Search for Common Ground Indonesia Program Overview

Country Context

Indonesia is enjoying a period of sustained economic growth, coupled with consolidation of democratic institutions and processes. However, ethnic, religious, social, cultural and other tensions persist throughout the archipelago. Aceh, in particular, faces considerable development challenges related to good governance, “reintegration” of ex-combatants, rising crime, illegal logging, reconciliation as well as issues related to donor coordination, programmatic impact, and frustration at the pace and distribution of humanitarian assistance. Low intensity conflicts continue to adversely affect communities across Kalimantan, Papua, Sulawesi, and elsewhere, while corruption – transparency and accountability – remains a serious challenge. The conflicting discourses on modernity, liberalism, and moderate Islamism with rising extremist values are negotiated daily, and many worry about an increase in radicalization in Indonesia.

Indonesia suffers somewhat from donor apathy, as many consider the nation’s troubles behind it. There is relatively little discourse on conflict transformation, with the greatest area of need consistently identified as democratic development. This attitude belies the obvious tensions existing at the local and national level, and ignores the fact that gains in democracy and good governance can only be made in the context of stability and pluralism. Finally, Indonesia is at high risk for natural disaster, situated in the Pacific “Rim of Fire,” as well as catastrophes amplified by human-generated environmental degradation.

SFCG Approach in Indonesia

Since 2002, SFCG has worked with local civil society organizations (CSOs), media, conflict survivors and others to develop appropriate and innovative conflict transformation initiatives. Over time, SFCG has established strong working relationships with local officials, community leaders, teachers and schools, religious leaders, and community-based organizations, in Aceh, Bali, Jakarta, Kalimantan, Madura, Papua, and Sulawesi, where we seek to expand knowledge, change attitudes and advance the practice of peace.

SFCG Programs in Indonesia

§ Access to Justice SFCG works with the Indonesian Supreme Court to implement a program to increase public awareness of the judicial system and improve public access to justice and legal assistance for the poor, women, and other marginalized groups. By enhancing public knowledge, and changing perceptions and attitudes, the EU/British Council Good Governance in the Judiciary initiative strives to promote new behavior when Indonesians face legal challenges. The media campaign includes a 30-episode radio drama series called Mencari Keadilan (“Looking for Justice”), a “know your rights” radio contest, public service announcements, comic strips, and comprehensive advertising and marketing. It is being broadcast in 6 major urban centers throughout Indonesia (Jakarta, Makassar, Padang, Surabaya, Denpasar and Jayapura), and covers a wide range of legal issues, including domestic violence issues, land law, labour law, family law, inheritance law and human rights issues.

§ Community-based Conflict Transformation Working with communities and civil-society organizations in conflict-vulnerable areas of Indonesia in Kalimantan, Madura, and Papua, the Community-Based Conflict Transformation teams at SFCG have been implementing cross-sectoral and multi-level dialogue programs, conflict resolution & journalism training, peace education programs and Islamic boarding schools, peace bulletins for children, video dialogues, peace festivals and grassroots-level mediation programs.

§ Media SFCG promotes the use of media in conflict transformation. We use 'the media' to refer not only to journalism itself but also to a range of communication methods that vary both in content and in format, and typically use a combination of technologies such as radio, television, print media, and the internet. Some examples of this work include: Menteng Pangkalan, a radio soap opera about tolerance and conflict transformation; Gebora, a 12-part comic book series and curricula about a young inter-ethnic soccer playing gang in West Kalimantan, who learn about differences and to respect for one another; Perjalanan Mencari Sahabat, a 6-part comic book series and curricula about young adventurers who come from different ethnic groups, cultures and religious backgrounds in Poso, Central Sulawesi. Through these mediums, conflict transformation skills are taught using local wisdom, spirit and traditions, and mutual respect for one another. SFCG has held Peace Film Festivals focused on issues of reconciliation and alternatives to violence.

§ Peaceful Elections During the 2004 national election cycle, SFCG implemented a program to reduce violence, particularly communal and politically-motivated violence by providing capacity building support for civil society organizations in selected vulnerable locations. This effort focused on increasing informed participation in the election process while, at the same time, preventing violent conflict. The program aimed at encouraging voters to "participate in peace" in conflict-vulnerable areas, including locations where there remain many internally displaced persons (IDPs). SFCG is developing a program strategy for the upcoming National Elections in 2009, focused on peaceful and participatory elections. This strategy includes programming to strengthen media and civil society capacity, and public awareness-raising.

§ Women Transforming Conflict Women play many roles in all stages of conflict – as direct or indirect targets and victims of violence, as community-based communicators, as mediators, and as those who drive post-conflict agendas. By helping victims re-knit the social fabric for communities to survive and thrive, women play important roles in transforming conflicts. SFCG has worked in the divided neighborhoods of Matraman in East Jakarta, in Central Kalimantan and Madura, and in Papua to support the role of women in conflict transformation. Activities included multi-ethnic, micro-credit and income generation, participatory theater, peace forums and dialogues. These programs actively engage women as local and national leaders in conflict prevention. SFCG has designed a new program to increase women’s political participation, combat violence against women, and advance gender justice and gender equity in Indonesia. The program will strengthen the capacity of women’s organizations to advocate for and empower Indonesian women to become agents of positive social change.

§ Youth Radio (Aceh) SFCG recently launched a Youth Radio for Peacebuilding pilot project in Aceh, providing young people with space for increased civic participation and engagement. This program enhances peace-building and social reconstruction processes in Aceh’s post-conflict and post-tsunami development setting, and draws upon years of Common Ground experience in several countries. The project establish a platform for youth across Aceh to explore issues of common concern in a constructive, solutions-oriented way, and gives decision makers a direct body of information about the needs of youth, which they can consider in strategizing Aceh’s social reintegration and peace building process.