International Observers in Indonesian elections 2014

Ketika mengikuti training Election Observation dan Electoral Assistance di Stadtschlaining, Austria November 2012 lalu, ada yang tertarik untuk mencari pengalaman untuk magang sebagai pekerja dan pemantau pemilu di Indonesia, khususnya di KIPP Indonesia. 

When I attended the training of Election Observation and Electoral Assistance in Stadtschlaining, Austria, November 2012, a colleague came to me and is interested to work or do internship in my organisation, KIPP Indonesia.

One voter was leaving after casting vote in one polling station in Jakarta Gubernatorial Election, 20 September 2012. Look at the pin he wore pin on the left chest! It was pin of no. 1 candidate (uncumbent), eventhough it was not prohibited, since the pin didn't mention the name and the number of candidate. Location:  West Jakarta

Setelah dipertimbangkan, kami akhirnya menerima permintaan ini, karena selama ini toh kami sudah menerima sering mendapat tamu, baik peneliti asing, wartawan asing, pemantau asing dsb. Lagipula sebagai organisasi pemantau pemilu, KIPP Indonesia tidak bisa melepaskan diri dari pergaulan internasional.

We decide to accept this inquiry. We had previously some experience with foreign researchers, journalists, election observers, etc. On the other hand, KIPP Indonesia is part of international community, especially in election field. 

Saat ini, KIPP Indonesia sedang terus memantau perkembangan persiapan pemilu 2014 di Indonesia, selain mempersiapkan diri untuk menerima kunjungan pemantau asing, baik dari ANFREL, EU dan juga dari negara-negara lain. Beberapa dari mereka sudah mengunjungi kantor kami dan juga bekerja sama dengan cabang-cabang kami di daerah. Saya sendiri menangani mereka pada tahun 1999, ketika saya masih di KIPP Jakarta Barat, dan 2009 di kantor KIPP Nasional. 

Nowadays, KIPP observe the preparation of Election Day and is preparing the coming of foreign observers in our country as well, include ANFREL's observers, perhaps EU's observers and other foreign observers. Most foreign observers visited our office and some worked together with our branches in provinces. I handled this matter in 1999, when I was in KIPP branch West Jakarta and 2009 in KIPP Indonesia (national level). 

Kepada para pemantau pemilu asing yang bermaksud memantau pemilu di Indonesia, saya hanya mengingatkan, bahwa Indonesia akan menyelenggarakan 2 pemilu besar sekaligus di tahun 2014. Pemilu tersebut adalah pemilu legislatif atau pemilu parlemen 9 April 2014 dan pemilu presiden 9 Juli 2014. Jadi dari sekarang, mereka bisa merencanakan waktu agar bisa sekaligus memantau dua pemilu dalam satu kunjungan ke Indonesia. 

I just want to remind foreign observers that Indonesian will have 2 elections in the same year, and it is interesting to observe these 2 elections: Parliamentary Election will be held in 9th April 2014, and Presidential Election will be held in 9th July 2014. It is good for them that at the same visit they can have 2 observation experience, so they can arrange the time from now on.

Pemantau asing harus menghubungi kedutaan Indonesia di negara masing-masing untuk mengetahui jenis visa yang dibutuhkan, karena mereka akan tinggal di Indonesia lebih dari satu bulan. Setahu saya ada sejumlah jenis visa untuk memasuki Indonesia: visa turis, visa sosial budaya, Visa Kedatangan, visa bekerja dan lain-lain. Penduduk dari sejumlah negara seperti negara Eropa, AS dan Jepang dapat memperoleh Visa on Arrival ketika tiba di bandara Soekarno-Hatta, tetapi visa ini untuk turis dan hanya berlaku 1 bulan saja. Penduduk negara-negara ASEAN, seperti Malaysia, Singapura, Thailand dan Philipina bisa memasuki Indonesia tanpa visa, tetapi hanya berlaku satu bulan saja. Dan jangan lupa sebelumnya menghubungi KPU (Komisi Pemilihan Umum)  untuk mendaftar sebagai pemantau pemilu internasional.

The foreign observers should contact Indonesian embassies in their own respective country to find out what type of visa they need, because they will be in Indonesia more than 1 month. There are some type of visa to enter Indonesia, so far I know. Tourist visa, Visa on Arrival, social culture visa, working visa etc.  Some countries such as Europeans, USA and Japan can obtain Visa on Arrival, but this is only for tourist and 1 month. People from ASEAN countries like Malaysia, Singapore, The Philippines and Thailand can come to Indonesia without visa and it endures 1 month. But, at first they should to register themselves as foreign observers in Indonesian Election Commission (KPU). 

Selamat datang di Indonesia! Welcome to Indonesia!

Press Release : Myanmar citizenship for Rohingya will end killings

As president of the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC), I feel it is important to express my deep regret for the failure of the world to react appropriately to the killing and persecution of Muslim ethnic Rohingya in Rakhine State, Myanmar.

It is also regrettable that the recent visit of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Southeast Asia occupied the attention of most international media while neglecting and thus tolerating grave crimes against humanity in Myanmar.

Gas pipe line from Arakan into China

The AIPMC is deeply troubled by the sectarian strife in Rakhine and concerned by the solution to the violence proposed by President Thein Sein. His solution to decades of sectarian violence and unrest does not express a willingness to promote national reconciliation, which the president campaigned under as part of his democratisation agenda.

Despite the flow of some of new migrants from Bangladesh, many people of the Rohingya minority have lived in areas of Western Myanmar for more than three generations. The AIPMC therefore urges the government of Myanmar to find a fair and just solution to the current unrest, which includes a permanent solution for the hundreds of thousands of stateless Rohingya who live in western Myanmar and in makeshift refugee camps in neighbouring Bangladesh.

The Rohingya who have lived in Myanmar for generations must be recognised and granted citizenship. The government has a duty to protect and provide for these people. Seeking to unload responsibility onto the UN is not an acceptable solution and the suggestion from the country's president betrays the systematic persecution of the Rohingya population for generations.

The AIPMC also urges Asean and the United Nations to urgently respond to this latest outbreak of the crisis and take immediate action to protect people, including women and children, from violence and persecution. It must provide emergency assistance to thousands of refugees displaced from their homes by recent violence. Asean must work with the Myanmar government to find a lasting solution to the problems of Rakhine and stand up against any persecution of individuals on ethnic and/or religious grounds, especially if it comes from state authorities.

The AIPMC finds it difficult to accept the US government's decision to ease economic sanctions in Myanmar due to supposed reforms in the Asean member state, while a blind eye is turned to the clear violations of international law in the persecution of the Rohingya by neighbouring Arakanese, as well as the Myanmar government's refusal, on ethnic and religious grounds, to grant them citizenship.

A serious and concerted effort is urgently needed to avert further violence and find a lasting solution to these problems. A failure of the international community to act is reprehensible and could threaten the long-term success of Myanmar's nascent reform process. Immediate action is necessary to end the suffering of the Rohingya people.

Eva Kusuma Sundari

Jakarta