In Commemoration of the International Women's Day: Arouse Women who will Serve to Hold up The Sky of the New Democratic System of Indonesia!

National Statement of Serikat Perempuan Indonesia (SERUNI)

In order to

Commemorate of 114th International Women's Day

 

We commemorate the 114th International Women's Day March 8 in 2024 amid the general elections which has in various ways, taken away the right to elect and be elected which belongs to the women of the peasantry, the working class, the professionals, the low-level workers as well as millions of informal and precarious women workers in urban and rural areas. Indonesian women are again forced to become pillars holding up half the sky that still belongs to the semi-colonial and semi-feudal system that is currently threatened with imminent collapse under a chronic crisis that continues to worsen day by day. Women's voices are manipulated through election after election to support new policies, regulations and decisions that will always multiply the oppression and exploitation of women themselves. Prabowo Subianto, the so-called ‘provisional victor’ of the election based on the quick count of the Indonesian General Election Commission (KPU), was the main military element of Suharto's New Order Regime which lasted for 32 years. Not only that, he also took part in strengthening Joko Widodo's US puppet regime in his second term as Joko Widodo’s Minister of Defense for the semi-colonial and semi-feudal system! SERUNI resolutely opposes any and all undemocratic elections, especially so for women, and from now on prepares itself to face the US puppet regime that oppresses women which will soon be Joko Widodo’s successor.

 

We also commemorate the 114^th International Women’s Day in the midst of an acute imperialist crisis marked by a brutal and deadly war of aggression by Israeli Zionists supported by the United States and NATO against the Palestinian nation and people. Tens of thousands of Palestinians were murdered by the Zionist regime, majority of them unarmed women and children. Hundreds of thousands of others became refugees without any guarantee of safety, without food and drink, health services, and safe and adequate housing. Tens of thousands of other Palestinian women are also held hostage within Israeli prisons, under constant threat of sexual violence. Lasting peace in Palestine can only occur if the Zionist occupation is finally defeated alongside the domination of United States imperialism, both can only be defeated through the unity of the oppressed and exploited people throughout the world.

 

SERUNI also condemns the deaths and violence against women and children during Russia's prolonged war on Ukraine due to the provocation and support of the United States and its NATO allies for its Ukrainian puppet regime. The people of Palestine, Russia and Ukraine as well as the people of various countries who are taking part in the war against the domination of imperialism not only need humanitarian assistance and won’t be satisfied with a false sense of peace, but they needed a genuine international solidarity and lasting peace which can only be won by an anti-imperialist liberation movement that is strengthened by the unity of oppressed and exploited peoples in the world.

 

Since the commemoration of International Women's Day on March 8^th, 2023, the imperialist puppet government's active efforts to coopt the commemoration have intensified, and will include the 114th International Women’s Day commemoration. SERUNI as a women's organization that fights for the liberation of Indonesian women by resolving the fundamental problems of Indonesian women, emphasizes that no matter how weak the strength of the democratic women and its movement, calls on all oppressed and exploited people in Indonesia to fight together so that the International Women’s Day remains under the ownership of the people, and does not fall under the domination of the oppressing and exploiting class, both in Indonesia and throughout the world, who in every way tries to show itself as the fighter for women's liberation. They only commemorate International Women's Day on March 8^th  in order to prevent the spread of national democratic ideas and struggles that will fundamentally change the multi-layered oppression and exploitation of women. The commemoration they held was for the liberation of women of the ruling reactionary classes themselves, not for women workers and peasants, professionals and other lowly workers in rural and urban areas. In fact, the commemoration they held was only to reaffirm the new limits of "women's liberation" which were and were not permitted by imperialism and the semi-colonial and semi-feudal system in Indonesia. In short, the International Women’s Day commemoration by the Indonesian Government through the Ministry of Women's and Children's Empowerment only serves to emphasize that the ideal of women's complete liberation from the male patriarchal system and various forms of discrimination due to religion and society is irrelevant and just a utopia!

 

Since Clara Zetkin, the founder of the German proletarian movement in 1910 proposed International Women's Day to be celebrated on March 8^th at the Second International Conference of Socialist Women, until now the world has only inherited two experiences of fundamental liberation for women in the world, namely Russia after the victory of the Great October Revolution of 1917-1956 and China since 1949-1976. After that, imperialism and all variants of backward systems of power in semi-colonial countries returned the status of women back under the domination of the patriarchal system of men, under which women suffered various kinds of discrimination and violence along with all the domestic work that was considered inherent to them from birth.

 

In the most advanced capitalist industrial country, the United States, the fate of women is similar but not the entirely the same as the fate of women in backward agrarian countries such as Indonesia. Domestication, wage discrimination, and commercialization of women are intensive. Likewise, Western European countries merely ‘liberated’ women in their liberal systems as commodities and instruments for multiplying the birth of NEW VALUE from their commodities and finance capital.

