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Nilai Situs Kami @ SearchIndonesia |
Private Blog from the Gray Area.
Berita Abu Abu is only a place for me to enter any interesting news unregullary for my own interest. So don't expect this blog will be updated frequently.
This is a private collection of news, gossip, smart articles on Indonesia, and thanks to the living legend Joyo Indonesia News for your precious mailing list.
I use this blog to collect the news for my private uses only.
Lessons for Laksamana
(Asia Times)
Indonesia's Minister for State Enterprises Laksamana Sukardi has been given unsolicited advice by the Romanian government's chief economic adviser, Petrisor Gabriel Peiu. Unsolicited by Sukardi, that is, but brought along by foreign-owned business consultancy firm Castle Asia to beef up the quality of the panel at a privatization seminar held in Jakarta this week.
Indonesian analysts cite the public's resistance to change, fear of layoffs and corrupt management of state firms as being the main factors that have sent the government's privatization program careening off course. Peiu, however, presumably held in high esteem by the organizers, glibly advised the Indonesian government to take stern action against those who oppose privatization. "Reshuffle the management of state firms that do not agree to being privatized" was the way, he said, as managers of inefficient state firms resist privatization because they often benefit from corrupt practices within the company.
One can almost hear the glee from behind the dark doors of the nationalized dens of iniquity, as clever minds explain to those who are dim (or honest) just how easy it will be to divvy up that particular gift from abroad. more
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KKSK Offends Assembly Rule
(Kompas)
A decision of the Policy Committee Financial Sector (KKSK) for extensions and decreased interest rates in the Completion of Shareholders Duties (PKPS) Frozen Bank Operations (BBO), Frozen Bank Activities (BBKU) and Bank Take Over (BTO) has offended a Rule of the People's Consultative Assembly.
Banking analyst, Mirza Adityaswara said that IBRA and KKSK acted rashly on the matter of time extension and decreased interest rates for PKPS. The deci- sion is making a hasty impression at a time when public attention was focused on a different matter altogether like a rumor about the Salim Group's return to buy up its own assets on sale at IBRA.
The decision taken on December 11 2001 is, indeed, quite unfair, if not discriminative, said economic observer Faisal Basri. "I fully agree that the policy is unfair and painful to the inner self of the people who have been sacrificed all this time," he said. more
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Japan to destroy tonnes of beef
(BBC)
Japan is to incinerate about 13,000 tonnes of beef in an attempt to allay public fears over BSE or mad cow disease.
Reports say it will cost an estimated $160m to destroy the beef, which was all processed before 18 October.
Japan is the only Asian country where BSE has been recorded. more
How about Indonesia???
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Cigarette maker pulls ad cartoon
(Jakarta Post)
After being bombarded with criticism by educationists and politicians, cigarette maker PT HM Sampoerna has withdrawn a series of advertisements featuring cartoons characters.
HM Sampoerna, one of Indonesia's largest companies, is also facing possible legal action if the Indonesian Advertising Companies Association (P3I) rules HM Sampoerna breached laws.
The A Mild campaign, featuring animated characters, including animals such as ants, roosters, snails and squid dancing to music, has been aired on television, at all hours, and displayed on billboards. more
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Book Review: Rating the IMF's days of reckoning
(Boston Globe)
Paul Blustein, economics correspondent for The Washington Post, was based in Asia from 1990 through 1995 and reported on the region's blooming capitalism. Having returned to Washington, D.C., by the time Asia's troubles ensued, he was in an ideal position to write a book about the International Monetary Fund's handling of the crisis abroad, ''The Chastening: Inside the Crisis That Rocked the Global Financial System and Humbled the IMF.''
Indonesia is perhaps the best example of bureaucratic bungling. In Jakarta, the IMF and World Bank worked at cross purposes at a time when coordination and communication were required to stop a sliding rupiah. IMF officials failed to recognize the key role played by corrupt banks, some owned by President Suharto's family. When the IMF began closing banks, depositors panicked, accelerating a run on the banks - and the currency. The World Bank might have warned the IMF: Its staff of researchers a year earlier had done extensive research on the weakened banking system. But the two agencies weren't communicating. more
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Indonesian Muslim hardliners challenge Osama bin Laden video
(AFP)
* "We do not believe the video is authentic because, first of all, the images are not clear," said Wirawan Adnan, a spokesman and lawyer for the Laskar Jihad militia in the world's biggest Muslim-majority nation. "Secondly, we question whether Osama would allow any tape recordings to be made of himself discussing the attack," he told AFP. "It is very strange for someone like Osama to let himself be filmed in that situation."
