10 Established 1961

Thursday, June 28, 2018 Analysis

Established 1961 The First Daily in The Arabian Gulf THE LEADING INDEPENDENT DAILY IN THE ARABIAN GULF ESTABLISHED 1961

Founder and Publisher YOUSUF S. AL-ALYAN Editor-in-Chief ABD AL-RAHMAN AL-ALYAN EDITORIAL : 24833199-24833358-24833432 ADVERTISING : 24835616/7 FAX : 24835620/1 CIRCULATION : 24833199 Extn. 163 ACCOUNTS : 24835619 COMMERCIAL : 24835618 P.O.Box 1301 Safat,13014 Kuwait. E MAIL :[email protected] Website: www.kuwaittimes.net

Indonesian election season is a gauge of rise of political Islam bout 100 residents of a gritty commercial dis- trict of Indonesia’s capital listen intently as a Aman roars into a microphone: “Are you ready to change our president? Are you ready for new leader- ship?” But this is not a political rally. Dressed in white robes and a turban, Novel Bamukmin of the Jakarta chapter of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), a hardline Islamist group, addresses evening prayers in a mosque. As a year of local and then national elections begins this week in the world’s biggest Muslim-majority country, some Islamic leaders have emerged as the most vocal opponents of President Joko Widodo, who is expected to seek a second term next year. Moroccan fruit pickers exploited, harassed in Spain They belong to a loose grouping of Islamists behind protests that culminated in the election defeat en women who left their children at offered a salary of 39 to 40 euros ($46 to and jailing for blasphemy in 2017 of Jakarta’s ethnic- home in Morocco to earn money pick- $47) a day for six-and-a-half hours of work, Chinese and Christian governor, Basuki Tjahaja Ting strawberries in southern Spain with one day off every week. But instead she Purnama, a Widodo ally. The case of Purnama, who have said that they were lied to, exploited says “we were told it was the second harvest” had said political rivals were deceiving people by and even sexually harassed. They told AFP and they would be paid for how much they using a verse in the Koran to say Muslims should not how their seasonal jobs turned into a night- picked - 75 cents for every five-kilogram be led by a non-Muslim, showed how Islam had crept mare, with punishing work schedules, “free” crate. And they had to “pick strawberries into politics in the officially secular country. accommodation they had to pay for, and in very, very quickly” or they were banned from Widodo has pledged to protect Indonesia’s tradi- one case attempted rape by a manager. The working for several days, she adds. The con- tion of pluralism and moderate Islam, and he has claims have prompted fears that such tract also said there would be free accommo- banned Hizb ut-Tahrir, a hardline group with ambi- exploitation may be more common across dation, but she says she was charged three tions for an Islamic caliphate. But a senior government the industry in Spain’s south, which is euros a day. Charifa, 23, says no one defended official conceded there are limits to how much the Europe’s top fruit and vegetable exporter. them “as women” and bursts out crying as she government can control political messaging in The women are currently living in the describes how her manager offered her 50 mosques. “Any action against this phenomenon is southern region of Andalusia, housed by the euros in exchange for sex. blasted as anti-Muslim so our actions are restricted,” local SAT union which is supporting them, in The room becomes quiet when Fadila, 29, said the official, who declined to be identified because an area they asked not be made public. Five speaks of the time she accepted an offer by Moroccan strawberry pickers, who denounced their working conditions and filed of the sensitivity of the issue. have filed official complaints and the others the “chief” to give her a ride in his car. “I had sexual harassment complaints, gesture during an interview at their shelter near are planning to do so. They are all mothers- to fight him in the front seat, he grabbed me Malaga. Thousands of foreign women are temporarily employed in Andalusia from ‘Change the president’ having children is a condition to get the job, and kissed me forcefully, he touched my February to May to pick berries under contracts that force them to return to their A former furniture maker and Indonesia’s first a guarantee they will return to Morocco at breasts and...” she says, without finishing the country at the end of the season. — AFP president from outside the political and military elite, the end of the February-June picking season. sentence. A petition denying the women’s Widodo - known as Jokowi - has remained popular “What is in the contract has nothing to do accusations and defending the company has workers, says dozens more women would like nies. The Cepaim foundation, which works to since he took office in 2014. He is widely seen as an with reality,” says Layla, 31, whose name has been signed by 131 other Moroccan seasonal to press charges but “are scared to do so” or ease migrant integration, says the women find honest man of the people, rare for a leader in a coun- been changed to protect her identity, as was workers. Donana 1998 itself has refused to have already returned to Morocco. themselves in “situations of huge vulnerabili- try where the political class is scorned as corrupt and those of the others who spoke to AFP. answer questions, with a spokesman saying ty due to their pressing need to keep their aloof, and his push for infrastructure and cutting red “everything is in line with regulations.” ‘Zero tolerance’ families afloat”. tape has burnished his image as a hands-on leader. A ‘No one defended us’ But in a radio interview, Manuel Matos, one As Spanish workers are increasingly Cepaim members visited dozens of straw- recent opinion poll gave him a double-digit lead over Layla is one of 16,000 Moroccan women