 

Even though we have commemorated International Women’s Day for the 114th time, Mao Tse Tung's expression, the leader of China's proletarian women's liberation movement, "Women Hold Up Half the Sky", only applies very artificially in Indonesia. In Indonesia it is difficult to find those who do not praise, glorify women and claim to protect them with all their might. However, violence against women and children has reached another level of insanity throughout the year of 2023 in various forms that are difficult to accept. Sadistic murders after being raped and other forms of extreme sexual violence, physical torture of women and children without reason, rampant sales of women for prostitution and sexual commodification, various forms of overt commercialization of women to multiply profits from capitalist merchandise, supported by the fact that 24% of Indonesian women are used as spearheads of product sales.

 

The strong patriarchal system of male power, the semi-colonial and semi-feudal system, has given men special privileges, especially husbands, as legislators and judges, even making husbands, uncles, and older brothers as policemen and soldiers to scrutinize women. As a result, the patriarchal system of male power has succeeded in educating male children who claim to be the servant of their mothers while they still allow and even defend their fathers who openly domesticate their mothers, even using various forms of violence to enforce this domestication!

 

Women's lack of freedom in the economic aspect is the basis for women losing their political and cultural freedom. Only a handful of Indonesian women, those who are part of the ruling reactionary class, enjoy economic freedom and ultimately enjoy political and cultural freedom by oppressing and eliminating the freedom of millions of other women in rural and urban areas. The 2022 Central Statistics Agency figures show that only 0.78 percent of women are in leadership positions in various jobs.

 

The number of landless women and those don’t take part in agricultural work side by side with men in rural areas continues to increase. Both because of the crisis within the agricultural economic system based on exportable commodities such as palm oil and because of the chronic cultural crisis which is getting worse. Central Statistics Agency figures shows that only 15.88% of the 44 million plots of land are under the ownership of women and only 24% of women work in the agricultural and plantation sectors. In a class society like Indonesia, women in rural areas can only liberate themselves, even though they are limited, if they own land and take part in work side by side with men. Work that is based on the principle that women have the right to receive the same share of production results or wages for each job as men. In large numbers, women who do not own property in rural areas become commodities in cheap labor export schemes to various countries such as Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries, Malaysia, Australia, Korea and Taiwan. They are referred to as migrant workers.

 

The number of women who do not work in agricultural and industrial production is increasingly greater than the number of women who work. The types of work available to women are increasingly inferior and make it easier for women to become objects of various forms of physical and sexual violence. There are still very large numbers of women who are deprived of their basic rights to cheap and quality education and health, especially in remote areas, where national minorities and poor settler-farmers reside in Indonesia's forests.

 

The chronic crisis, oppression and exploitation of women cannot be ended by any normative means, including through the general elections. Over and over again, new policies, regulations and decisions were born after dozens of elections in Indonesia since 1955. All these policies, regulations and decisions has in fact deepened the crisis for women economically, politically and culturally.

 

In the face of such crisis, SERUNI remains steadfast in its stance that Indonesian women shall be free in line with the liberation of the Indonesian nation and people from the semi-colonial and semi-feudal system. The system of patriarchal male power can only disappear fundamentally if the domination of imperialism, feudalism and bureaucratic capitalism disappears from Indonesia. The entire national democratic struggle for liberation can only begin by winning the genuine LAND REFORM in the countryside as a way to pave the way for national industrialization, the genuine guarantor of women's liberation.

 

Indonesian women must be the pillars holding up half the sky for a new, freer, democratic and more advanced system that must be fought for in Indonesia and the entire world. She must no longer holds up half the sky of a semi-colonialism and semi-feudalism, a wretched system that will collapse and be absolved!

 

 

Happy 144^th International Women’s Day,

Defeat imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucratic capitalism

Long live to Indonesian Women! 

The oppressed and exploited people of Indonesia, unite!!

Jadikan Perempuan Penopang Separuh Langit Indonesia Sesungguhnya!