* The Indonesian Council of Ulemas (Muslim scholars) rejected the tape as definitive proof of bin Laden's involvement. "The tape may be real, it may not be, because technology can do anything," the council's secretary general, Din Syamsuddin
* "It must be tested in a laboratory to determine whether it is authentic or fake," FPI leader Habib Rizieq. more
+ Proof or Fake? World Divided Over Bin Laden Tape
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Rising Joblessness in Asia Challenges Officials Striving to Spur Consumers
(WSJ)
Fresh data on expected wage freezes across Asia, coupled with rising unemployment, spell bad news for policy makers seeking to stimulate consumer spending to spur economic growth next year. Companies around Asia are predicting widespread salary freezes in 2002.
Economists expect Asian policy makers to continue to cut interest rates and push fiscal-stimulus packages early next year to help encourage domestic spending and offset weakness in key export markets. But as wage growth flags and unemployment mounts, such measures may have limited impact. more (subs)
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Indonesia to Begin War on Terror
(Las Vegas Sun)
Indonesia's defense minister on Thursday vowed an all-out assault on terrorism after the government claimed for the first time that Osama bin Laden's terror network had operations in Indonesia.
"What was said by the head of intelligence yesterday was based on fact and data," Defense Minister Matori Abdul Djalil said. "We will wage war on terrorism. We must take firm and forceful steps."
Some intelligence experts suggested the claims of an al-Qaida link in the world's most populous Muslim nation were designed to persuade the United States to relax a two-year ban on sales of military equipment and spare parts. more
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Cemex sees sale option expiring on Indonesian cement firm
(Reuters)
"In light of the government of Indonesia's decision to postpone the privatization of PT Semen Gresik until next year, Cemex believes there is a very strong likelihood that the government will not exercise the put option that expires today (Friday in Indonesia)," Cemex said in a statement.
A Cemex source said the current offer to buy the 51 percent stake would automatically expire if Indonesia does not meet Friday's deadline, but that Cemex would be open to new negotiations next year.
Indonesia's government is trying to sell off its stake in Gresik, in part to raise much-needed government revenues, but the plan has been stalled by strong domestic opposition in Indonesia. more
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How the IMF and World Bank work
(BBC)
The Fund offers its programmes to a government in need. The government is, however, said to 'own' the programme.
At the outset it signs a so-called Letter of Intent which lays out the elements of the recovery plan and in return the Fund commits itself to grant loans in stages as and when economic targets specified in the Letter are achieved. These will include cutting budget deficits and inflation.
But today there are other components in IMF programmes that have become more important. In East Asia the Fund demanded the reform of the banking system in Thailand and Indonesia and the introduction of proper formal accounting systems in South Korea.
Charged with failure
Both institutions face unprecedented criticism. The Fund for its alleged one-size-fits-all policy recommendations, the Bank for its supposed failure to take proper account of human and environmental needs in its projects.
Both deny the charges and both are undertaking various reforms to meet the criticisms. more
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Indonesia remains gripped by old woes
(Catcha)
Indonesia sacked one president and installed another -- its first female head of state -- during the year, but the sprawling Southeast Asian country remains a hot bed of ethnic, economic and separatist discontent.
Even with the all powerful military remaining on the sidelines -- seemingly biding its time before thrusting itself into the political fray once again -- high hopes raised by the peaceful transfer of presidential power faded as fast as Abdurrahman Wahid's falling star.
Faced with a massive debt burden, endemic corruption and seemingly intractable social problems from one end of the archipelago to the other, President Megawati Sukarnoputri has much on her plate in the twilight of 2001.
