The US government should train members of Indonesia's elite special forces only if Indonesia takes sufficient steps toward accountability and reform to deter future abuses.
Malaysia and Indonesia should complete a pact on the status of migrant domestic workers that would include basic labor protections, Human Rights Watch said today in advance of International Women’s Day on March 8. Proposed revisions to a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two countries does not yet include guarantees for a minimum wage, freedom to leave the workplace on a weekly day of rest, or accessible complaint mechanisms.
In his book "Dreams From My Father," Barack Obama explains that Lolo Soetoro, his stepfather, asked him if he would rather be strong or weak. Lolo remarked, "Better to be strong." As Obama prepares to visit Indonesia in March, he should view the Papuan question from the point of view of the "weak man," and if he acts on Papua, maybe then in Indonesia there will be a recognition that a strong man is one who assists the weak.
The Indonesian government should adopt stronger legal protections for domestic workers in 2010 to address longstanding patterns of labor exploitation and abuse. Indonesian domestic workers both at home and abroad are often denied the protection of regular labor laws and endure excessively long working hours with no days off, unpaid wages, and physical or sexual abuse.
The Indonesian police should follow the recommendation of a special National Human Rights Commission team and reopen their investigation into the 2004 murder of Munir bin Thalib, a leading human rights lawyer.
Australia has a good track record of principled diplomacy and implementing targeted sanctions against abusive military governments in Burma and Fiji. Yet it's relatively easy for Australia to speak out about countries where it has few economic interests. It takes more courage and principle to turn up the heat on countries where it has significant economic and strategic interests.
The Indonesian government's new regulations on military-owned or controlled businesses fail to dismantle the armed forces' damaging and dangerous business empire.
Corruption in Indonesia’s lucrative forestry industry costs the government US$2 billion annually, detracting from the resources available to meet its obligations on economic and social rights.