 Pernyataan Nasional Serikat Perempuan Indonesia-SERUNI

Dalam Rangka

Peringatan Hari Perempuan Internasional ke-144

Kita memperingati Hari Perempuan Internasional 8 Maret ke-114 pada tahun 2024 di tengah pemilihan umum serentak yang justru dengan terang-terangan dan berbagai cara merampas hak dipilih dan memilih bebas kaum perempuan tani, kaum buruh, para profesional dan pekerja rendahan serta jutaan pekerja perempuan serabutan di perkotaan dan pedesaan. Perempuan Indonesia kembali dipaksa menjadi tiang penyanggah separuh langit sistem setengah jajahan dan setengah feodal yang terancam runtuh oleh krisis kronis yang terus memburuk. Suara kaum perempuan dimanipulasi melalui pemilu demi pemilu untuk mendukung kebijakan, regulasi dan keputusan baru yang melipatgandakan penindasan dan penghisapan atas kaum perempuan itu sendiri. Prabowo Subianto, Pemenang Sementara berdasarkan quick-count Komisi Pemilihan Umum (KPU) RI adalah elemen militer utama Rezim Orde Baru Suharto hingga bisa bertahan selama 32 tahun dan ambil bagian dalam memperkuat Pemerintahan Boneka Joko Widodo di periode ke-2nya sebagai Menteri Pertahanan bagi sistem Setengah Jajahan dan Setengah Feodal! SERUNI menentang pemilu tidak demokratis khususnya bagi kaum perempuan dan dari sekarang mempersiapkan diri menghadapi pemerintah boneka penindas perempuan yang akan segera lahir.

 

Kita juga memperingati HPI 8 Maret tahun 2024 di tengah krisis imperialis yang akut yang ditandai dengan perang agresi brutal dan mematikan oleh zionis Israel dukungan Amerika Serikat dan NATO atas bangsa dan rakyat Palestina. Puluhan ribu rakyat Palestina meninggal dunia, mayoritasnya perempuan dan anak-anak yang tidak bersenjata. Ratusan ribu lainnya menjadi pengungsi tanpa jaminan keselamatan apapun, tanpa makanan dan minuman, pelayanan kesehatan dan tempat tinggal yang aman dan layak. Puluhan ribu perempuan Palestina lainnya berada dalam penjara Israel, berada dalam ancaman kekerasan seksual berkepanjangan. Perdamaian abadi di Palestina hanya bisa terjadi apabila pendudukan zionis Israel diakhiri dan dominasi imperialisme Amerika Serikat bisa dikalahkan oleh persatuan rakyat tertindas dan terhisap seluruh dunia. SERUNI juga mengutuk kematian dan kekerasan terhadap perempuan dan anak selama berlangsungnya Perang Berkepanjangan Rusia atas Ukraina karena provokasi dan dukungan Amerika Serikat dan sekutu NATO-nya. Rakyat Palestina, Rusia dan Ukraina serta rakyat di berbagai negeri yang sedang ambil bagian dalam perang menentang dominasi imperialisme tidak hanya membutuhkan bantuan kemanusiaan dan dipuaskan dengan perdamaian palsu, akan tetapi membutuhkan solidaritas internasional sejati dan perdamaian abadi yang hanya bisa dimenangkan dengan gerakan pembebasan anti imperialis yang kuat oleh persatuan rakyat tertindas dan terhisap di setiap negeri dan seluruh dunia.    

 

Sejak Peringatan Hari Perempuan Internasional 8 Maret 2023 upaya aktif pemerintah boneka imperialis memperingatinya semakin intensif. Termasuk peringatan HPI 8 Maret ke-144 ini. SERUNI sebagai organisasi perempuan yang memperjuangkan pembebasan perempuan Indonesia secara fundamental menegaskan bahwa selemah apapun kekuatan kaum perempuan demokratis dan gerakannya menyerukan kepada seluruh rakyat tertindas dan terhisap di Indonesia agar berjuang bersama-sama agar HPI tetap menjadi milik rakyat, tidak jatuh dalam dominasi klas penindas dan penghisap baik di Indonesia maupun seluruh dunia yang dengan segala cara menunjukkan dirinya sebagai pejuang pembebasan kaum perempuan. Mereka hanya memperingati Hari Perempuan Internasional 8 Maret demi mengahalangi meluasnya ide dan perjuangan demokratis nasional yang mengubah secara fundamental penindasan dan penghisapan berlapis-lapis terhadap kaum perempuan. Peringatan yang mereka adakan untuk pembebasan perempuan dari klas-klas reaksioner yang berkuasa itu sendiri, bukan bagi kaum perempuan buruh dan kaum tani, profesional dan pekerja rendahan lainnya di pedesaan dan perkotaan. Bahkan peringatan yang mereka adakan hanya untuk menegaskan kembali batasan-batasan baru “pembebasan perempuan” yang boleh dan tidak dibenarkan oleh imperialisme serta sistem setengah jajahan dan setengah feodal di Indonesia. Singkatnya, peringatan HPI 8 Maret oleh Pemerintah Indonesia melalui Kementerian Pemberdayaan Perempuan dan Anak hanya untuk menegaskan bahwa cita-cita pembebasan kaum perempuan sepenuhnya dari sistem patriarki kaum laki-laki dan berbagai bentuk diskriminasi karena agama dan masyarakat tidak relevan dan hanya utopia!