of the company directors, accused the SAT drawn away from seasonal work, the number berry farms and reported “confiscated pass- the opposition Gerindra party’s Prabowo Subianto, a who came to Andalusia to pick strawberries union of manipulating the women into lying for of Moroccans hired has risen from 200 in ports”, “women left without work for several retired general who is expected to run a second time earlier this year, compelled by poverty back political reasons. Prosecutors in Huelva say at 2001 to more than 16,000. To be eligible, days to punish them for not picking enough against Widodo in 2019. home. Like the other nine women, Layla least 12 complaints have been filed by eight they must be women aged 18 to 45, “from a strawberries,” or “salaries only paid on the day Opponents and hardline Muslim groups, including worked in the province of Huelva in Moroccan and four Spanish women who were rural area”, “healthy” and “with children of return”. The regional government of the FPI, accuse Widodo of failing to stem income Andalusia for the large Donana 1998 com- picking fruit in three different farms. A under 14,” according to Morocco’s Anapec Andalusia announced on June 13 that it was inequality or deliver higher growth, but the most pany, which categorically denied the allega- spokesperson for prosecutors in Huelva said governmental job agency. drafting “zero tolerance” measures for the incendiary attacks have often been around religion tions and had accused the women of creating several managers have been charged with Diego Canamero, a lawmaker for the far- industry to come into force next year. These and ethnicity. False accusations have spread on social a scandal to try to stay in Spain. Adiba, 35, alleged “sexual abuse”, but did not say how left Podemos party and a farmer in Andalusia, include giving the seasonal workers leaflets in media that the president is not actually Muslim and is says the contract she signed in Morocco many. Belen Lujan, a lawyer for some of the says there is “no control” over the compa- their language that lay out their rights. — AFP a descendant of ethnic Chinese communists. Widodo has sought to strengthen his ties with moderate Islamic leaders and he recently appointed a contro- versial hardline cleric as a communications adviser. Standing for the country’s current ruling his 15-year-old daughter turned spokes- 2015 for torture, abuse of office and rack- “The only way for the opposition to win is to Inmates and party, the Institutional Revolutionary Party woman, Fernanda Lopez. eteering. Today his is trying to win back his debunk the argument that Jokowi is one of the masses, (PRI), he was mid-campaign when police old job as mayor of Pueblo Nuevo and to attack his weakest spot, which is his shyness in arrested him on May 19 on murder charges. Red card? Solistahuacan in Chiapas state. “It’s human showing his religion,” said Achmad Sukarsono, a politi- ex-cons run for Lopez, 43, is currently in jail in the state Ex-footballer Cuauhtemoc Blanco, a to make mistakes. What’s stupid is to keep cal analyst at Control Risks. Ahead of local elections capital, Ciudad Victoria, awaiting trial. In three-time World Cup veteran who is now on making them,” said Enoc Hernandez, a across much of the country, the anti-Widodo senti- office in Mexico the meantime, Mexican law entitles him to running for governor of state, is local leader for Diaz’s coalition. “I hope his ment has crystallized into a movement called continue his candidacy. “He remains our accused of corruption, embezzlement, for- time behind bars changed his attitude,” he “#GantiPresiden2019” or “Change the president in oters around the world have been candidate. We’re sure he’ll get through this gery and involvement in organized crime. added, though he insisted that Diaz was 2019”. The movement’s founder, Mardani Ali Sera, a known to complain their politicians situation he’s going through,” said state Blanco, 45, is currently the mayor of state cleared of wrong-doing. member of parliament from a conservative Islamic par- Vare crooks, but Mexico takes it to a party leader Sergio Guajardo. capital . He is running for a Front office? ty, says he has no connection with political messaging whole new level, with multiple current or “We’re sure he’s going to win the elec- coalition led by the left-wing party Carlos Lomeli, a candidate for governor in mosques. But he says the majority of those affiliated former prison inmates running for office in tion from prison,” he said. He argued that .The third-highest goal scorer in of Jalisco state, was named in a US investi- with his movement are from Islamic parties and the Sunday’s elections. What’s more, even Lopez was not “directly” accused of mur- the history of the Mexican national team, gation along with Mexican footballer groups that opposed Jakarta’s Christian governor. “We though many voters say crime and corrup- dering anyone-though in fact he is, a social he offered his sporting record as proof of Rafael Marquez as partners in a company don’t use mosques but if the hashtag and the move- tion are their top concerns, some of these services official in San Carlos who was shot character. “When I represented Mexico, I that allegedly acted as a front for an inter- ment works for you, then go ahead and use it,” Sera, candidates appear to have a good chance dead in May-and asked voters to remember did it for my country, I did it for all of you. national drug-trafficking gang. Lomeli has who is active on social media, told Reuters. The FPI’s of winning. Here are some of the most he is considered innocent until proven Believe me, I won’t let you down. I’m not presented letters from Mexican and US Bamukmin supports the #GantiPresiden2019 move- notable cases. guilty. Lopez’s family is continuing his cam- like this current batch of bastards” in pow- officials that