Yet it is not all doom and gloom. Indonesia's parliament, free from its shackles as a mere rubber stamp for the government of former dictator Suharto for decades, flexed its muscles in July dismissing Wahid for incompentence and alleged graft. more
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Indonesia's rights watchdog seeks independent probe of Theys death
(AFP)
The commission, after a five-day fact finding mission in Irian Jaya earlier this month, has decided that there was a need for an independent investigation in to the death of Theys, which appeared to have been politically motivated, Commission Secretary General Asmara Nababan said. more
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Bimantara Extends TV Holdings
(Laksamana)
The Bimantara Citra group has extended its hold over the media industry with the purchase of 70% of shares in Global TV, one of a number of new kids on the block in the local television industry.
Bimantara paid $9.325 million for the share, which manager for corporate communications Intan Abdams said represented a 48% discount on commited capital.
Bimantara also recently bought 25% of CNN clone Metro TV from Surya Paloh, publisher of Media Indonesia. That purchase cost Bimantara Rp40 billion.
Market analysts said the buy was timely, with strong interest in the sector recognized by the 100% recovery rate by the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency (IBRA) in its sale of its interest in Indosiar Visual Mandiri. more
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Bank Indonesia/Economy: Higher Inflation Pressures
(Dow Jones)
Higher Inflation Pressures
"Thus, the economy is expected to grow between 3.5% and 4% in 2001," Bank Indonesia added.
However, the central bank cautioned that higher growth will bring with it increased inflation pressures.
The government expects inflation to reach 9% this year. However, as inflation in November has already hit 12.91% year-on-year, it is widely expected that the government's target will be exceeded. more
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The Islamic Dead End.
The Arabian desert economic model simply will not work.
(National Review)
Other observers, trying to counter the perception that such acts of economic separatism represent broad trends, note that mainstream Islam has been, and remains, supportive of markets, technological creativity, and material prosperity. Nothing in Islam conflicts with economic development or global economic integration, says the latter group of commentators.
Whatever their inconsistencies, none of these interpretations can be dismissed out of hand. Each captures important truths that we ignore at our peril.
Widespread Muslim misgivings about globalization are not a figment of anyone's imagination; just as there are anti-globalists all across America and Europe, so there are many in Egypt, Pakistan, and Indonesia. But for the most part the observed Muslim resentment is less an expression of opposition to modern capitalism than it is a cry of desperation.
Yet, within the Islamist mindset, observed failures establish merely the need to redouble efforts to defeat the offending sources of corruption. Today, goes the argument, the principal source of corruption is Westernization, which masquerades as globalization and whose chief instruments are the military, cultural, and economic powers of the United States. Americans have been corrupting people everywhere, including Muslims, through seductive advertising and the dominance of their godless media. They have also been propping up client regimes that are committed, despite appearances to the contrary, to frustrating Islamist goals.
Not that this tendency to blame outside forces for various sorts of failures is limited to terrorists. Islamists with no affinity for violence attribute sundry domestic problems, including failures of their own movements and initiatives, to the prevailing moral standards. Articulated incessantly in diverse contexts, such excuses foster an intellectual climate that enables violent groups to justify their destructiveness as essential to ridding the world of evil and building an Islamic utopia. It also aids these groups in finding recruits. more
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Indonesia confirms al-Qaeda presence
(BBC)
Authorities in Indonesia have acknowledged for the first time the ties between local Islamic groups and Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.
Confirmation that al-Qaeda members have been fighting on the island of Sulawesi came in a statement from the head of the National Intelligence Agency, Lieutenant General Hendropriyono
Washington has yet to list Indonesia as a state supporting terrorism but it is frustrated by the unwillingness of the Indonesia security forces to rein in Islamic militants. In contrast, neighbouring Malaysia and the Philippines are regarded as giving full co-operation in the campaign against terrorist networks.
The Laskar Jihad group cited by General Hendropriyono is headed by a veteran of the anti-Soviet war in Afghanistan. It is well organised and well funded with possible backing from factions of the armed forces. Laskar Jihad members insist they are not linked to al-Qaeda and only wish to defend Muslim communities inside Indonesia. However, a number of foreign fighters have been seen campaigning with Laskar Jihad.