 

Sejak Clara Zetkin, pendiri gerakan proletar Jerman pada tahun 1910 mengusulkan Hari Perempuan Internasional 8 Maret pada Konferensi Internasional Kedua Perempuan Sosialis, hingga saat ini dunia hanya mewarisi dua pengalaman pembebasan fundamental kaum perempuan di dunia yaitu Rusia setelah kemenangan Revolusi Besar Oktober 1917-1956 dan China sejak 1949-1976. Setelah itu imperialisme dan seluruh varian sistem kekuasaan terbelakang di negeri setengah jajahannya mengembalikan status kaum perempuan kembali di bawah dominasi sistem patriarki kaum laki-laki, berbagai macam diskriminasi dan kekerasan beserta seluruh pekerjaan domestik yang dianggap melekat padanya sejak lahir.

 

Di negeri industri kapitalis paling maju Amerika Serikat nasib kaum perempuan serupa tapi tidak sama dengan nasib kaum perempuan di negeri agraris terbelakang seperti Indonesia. Domestifikasi, diskriminasi upah, komersialisasi kaum perempuan berlangsung intensif. Demikian pula dengan negeri Eropa Barat yang membebaskan kaum perempuan di dalam sistem liberalnya sebagai komoditas sekaligus instrumen untuk melipat-gandakan kelahiran NILAI BARU dari komoditas dan kapital uangnya.

 

Meskipun kita sudah memeringati HPI 8 Maret kali ke-114, ungkapan Mao Tse Tung pemimpin gerakan pembebasan perempuan proletar China, “Kaum Perempuan Menopang Separuh Langit”, hanya berlaku sangat artifisial di Indonesia. Di Indonesia sulit menemukan mereka yang tidak memuja-muji, memuliakan kaum perempuan dan mengaku melindungi dengan sekuat tenaga. Kenyataanya, kekerasan terhadap kaum perempuan dan anak-anak semakin menggila sepanjang 2023 dalam berbagai bentuk yang sulit diterima nalar. Pembunuhan sadis setelah diperkosa, aneka varian kekerasan seksual ektrem, penyiksaan fisik perempuan dan anak tanpa dasar, penjualan kaum perempuan untuk prostitusi dan sensualitas, berbagai bentuk komersialisasi kaum perempuan yang berlangsung secara terang-terangan untuk melipatgandakan keuntungan atas barang dagangan kapitalis, 24% lebih tenaga perempuan Indonesia dijadikan ujung tombak penjualan produk.

 

Kukuhnya masih sistem kekuasaan patriarki kaum laki-laki, sistem setengah jajahan dan setengah feodal, telah memberikan hak istimewa yang melekat pada kaum laki-laki terutama suami sebagai legislator sekaligus judikator bahkan menjadikan suami, paman, abang sebagai polisi dan tentara bagi perempuan. Alhasil, sistem kekuasaan patriarki sukses mendidik anak-anak laki-laki yang mengaku menjadi pemuja ibunya, setiap hari masih membiarkan bahkan membela bapaknya yang terang-terangan mendomestikkan ibunya bahkan dengan berbagai bentuk kekerasan untuk memaksakan domestifikasi tersebut!

 

Ketidak-bebasan kaum perempuan dalam aspek ekonomi menjadi basis kaum perempuan kehilangan kebebasan politik dan kebudayaannya. Hanya segelintir perempuan Indonesia, mereka yang menjadi bagian dari klas reaksioner yang berkuasa, menikmati kebebasan ekonomi dan akhirnya menikmati kebebasan politik dan kebudayaan dengan jalan menindas dan menghilangkan kebebasan jutaan kaum perempuan lainnya di pedesaan dan perkotaan. Angka Badan Pusat Statistik (BPS) 2022 menunjukkan hanya 0,78 persen kaum perempuan di posisi pimpinan dalam berbagai pekerjaan.

 

Jumlah kaum perempuan yang tidak bermilik atas tanah dan tidak ambil bagian dalam kerja pertanian bergandengan dengan kaum laki-laki di pedesaan terus meningkat. Baik karena krisis ekonomi pertanian berbasis komoditas ekspor seperti sawit maupun karena krisis kronis kebudayaan yang semakin parah. Data BPN 2018 menunjukkan hanya 15,88% dari 44 juta bidang tanah atas nama perempuan dan hanya 24% dari kaum perempuan bekerja dalam sektor pertanian dan perkebunan.  Di dalam masyarakat berklas seperti Indonesia, perempuan di pedesaan hanya bisa membebaskan dirinya meskipun terbatas apabila memiliki tanah dan ambil bagian dalam kerja bersisian dengan kaum laki-laki. Kerja yang mendasarkan diri pada prinsip bahwa kaum perempuan berhak mendapatkan bagian yang sama atas hasil produksi atau upah untuk setiap pekerjaan yang sama dengan kaum laki-laki. Kaum perempuan yang tidak bermilik di pedesaan dalam jumlah yang tidak sedikit menjadi komoditas perdagangan kontrak dalam skema ekspor tenaga kerja murah ke berbagai negeri seperti Hongkong, Arab Saudi dan negeri Arab lainnya, Malaysia, Australia, Korea dan Taiwan. Mereka disebut sebagai pekerja migran. 

