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Showing posts from February, 2008

Political Parties in Heart Only

Not every political party is seriously established. One only has Rp1.5 million in its bank account.ITS name is reminiscent of the old days: The New Order Party. Registered almost three years ago, this political party is number 16 in the Department of Justice & Human Rights’ register. Its stated address is Jalan Perdatam Raya 54C, South Jakarta. But it turns out that this is the address for a course in learning guidance for SMA (senior high) students. When registered, this New Order Party was chaired by Zaufi Lubis with Herdiansyah as secretary and Jamilah as treasurer. But don’t expect to meet these three at the address stated. “We’ve been occupying this office since last August,” says Awaludin, an employee of the learning-guidance course. According to Awaludin, several people have come to inquire if the address is really the office of the New Order Party. Last month, a man in police uniform visited and a uniformed man claiming to be a Jakarta government official also came last wee

Hanya Partai dalam Hati

NAMANYA menyiratkan masa lampau: Partai Orde Baru. Didaftarkan hampir tiga tahun silam, partai itu tercatat di nomor 16 partai yang datang ke Departemen Hukum dan Hak Asasi Manusia. Alamatnya tertulis di Jalan Perdatam Raya 54C, Jakarta Selatan. Ternyata ini alamat gerai sebuah lembaga bimbingan belajar anak-anak SMA.Saat didaftarkan, Partai Orde Baru dipimpin ketua Zaufi Lubis, sekretaris Dede Herdiansyah, dan bendahara Jamilah. Tentu saja, jangan berharap bisa menemui ketiganya di alamat yang mereka cantumkan itu. ”Kami sudah menempati kantor ini sejak Agustus tahun lalu,” kata Awaludin, pegawai lembaga bimbingan belajar itu. Menurut Awaludin, beberapa orang datang menanyakan apakah benar tempat itu kantor Partai Orde Baru. Bulan lalu, misalnya, datang seorang polisi. Seorang berseragam yang mengaku aparat Pemerintah DKI Jakarta pun datang pekan lalu. Sujarwo, Ketua RT setempat, membenarkan bahwa Partai Orde Baru pernah mangkal di rumah itu sekitar dua tahun sejak 2005. Ia mengatakan

Enticed by Sweet Promises

Cases of human trafficking in West Java are on the rise. Drafting the required provincial regulation does not seem to be a priority. RICO’S promise from heaven three years ago is still fresh in her memory. The 35-year-old man offered her enticements that were just too difficult to refuse: bringing home Rp30 million in just six months. Ros—not her real name—was of course shaking with anticipation and accepted the offer to work in Malaysia. “It turned out that I was to become a prostitute,” said the slightly built woman on Thursday two weeks ago. Since her return to Indonesia, Ros has been boarding at a special rehabilitation pesantren (traditional Islamic boarding school) in the city of Cianjur in West Java. Ros is just one of hundreds of victims of human trafficking in West Java. According to the Bandung Women’s Institute, in addition to East Java and West Kalimantan, the province is one of most important “exporters” in Indonesia. “It is because of this that we are urging the immediate

Mereka Tergiur Janji Manis

JANJI surga Rico tiga tahun lalu masih terasa segar dalam ingatannya. Pria 35 tahun itu menawarkan iming-iming yang sulit ditolaknya: membawa pulang Rp 30 juta hanya dalam enam bulan. Ros—bukan nama sebenarnya—tentu saja bergetar dan akhirnya menerima tawaran untuk bekerja di Malaysia. ”Ternyata saya dijadikan pelacur,” kata perempuan langsing itu, Kamis dua pekan lalu. Ia, hingga kini, masih mondok di pesantren rehabilitasi di Kota Cianjur, Jawa Barat. Ros adalah satu dari ratusan korban perdagangan manusia (trafficking) di Jawa Barat. Institut Perempuan Bandung mencatat, provinsi ini merupakan salah satu ”eksportir” cukup penting di Indonesia, selain Jawa Timur dan Kalimantan Barat. ”Karena itu, kami mendesak peraturan daerah tentang anti-trafficking segera disahkan,” kata Direktur Institut Perempuan Elin Rozana. Sejak dua pekan lalu, Institut Perempuan mengedarkan petisi untuk menggalang dukungan pengesahan peraturan daerah (perda) yang mestinya ”ketuk palu” tahun lalu itu. l l l Se