The international community is concerned that as the group expands its influence, it may provide a haven for al-Qaeda after the loss of its bases in Afghanistan. more
Al-Qaeda 'has training camps in Indonesia' (FT.Com)
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Singapore Officials Question APP, AFP, Request Records
(WSJ)
Officials from Singapore's Commercial Affairs Department, the police department responsible for investigating cases of suspected fraud, visited the Singapore offices of Asia Pulp & Paper Co. and Asia Food & Properties Ltd., people familiar with the situation said. The police unit's officials spoke to company employees and took away documents.
Investors and creditors are clearly losing patience with APP. Several investors have hired lawyers to prepare class-action lawsuits against the company, various members of the Widjaja family, and APP's auditors, Arthur Andersen LLP in the U.S.
Others are pursuing other avenues. Earlier this month, export credit agency officials representing 11 governments met with Teguh Widjaja, APP's chief executive, in Stockholm. A person present at the meeting said this was the first time the agencies -- among APP's numerous creditors -- had met in relation to the APP case because they wanted to join forces against and put pressure on the company. more (subs)
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Intelligence chief: foreign terrorists involved in Sulawesi
(Reuters)
"Poso has become a ground for an international terrorist (group) and a local radical group... a place that is so far from control it has become a battleground for the two groups," A.M. Hendropriyono told reporters.
In the past, Indonesian authorities have flatly rejected any suggestions international terrorist groups had managed to establish a foothold in the world's most populated Muslim nation.
Some analysts say Indonesia offers fertile ground for these networks to operate as the world's most populous nation struggles to impose law and order in the face of its worst political and economic upheaval in decades.
The sprawling archipelago of more than 13,000 islands has relatively porous borders and plenty of potential hiding places. more
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ExxonMobil Confirms Aceh Explosion; Output Plan Unchanged
(Dow Jones)
A small bomb that exploded at 1:30 p.m. local time caused no injuries or damage, he said, and isn't expected to affect operations.
ExxonMobil suspended operations at its onshore gas fields in Aceh in March, citing explosions and attacks on its facilities. It resumed gas production in July.
Indonesia's Arun liquefied natural gas plant, which processes the gas for export, also closed, costing Indonesia hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars in lost revenues. more
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Look Who's Talking Corner
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Taufik Kiemas concerns on the attitute of Legislative Members from PDI-P who concerned more about materialistic aspect of life instead of serving the people.
(Media Indonesia)
Taufik Kiemas, suami Presiden Megawati Soekarnoputri, merasa prihatin dengan tingkah laku anggota F-PDIP DPR yang lebih mementingkan materi daripada mengurusi rakyat.
"Sekarang saya lihat di DPR semua orang membicarakan sudah berapa mobilnya, kalau begini maka akan menjadi gembel dan pengemis lagi tahun 2004," katanya di hadapan kader dan pengurus DPD PDI Perjuangan NTB di Mataram, kemarin.
Menurut Taufik, yang perlu dipikirkan sebenarnya bukan mengurus mobil, tetapi mengurus rakyat. "Tanpa mengurus rakyat, 100 persen tidak mungkin bisa membesarkan dan memajukan partai. Ini harus selalu dicamkan," pintanya.
"Lebih baik kita menangis dan bekerja keras sekarang, ketimbang menangis pada Pemilu 2004, karena ditinggalkan rakyat. Nasihat ini untuk semua pemimpin partai agar jangan melupakan rakyat yang telah membantu, sehingga PDI Pejuangan menjadi besar," katanya.
Belum lama ini, keberadaan Taufik Kiemas sebagai anggota MPR/DPR dipersoalkan. Tingkat kehadirannya di Senayan pun dipermasalahkan. more
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Medco Oil Contracts Extended For 20 Yrs
(Dow Jones)
The Indonesian government has extended oil production-sharing contracts for PT Medco Energi Internasional (P.MCE) for the Rimau and Tarakan blocks, Bisnis Indonesia reports.
The daily quotes Medco Corporate Secretary Sugiharto as saying the contracts have been extended for 20 years.
