social caste system or require (such as in Indonesia) for persons of the same faith only to be married; a practice known as endogamy. Even a man with the name of Barack [Obama] who has Muslim proclivities and is an African American black or negro can be President of the United States.

All of these FREEDOMS and LIBERTIES and RIGHTS of the citizens (and non-citizen immigrants) are what make the United States such a great nation and why so many immigrants from oppressed nations or societies want to flock to the U.S. in droves. Our Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. Flag states in part,

"One Nation Under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice FOR ALL" [emphasis added]

  

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Now let's take a juxtapositioned look at Indonesia:

If we were to conduct this same experiment in Jakarta or elsewhere in Indonesia, would Muslims come to the defense of a Christian??!!  Hell NO is the answer!  I lived in Indonesia for several years by the way so I speak from first hand experience.  I would volunteer to be the video experiment subject in Indonesia but chances are very high (and probable) that I would be severely beaten or even killed.

Ms. Lestari opines that, "At least in Indonesia, every non-Muslim still can pray and have their religion attribute."

Oh really??!! Not true at all!  Just ask the beleaguered GKI Yasmin Christian church congregation in Bogor whether they agree with you, Ms. Lesatri!  If what you said was true we would not find articles in the news commonplace such as this:  

http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/05/18/indonesia-angry-mob-hurls-bags-of-urine-at-christians/

http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/gki-yasmin-denied-christmas-service-in-bogor-church-again/563498

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2011/02/08/mob-destroys-three-churches-after-blasphemy-trial-central-java.html

Nor would Indonesia rank so very low in the list of most tolerant countries in the world. Indonesia however ranks very high on the list of countries with the worst Human Rights issues and lack of transparency in government administration and accountability.

There is even a "Minister of Religious Affairs" in Indonesia whose job it is to quash Christianity in Indonesia.  The Minister did not want to get involved by the way in the appeals of the GKI Yasmin Christian congregation in Indonesia whose church was forcibly shut down.  Shouldn't he in fact be upholding justice and the Indonesian Constitution?

Notwithstanding any such declaration of "religious freedom" in the Indonesian Constitution, one can clearly see where Christianity is being quashed, repressed or "controlled" in Indonesia through official government and bureaucratic processes which aim to clearly restrict Christianity in Indonesia.  There is in fact a government agency, The Ministry of Religious Affairs, whose objective is to do just that; quash, suppress or "control" Christianity in Indonesia.  Their website states, with regard to Christian "Guidance" and official government policy, that their objective is to:

• formulate and define the vision, mission, policy and technical guidance in the field of Christian community based on the implementation of policies established by the Minister and based on Regulation of legislation that applies;
• formulation of standardization, norms, guidelines, criteria, procedures and guidance in the field of Christian community;
• implementation of policy guidance in the field of Christian community;
• provision of technical evaluation and implementation tasks;
• implementation of the directorate-general administration.

 
There cannot be true "religious freedom" when a particular faith is so regulated as stipulated above.  Moreover, how can a government declare true "religious freedom" when it only recognizes 6 of the nearly 42 or more basic belief systems in the world?!  Furthermore, true "religious freedom" would include the right to worship, or not to worship or be subject to any religion or have any religion imposed on you, as the case may be. 

While I lived in Jakarta I witnessed the very few stand alone Christian church buildings.  The few that I did see were either closed or boarded up and with hatred graffiti spray painted all over the exterior walls.  Very disturbing and sickening indeed!  :'' (

Also, with so many few building permits being granted for stand alone Christian church buildings, most Christian churches are forced to locate in commercial buildings hidden from view for the most part from and by the majority Muslim public.

Now I ask you, Ms. Lesatari; can "every non-Muslim still can pray and have their religion attribute." as you so confidently proclaim ?