 

Jumlah kaum perempuan yang tidak bekerja dalam produksi pertanian dan industri semakin besar dari jumlah kaum perempuan yang bekerja. Jenis pekerjaan yang tersedia bagi kaum perempuan semakin tidak bermutu dan semakin memudahkan kaum perempuan menjadi obyek berbagai bentuk kekerasan fisik dan seksual. Kaum perempuan yang terampas hak dasarnya atas pendidikan dan kesehatan yang murah dan berkualitas masih sangat besar terutama di pedalaman, pegunungan dan pemukiman Suku Bangsa Minoritas (SBM) serta Tani Pemukim dan Penggarap di hutan-hutan Indonesia.

 

Krisis kronis, penindasan dan penghisapan atas kaum perempuan tidak bisa diakhiri dengan cara biasa termasuk pemilihan umum. Berulang kali kebijakan, regulasi dan keputusan baru lahir setelah belasan pemilu di Indonesia sejak tahun 1955. Seluruh kebijakan, regulasi dan keputusan tersebut justru memperdalam krisis kaum perempuan secara ekonomi, politik dan kebudayaan. SERUNI tetap pada pendirian bahwa kaum perempuan Indonesia bebas seiring sejalan dengan pembebasan bangsa dan rakyat Indonesia dari sistem setengah jajahan dan setengah feodal. Sistem kekuasaan patriarki kaum laki-laki hanya bisa lenyap secara fundamental apabila dominasi imperialisme, feodalisme dan kapitalisme birokrat lenyap dari Indonesia. Seluruh perjuangan demokratis nasional untuk pembebasan tersebut hanya bisa dimulai dengan memenangkan LAND REFORM sejati dari pedesaan sebagai pembuka jalan bagi industri nasional, penjamin sejati pembebasan kaum perempuan.

 

Kaum perempuan Indonesia harus menjadi tiang penopang separuh langit sistem baru yang lebih bebas, adil dan maju yang harus diperjuangkan lahir di Indonesia dan dunia. Ia tidak boleh lagi menjadi penopang separuh langit sistem setengah jajahan dan setengah feodal yang pasti akan ambruk!

 

Selamat HPI 8 Maret 2024,

Hancurkan Imperialisme, Musnahkan feodalisme, Lawan Kapitalisme Birokrat

Jayalah Perempuan Indonesia!

Rakyat tertindas dan terhisap seluruh Indonesia bersatulah!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

 

 

 

        

 

Cultivating Change: Rural Women Mainstreaming Agroecology and Confronting False Solutions in Indonesia's Oil Palm Plantations

[ACSC/APF 2023] Rural Women Building Agroecology as an Alternative Movement Against False Solutions in Large Oil Palm Plantations | CS 4: Climate and Environmental Justice

 

Introduction

 

Amidst the towering palm trees and sprawling plantations of Indonesia, a transformational movement is quietly taking root. In a world grappling with the environmental and social challenges posed by the palm oil industry, rural women are emerging as the unsung heroes of change. In a recent workshop titled "Rural Women Building Agroecology as an Alternative Movement against False Solutions in Large Oil Palm Plantations," organized by SERUNI (Serikat Perempuan Indonesia) and Ibon International, the resilience and determination of these women shone brightly against the backdrop of one of the world's largest palm oil producers.

 

Indonesia's palm oil industry has witnessed exponential growth over the years, making it a global powerhouse in palm oil production. However, this expansion has come at a tremendous cost. The workshop delved on the topic of "false solutions—purported remedies that claim to mitigate the environmental and social impacts of palm oil production but ultimately fall short, failing to address the root issues, including deforestation, habitat degradation, and social conflicts.

 

Unmasking the Green Myth

 

In the oil palm industry, a pressing concern revolves around the prevalence of "false solutions." These are ostensibly remedies that claim to address the environmental and social challenges associated with palm oil cultivation but, in practice, fall short of addressing the root issues.

 

One glaring example is the existence of certification schemes like the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), which has faced criticism for its inability to prevent deforestation, human rights violations, and land seizures. Despite their professed intentions, these schemes often lack the teeth to deliver substantial changes on the ground.

 

Another problematic practice involves the promotion of high-yield oil palm varieties. While seemingly logical for boosting productivity, it can inadvertently result in an expansion of monoculture plantations, exacerbating habitat loss and soil degradation. The pursuit of higher yields can compromise environmental sustainability.