Medco will boost crude oil output from the Rimau Block from 83,883 barrels a day, and from the Tarakan Block from 1,200 b/d currently after the contract extension, said Sugiharto, according to the report. more
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Corning Acquires 51-Percent Stake in Indonesian Telecom Cable Company; New Venture Will Provide Access to Growing Asia-Pacific Telecom Opportunities
(Excite)
The acquisition of shares in the equity company, which will operate under the name PT Communication Cable Systems Indonesia, is the result of Corning's acquisition in 2000 of Siemens AG's worldwide cable and hardware operations. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
The equity company was previously known as PT Siemens Kabel Optik (SKO). PT Trafindo Perkasa Tbk of Jakarta, Indonesia is the other shareholder, along with Mr. Marsini Adinegoro.
Established in 1995, the Indonesian cable manufacturing facility is located in Cilegon, West Java. It employs approximately 70 people. more
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Mixed results for Indonesia's economic reforms
(FT.Com)
Indonesia last week successfully raised $345m from the sale of a 11.9 per cent stake in telecommunications provider, PT Telkomunikasi Indonesia. But Laksamana Sukardi, state enterprises minister, said this week that a much larger deal involving the sale of a 51 per cent stake in PT Semen Gresik, the state-owned cement company, to Cemex of Mexico was unlikely to go ahead this year. Local politicians have organised widespread protests against the deal.
Many analysts regarded the deal as a test case for Indonesia's ability to meet its privatisation targets and promises to the IMF. Approval from the IMF is essential for Indonesia to win approval for the rescheduling of up to $6bn in public debt in 2002 from the Paris Club group of international creditors. more
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Heavy sentences for militia killers in E. Timor
(SMH)
Senior militia leaders accused of torture, forced deportations and the murder of a group of nuns were given heavy sentences yesterday, in East Timor's first verdict in a trial for crimes against humanity.
Joni Marques, 38, leader of Team Alfa, responsible for many killings in the eastern Los Palos district before and after the September 1999 independence referendum, and three of his henchmen were given 33-year sentences. more
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Taking A Risk In Indonesia
(AsiaWise)
Indonesia's political stability improved by a couple of notches in October. So says the newly launched Lehman Brothers Eurasia Group Stability Index (LEGSI), which aims to tell investors whether the political and social climate in a select group of volatile developing nations is getting better or worse.
A handful of emerging market funds, including two of the largest, have hefty stakes in a couple of Indonesian issues. But more mutual funds have shifted their Indonesian weighting from very light to still lighter in the past year, even as the political climate has arguably grown slightly calmer.
One fund that appears to have unusually high hopes for Indonesia, or at least for one particular company, is the $900 million GMO Emerging Markets Fund. As of early October, its sixth largest holding was Hanjaya Mandala Sampoerna, a manufacturer and distributor of clove cigarettes. With a market capitalization of US$1.4 billion, Sampoerna is one of Indonesia's top five publicly traded companies. It has made the GMO fund proud over the past year, gaining 22%.
Another large global fund, the $1.5 billion Templeton Developing Markets Trust, has another Indonesian issue among its top 10 holdings: Telekomunikasi Indonesia, the nation's dominant telecom provider and largest publicly traded company with a market cap of $2.7 billion. It has gained 23% over the past year.
The $61 million AIM Asia Growth Fund is more typical in its treatment of Indonesia. As a regional fund, it has a much smaller universe of stocks to choose from than the GMO and Templeton funds. But it has a much lighter weighting in Indonesia -- a weighting that has gotten steadily lighter by the month, dropping from 1.8% last fall, to 1.6% last spring to less than 1% as of the first of November.
"If Megawati and her economic team turn on a dime and begin doing the things we all hoped they would have done in the first 100 days -- selling off assets, getting the assets back into productive hands, getting foreign investors back in, defending the personal security and the property rights of foreign investors -- that's the best case scenario for Indonesia economically," says Green. He's not holding his breath. more
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Indonesia's Dirty Little Holy War
(Time)
If the military is unable to prevent Laskar Jihad troops from continuing their attacks, it will constitute a chilling victory for the Islamic extremists. "They've managed to evict the military from Poso: not even Fretilin could do that in East Timor," says Tamrin Tomagola, a Muslim sociologist at the University of Indonesia. "If the situation is not brought under control, Poso could become the peak of all communal conflicts in Indonesia. The whole of Sulawesi could be engulfed and the conflict could then spread as far as the southern Philippines. This is a key fear of the U.S." more
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CAD launches probe into Asia Pulp & Paper
(Business Times)
The Commercial Affairs Department has launched a probe into Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) - one of the world's largest and most heavily indebted pulp and paper companies with debts of US$12 billion - and its sister companies, Singapore-listed Asia Food & Properties and Golden Agri Resources.