he says absolve him. In his ment and said he and other preachers push that mes- paign. “I’m sure my dad didn’t do what er, he said in launching his campaign. asset disclosure as a candidate, he sage in sermons. “It is the duty of Muslims to try and Running in place they’re accusing him of. declared a net worth of $9.9 million. As for replace the current president who has betrayed the Francisco Lopez is running for mayor of Not just me, but the whole town of San ‘To err is human’ Marquez, he is currently playing for country and his religion,” he said, accusing Widodo of San Carlos, Tamaulipas from a jail cell. Carlos is sure my father is innocent,” said Enoc Diaz, a former mayor, was jailed in Mexico in the World Cup. — AFP “selling the country to foreigners” and “empowering communists and deviant religious sects”. as flat-sharing firm Airbnb found out to its cost recently. whereas the taxi lobby has made it difficult for ride-shar- No campaigning allowed Airbnb, Uber woes On June 15, a new law came into effect that sought to reg- ing app Uber to set up shop in Japan. “To promote the Indonesia’s election laws prohibit political campaign- ulate the short-term rental sector. Although welcomed by sharing economy, we have to loosen regulations” to allow ing in places of worship ahead of polls. Vice President Airbnb as a way to clear up the legal grey zone in which it new players to enter the market, said Kishi. He believes Jusuf Kalla told media political discussion is allowed in show Japan does was operating, the new law has become a double-edged that despite the “Abenomics” reform efforts of Prime mosques because they are places of education as well sword, with thousands of owners forced to remove prop- Minister Shinzo Abe, the government has “no intention” of as worship, but campaigning is not. The government can not share easily erty after failing to comply with it. opening up the sector “for fear of a backlash in sectors do little to stop such activity in mosques, said a “This stinks-and that’s an understatement,” fumed which have enjoyed a monopoly until now”. spokesman for the religious affairs ministry. “If there are housands of Airbnb reservations scrapped, Uber Airbnb as it announced it was cancelling thousands of Sharing economy firms have faced pushback elsewhere clerics who use mosques for political interests, it’s better reduced to delivering food: life is hard in Japan for reservations with owners who had failed to obtain a regis- too, with Uber being accused of skirting regulations and that the public itself persuades them to stop. It is not in Tgiants of the sharing economy, stuck between tough tration number by June 15.In addition, the law prevents making long-standing jobs obsolete, and Airbnb criticised the ministry’s capacity to identify or stop them,” said regulation and popular suspicion. Japan may be the owners from renting out properties for more than 180 for pushing up prices and transforming residential areas in Mastuki, who goes by one name. world’s third-largest economy and a high-tech hub but it nights per year and local authorities can impose further many popular tourist destinations. Takashi Sabetto, from Tens of millions of Indonesians voted in 171 elec- has been surprisingly slow to warm to the sharing econo- restrictions. In the tourist magnet of Kyoto for example, an association that aims to promote the sharing economy, tions for mayors, regents, and governors yesterday, an my that has disrupted markets across the globe. rentals in residential areas are only allowed between mid- said in Japan “public opinion is very much against services important barometer ahead of presidential and parlia- According to 2016 figures compiled by research insti- January and mid-March, the tourism low season. like Airbnb and Uber”.”We have tried to change this men- mentary elections in 2019. Opinion polls suggest can- tute Yano the sharing economy accounted for 50 billion tality but it is very difficult. It takes time,” added Sabetto. didates backed by parties supporting Widodo will win yen ($455 million) in Japan. While that’s a 26 percent ‘Vested interests’ One reason is that “Japanese are very protective of in many parts of Java, Indonesia’s most populous year-on-year rise, it is a drop in the ocean compared with Such restrictions are in effect choking the sector, says their privacy.” The culture of sharing is not ingrained in island, but observers will be watching for signs of markets in Europe, the US or China, which are worth tens Hiroyuki Kishi, a former official at the economy ministry society and-in the case of Airbnb-they do not like the Islamist influence. One man who attended FPI preach- or hundreds of billions of dollars. and now professor at Tokyo’s Keio University. “Vested noise and security risk caused by a procession of tourists er Bamukmin’s sermon in Jakarta this month, said even This is partly due to confusion among the public about interests are so strong in Japan,” he told AFP, regretting in their backyard, he said. In addition, unlike in many if clerics were becoming more political, their congre- what the sharing economy is: only 2.7 percent of the pop- that such measures are coming into force “only two years developed economies, the quality of service provision is gations were smart enough to decide for themselves. ulation are familiar with the concept, according to a 2017 before the Olympic Games” when Japan hopes to welcome very high in Japan. Hailing a taxi in a major city rarely “People just listen to the good points and ignore the survey by PwC professional services firm. 40 million tourists. For Airbnb, the laws seek to protect the takes more than a few seconds, lowering demand for rest,” said Huda, 27. — Strict local regulations have also held back the sector- hotel industry and ryokans-traditional Japanese inns- Uber-type services. — AFP