 

Critiques of false solutions are multifaceted. They can create a deceptive facade of sustainability, misleading the public and hindering genuine efforts to transition to sustainable land use and agricultural practices. Moreover, false solutions often prioritize short-term economic gains at the expense of long-term environmental and social well-being.

 

In parallel, the palm oil industry grapples with "greenwashing." This entails misleading marketing and branding that portray palm oil products as environmentally friendly or sustainable, even when they fall short of such standards. For instance, companies may claim to produce "sustainable" palm oil while contributing to deforestation and displacing indigenous communities. Greenwashing can mislead consumers, delay industry reforms, deter regulatory action, and erode trust in supply chains.

 

Navigating the Landscape of Sustainable Alternatives: The Good Food Community Experience in the Philippines

 

In the ever-evolving journey toward sustainable practices, the "Good Food Community" in the Philippines stands as an illuminating example. This initiative not only exemplifies the unwavering determination of farmers to secure their sustenance and independence but also showcases the pivotal role of women in the "Pamayanihan" project. These women serve as the guardians of family well-being and the custodians of seeds, both in a literal and cultural sense. However, their labor and care often remain invisible, emphasizing the need for greater recognition.

 

As oil palm plantations replaced traditional rubber and food crops, women lost access to their small farms, leading to decreased participation in co-production activities and increased economic dependence on men in these rural areas. This, in turn, has significantly contributed to high unemployment rates among women.

 

Themes intertwined with the values of "Pamayanihan" and the "Good Food Community" experience encompass:

 

●      Co-Creation of Knowledge: Both initiatives involve a collaborative effort to generate knowledge and solutions, drawing upon the wisdom and insights of various stakeholders, with a particular focus on women's contributions.

●      Social Values and Diets: These initiatives address the social values connected with food systems and diets, emphasizing the importance of nurturing local traditions and cultures.

●      Participation: The "Good Food Community" actively involves women as key participants, recognizing their indispensable role in shaping and sustaining the initiative. Together, they navigate the landscape of sustainable alternatives in pursuit of a more equitable and resilient future.

 

 

River Restoration and Youth-Led Agricultural Innovation 

Another inspiring initiative highlighted during the workshop was the advocation brought by Sindy Novela, a Jambi beauty queen 2023 from Puteri Indonesia Foundation. This endeavor sprang from a deep-seated addressing climate and environmental impacts of gold mining and oil palm plantations, evolving into a commitment to river and soil restoration and sustainable agriculture. By adhering to agroecological principles, the community not only grows fruits and vegetables abundantly but also cultivates a sense of environmental stewardship.

Perhaps the most promising aspect of this is its focus on educating the younger generation about environmental restoration. By empowering youth and women with knowledge and practical experience, the community ensures that the torch of change is passed on, guaranteeing the continuation of this vital work.

 

Workshops and Questions

 

During the workshop, critical questions were posed:

 

●      Did you include the family in the agroecological practices? Is it providing additional income for women and their families?

○      Indeed, the initiative actively involves not only women but also their families. Recognizing that women often receive meager wages due to poor working conditions in palm oil plantations, families are frequently integrated into the work. Collective organic farming within reclaimed land on plantations is a key component of this strategy, aimed at both market sales and daily consumption, thus contributing to the additional income of families.

 

 

●      How can we call upon the government to subsidize farmers in this space?

○      While government representatives declined participation in the workshop, the workshop organizers emphasized the importance of asserting their space as a civil society platform. This platform enables them to voice their demands to ASEAN stakeholders during the ASEAN Summit, culminating in a communiqué to be submitted to the summit.

 

Recommendations

 

The workshop concluded with vital recommendations:

 

●      ASEAN Climate and Environmental Convergence Body:A multifaceted approach that places rural women at the forefront of advancing people's alternatives should be pursued.

●      Amplifying CSO Voices: ASEAN should create space for civil society organizations to amplify the voices of the most marginalized, fostering collective examination of relationship dynamics at all levels, promoting collective work and diverse participation, sharing best practices, and celebrating heritage.

●      Government Subsidies: The governments of Indonesia and ASEAN member countries must provide subsidies for farmers, particularly women farmers, to sustain small-scale production of both endemic food crops and livestock, thus enabling people to achieve food sovereignty.

Conclusion

 

In the heart of Indonesia's palm oil plantations, the workshop on "Rural Women Building Agroecology as an Alternative Movement against False Solutions in Large Oil Palm Plantations" unveiled a story of hope and resilience. Rural women, often overlooked in the narrative of palm oil's impact, are now emerging as pioneers of change. Their determination to embrace agroecology and their commitment to environmental restoration underscore the importance of supporting their efforts. As they fight for justice on both environmental and social fronts, they remind us all that empowerment begins with recognizing the strength and potential of those who have long been marginalized.