All three companies confirmed that the CAD has visited the APP offices at Maritime Square in Pioneer Road and AFP's and Golden Agri's offices at Shenton House. However, they could not provide the specifics of the investigations into the companies.
The two companies' independent directors K Shanmugam, who has since resigned, and Lew Syn Pau said they had asked the companies to go public about the steps they had taken to protect their shareholders.
... two directors had felt uncomfortable about the scale of the deposits, and although shareholder approval was obtained last year, they had asked that AFP reduce the amount deposited. As a result, the sum was cut by about $370 million between June last year and March this year.
Last month, another US$6.5 million was withdrawn. At end-March, deposits with the Cook Islands bank totalled $515 million.
Shareholders of the two Singapore-listed companies also wanted to know why there was a seven-month delay in the two companies reporting defaults on loans totalling more than US$200 million. more
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Indonesia to Miss Revenue Targets On Sale of State-Owned Assets because of Cemex deal
(WSJ)
The Indonesian government said it won't reach its revenue target for the sale of state-owned assets this year because of the failure to push through with the privatization of cement maker Semen Gresik.
"We can't push Semen Gresik sale this year due to the fact there are many problems to discuss," Enterprise Minister Laksamana Sukardi said Monday.
In a bid to appease the provinces, the government produced a revised sale plan late last month, which would hand control of Semen Gresik to Cemex but leave units Semen Padang in Sumatra and Semen Tonasa in Sulawesi in the government's hands. The revised deal cut the government's expected revenue from the sale to just $200 million from $520 million under the original deal.
Cemex hasn't responded to the new proposal, but people familiar with the matter say the management didn't like Indonesia's last-minute change of position.
Mr. Laksamana said the government will continue to hold negotiations with Cemex, Semen Gresik and its two units in a bid to keep the deal alive. "The government and the parliament have agreed to urge the disputing groups to cool down and look for a good solution for Semen Gresik," he said. more
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Indonesia sees privatisation revenue about half of target
(AFP)
Indonesia may generate just over half of its targeted 6.5 trillion rupiah (640 million US) in privatisation revenue for the full year, an official said Monday.
Privatisation revenue would be 3.5 trillion rupiah or 53.8 percent of the target with the sale of cement maker Semen Gresik to Mexico-based Cemex SA unlikely before year-end, deputy state enterprises minister for privatisation Muhammad Yasin said.
He told reporters at parliament proceeds from the sale of PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia amounted to only 3.12 trillion rupiah while those from the sale of PT Socfindo, a state appraisal firm, reached 400 billion. more
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Scandal probe wins support in Indonesian parliament
(Reuters)
The full parliament has yet to vote on the issue but a majority of the 76 legislators in its consultative body backed the idea of a special committee that would investigate speaker Akbar Tandjung, who also heads the former ruling party Golkar.
The majority of factions in Indonesia's parliament on Monday rallied behind the idea of a probe into a financial scandal with which its influential speaker has been linked, a move that could boost political instability (again). more
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Q&A: What next in war on terror?
(BBC)
Where does the war go next? Right from the start, this was designed as a multi-faceted campaign - there would be financial measures to dry up funds used by terrorist networks, primarily those run by Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda organisation; diplomatic pressure on governments to act against terrorist camps and suspects; and military action where necessary.
Who could be hit? No decisions have been taken, but targets have been looked at, especially in Somalia, Yemen and Indonesia. It's not that those governments are supporting Osama Bin Laden and his allies. It is that they cannot control them. So the United States might attack training camps and bases which are beyond the local government's reach. more
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Indonesia Facing Potential Loss of US$7.7 BLN for Dumping Charges
(Asia Pulse)
Countries filing the charges include India, South Africa, the European Union, Argentina, China, the United States, Trinidad, the Philippines, Australia, Malaysia, Peru, Colombia and Egypt.