 

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Peringatan Hari Buruh Internasional 1 Mei 2023: Kalahkan Dominasi Imperialisme dan Feodalisme, Jalankan Land Reform Sejati dan Industri Nasional Untuk Akhiri Penindasan dan Penghisapan Atas Kaum Buruh dan Kaum Tani Wujudkan Kedaulatan Bangsa, Kebebasan dan Kemajuan Sejati Bagi Rakyat Indonesia

Kaum buruh Industrial di Indonesia sangat kecil jumlahnya karena tidak adanya industri nasional yang bersandar pada kapital dan pasar dalam negeri. Dari total penduduk yang bekerja 135,61 juta orang, hanya 18,67 juta orang yang bekerja di industri manufaktur atau hanya 13,77% dibandingkan dengan 40,64 juta orang yang bekerja di sektor pertanian, kehutanan dan perikanan. Bahan mentah dan bahan baku, mesin dan peralatan serta distribusi hasil produksi industrial manufaktur Indonesia masih bergantung pada kapital milik kapitalis monopoli internasional dengan kekuasaan oligarki finansial di tangannya. Pada tahun 2022 saja jumlah investasi asing di industry manufaktur Indonesia mencapai 260,3 trilyun. 

Peringatan Hari Buruh Internasional 1 Mei 2023 harus dijadikan sebagai momentum bagi kaum buruh serta seluruh rakyat tertindas dan terhisap Indonesia untuk memperjuangkan hak dasarnya yang telah dirampas dan tidak pernah diakui dan dijamin sebagai hak yang melekat sebagaimana tercantum dalam Deklarasi Umum Hak Asasi Manusia 1948. Upah dan kondisi kerja kaum buruh industrial yang berlaku di Indonesia sekarang adalah cerminan dari keterbelakangan industri Indonesia, sistem ekonomi setengah feudal yang masih berlaku, serta sebagai cerminan dari status Indonesia sebagai negeri setengah jajahan negeri imperialis. Diterbitkannya Undang-Undang No.11 Omnibus Cipta Kerja dan Peraturan Menteri Tenaga Kerja (Permenaker) No.5 tahun 2023 tentang Penyesuaian Waktu Kerja dan Pengupahan Pada Perusahaan Industri Padat Karya Berorientasi Ekspor yang Terdampak Ekonomi Global adalah pengakuan terang-terangan Pemerintahan Presiden Joko Widodo tentang keadaan yang disebutkan di atas.

Peringatan Hari Buruh Internasional 1 Mei 2023 masih diwarnai dengan krisis kronis serikat buruh manufaktur di Indonesia. Disamping berbagai bentuk penindasan atas serikat buruh secara keseluruhan, hingga saat ini hanya 1,8% hingga 2% dari 18,67 juta buruh industrial yang bergabung dalam serikat buruh. Serikat buruh terbesar masih didominasi oleh serikat buruh kuning bentukan pemerintah dan tradisional pro imperialisme.  

Pada saat kehancuran industrial manufaktur kapitalis di negeri-negeri kapitalis monopoli internasional tidak terhindarkan seperti sekarang, kelahiran industri nasional di Indonesia dan negeri Setengah Jajahan dan Setengah Feodal (SJSF) dengan mengandalkan investasi dan utang luar negeri serta transfer teknologi dengan jalan biasa adalah ilusi. Pemberontakan buruh di Perancis menentang kebijakan perpanjangan usia pensiun Presiden Emmanuel Macron, aksi buruh menentang krisis parah di Inggris, aksi buruh Amerika Serikat menentang PHK massal di industri digital adalah gambaran nyata dari kehancuran berkelanjutan industri kapitalis.

Saat ini pemerintah Indonesia dengan gencar menyebar-luaskan ilusi bahwa Indonesia dapat menjadi pelopor bagi industri kendaraan listrik yang mengandalkan baterai hanya karena memiliki cadangan nikel yang besar. Indonesia bermimpi mendominasi produksi kendaraan listrik, padahal hingga sekarang tidak satu pun mesin kendaraan bermotor dan industrial buatan Indonesia sepenuhnya dapat diproduksi massal. Pada saat yang sama, semua komponen inti pembuatan baterai untuk keperluan kendaraan bermotor sepenuhnya bergantung pada impor dari negeri imperialis.

Industri manufaktur nasional yang sangat lemah dan bergantung pada imperialis tidak hanya menciptakan penderitaan bagi kaum buruh tetapi juga berkontribusi langsung pada kesengsaraan yang sangat dalam dan berkepanjangan dari kaum tani di pedesaan. Ketiadaan industri manufaktur nasional khususnya manufaktur pendukung pertanian, menyebabkan kaum tani hanya mampu memproduksi komoditas pertanian non pangan berorientasi ekspor berbasiskan pada tanah pertanian skala kecil tanpa mesin dan peralatan pertanian serta bergantung pada input pertanian impor yang sangat mahal yang berada di bawah dominasi perkebunan besar setengah feudal milik para tuan tanah besar. Sementara itu, produksi pangan sangat terbatas. Harga pangan dalam negeri menjadi sangat mahal yang justru dijadikan alasan bagi pemerintah untuk impor pangan untuk “menekan harga” produksi pangan kaum tani. Secara keseluruhan luasan tanah pertanian yang dimiliki dan mampu ditanami oleh kaum tani terus tergerus dan kepemilikan tanah monopoli para tuan tanah terus meningkat.

Karena itu, pada peringatan Hari Buruh Internasional 2023 tuntutan kaum buruh tidak hanya menuntut perbaikan upah dan perbaikan kondisi kerja yang sangat ekstrem buruknya, tetapi juga menuntut perubahan fundamental industri di Indonesia. Hanya industri nasional yang mandiri dan maju yang dapat menjamin produksi keperluan hidup dan keperluan produksi nasional yang murah dan berlimpah, membuka lapangan kerja yang lebih luas dan lebih bermutu bagi tenaga produktif Indonesia. Industri nasional yang mandiri dan maju hanya bisa diwujudkan apabila perubahan fundamendal atas tanah dan kekayaan alam Indonesia dapat dimenangkan. Seluruh klas dan sektor rakyat tertindas dan terhisap Indonesia harus ambil bagian memenangkan Perjuangan Demokratis Rakyat Indonesia untuk land reform sejati. Yaitu gerakan membebaskan kaum tani dari produksi pertanian terbelakang yang dikuasai tuan tanah besar di pedesaan Indonesia yang sangat luas.

Front Perjuangan Rakyat mendesak pemerintah Indonesia untuk memenuhi tuntutan kaum buruh dan seluruh rakyat tertindas-terhisap Indonesia :

1.  Perbaiki secara fundamental upah dan kondisi kerja kaum buruh industrial Indonesia. Hapus kebijakan upah dan kondisi kerja yang menindas dan menghisap : Undang-Undang No.11 Omnibus Cipta Kerja dan Permenaker No.5 tahun 2023. 

2.   Tanah, mesin dan peralatan pertanian murah serta input pertanian murah produksi nasional untuk tani penggarap bukan untuk tuan tanah besar. Hentikan penggunaan lahan untuk produksi pertanian non pangan, tanah hanya untuk produksi pangan oleh kaum tani dan untuk keperluan bangsa dan rakyat Indonesia sendiri. 

3.     Berikan Jaminan pekerjaan bermutu bagi seluruh tenaga produktif Indonesia 

Ayo kaum buruh, jadilah kawan sejati bagi kaum tani, ambil bagian langsung dalam perjuangan demokratis nasional untuk memenangkan land reform sejati di pedesaan sebagai syarat mutlak dan pembuka jalan industri nasional yang mandiri dan maju di Indonesia!

 

Selamat Hari Buruh Internasional 2023

Rakyat Indonesia Tertindas dan Terhisap, Bersatulah!

 Jakarta, 1 Mei 2023

Hormat kami

Front Perjuangan Rakyat (FPR)

 

 

 

Rudi HB. Daman

Koordinator Umum

 

Aliansi Gerakan Reforma Agraria (AGRA), Gabungan Serikat Buruh Indonesia (GSBI),Pemuda Baru Indonesia (PEMBARU-Indonesia), Serikat Perempuan Indonesia (SERUNI), Front Mahasiswa Nasional (FMN), Serikat Demokratik Mahasiswa Nasional (SDMN), Keluarga Besar Buruh Migran Indonesia (KABAR BUMI), Institute for National and Democracy Studies (INDIES)

SKEMA KEBIJAKAN IKLIM DALAM PERTEMUAN G20 SERTA PERJUANGAN PEREMPUAN DAN RAKYAT MEWUJUDKAN KEADILAN IKLIM

SEMINAR CLIMATE JUSTICE

Sebagai penutup rangkaian aksi kampanye keadilan iklim (COP27 Egypt) dan G20 Summit Bali kolaborasi SERUNI - FMN UI - RUMPI (Rumah Peduli Iklim FMIPA), telah dilaksanakan Seminar: "Skema Kebijakan Perubahan Iklim dalam pertemuan G20 serta Perjuangan Perempuan dan Rakyat Mewujudkan Keadilan Iklim"

Menghadirkan Akademisi, Jurnalis, dan Aktifis Lingkungan membedah skema kebijakan pemerintah dalam mengatasi krisis iklim di Indonesia dan berdiskusi tentang apa upaya bersama yang bisa dilakukan untuk mencapai keadilan iklim.

Senin, 21 November 2022, Aula Prof Dr. Soemantri Brodjonegoro, FMIPA UI.