India accused Indonesia of dumping polyester films and partially oriented yarn, causing potential losses in exports. more
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Laksamana Sukardi: Don’t be So Emotional
(IBonWeb)
According to Sukardi, principally the investor has agreed to the proposed price and the selling method. However, Cemex still questions the legal certainty, i.e. whether the deal will be executed without any changes in the future. “This is not only Cemex but also most investors who want to invest in Indonesia. They are concerned about legal uncertainty,” Laksamana said.
He hopes the negotiations will be settled before the end of this year. However, according to Laksamana, the Government has prepared for failure. “If Cemex does not agree with our proposal, then we have to find another investors,” Laksamana said. more
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Dear George W. Bush
(World Press Review)
But lately, it seems to me that you are also messing up our relations with the Muslim world. Up until now, the Muslim world has accepted, perhaps out of force of habit, our surgical operations. But with this “blitz” that you are conducting in Afghanistan, we worry that you have gone too far. Your country has become a burden to us, as opposed to an asset. Suddenly, protesters in countries that before had never heard of us, like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Indonesia are burning Israeli flags in the street. The world is punishing us for our support of you. And worst of all, you have started to disrupt our own activities. Not only haven’t you succeeded in taking out Al Qaeda, you are also interfering in our own liquidation of terrorists, who tomorrow could become your terrorists as well. more
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Tommy Suharto given kid glove treatment by Indonesian police
(WSWS)
The arrest itself was a strange affair. It was not the police who appeared before the press triumphant after their lengthy, fruitless and at times farcical manhunt, but Tommy Suharto, who was smiling, looking relaxed and confident. He was brought before reporters without handcuffs and was warmly embraced by Jakarta police chief Sofjan Jacoeb. After the press conference, his wife, sisters, lawyers and friends, including at least one member of parliament, filed into the police station to visit him, as if the prisoner were holding court as a member of royalty.
Incredibly, the police have not charged Suharto with defying the courts and evading the police, charges that would have led to his immediate incarceration. Instead the police announced that they will hold him for just 20 days in order to question him over the murder of the Supreme Court judge who initially jailed him, and a series of Jakarta church bombings. He is described simply as “a suspect”. more
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How Consistent Is The Micro Policy
(Kompas)
Economic Analysis By Sjahrir
This week we will cover matters of a micro nature which government imposed on public firms, state enterprises, banks and private companies and companies controled by the Indonesian Bank Restructuring Agency and which has become a big question mark.
Since when are decision makers of the government intensely involved in micro matters of a far reaching effect in companies? The scope does not only entail impact on the economy, it also touches on public confidence in the present government, at least, of what is left of confidence. more
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Tommy Paid Yorrys US$5 Million for security fee
(Media Indonesia)
Tersangka Tommy Soeharto mengaku memberikan US$5 juta atau sekitar Rp50 miliar (dengan asumsi per US$1=Rp10.000) kepada Yorrys Raweyai untuk dana keamanan selama ia menjadi buronan polisi.
Hal itu dikatakan Kapolda Metro Jaya Irjen Sofjan Jacoeb kepada Media, tadi malam, ketika dimintai konfirmasi mengenai pengakuan Hutomo Mandala Putra alias Tommy Soeharto kepada penyidik soal dana pengamanan sebesar US$5 juta. more
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Semen Padang & Tonasa Workers Threaten to Strike
(Asia Pulse)
Some 9,500 employees of PT Semen Padang and PT Semen Tonasa have threatened to go on a strike if the government persists in its refusal to spin off the two firms from cement manufacturer, the Semen Gresik Group.
However, the government's decision has been considered by the Communication Forum of Semen Padang Employees as well as the Federation of Semen Tonasa Employees as an attempt to fool the public as if the spin-off had really been done.
"That is a public lie made for the sake of Cemex," he said. more
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Malaysia 'to whip illegal immigrants'
(CNN)
Malaysia is planning to whip people entering the country without valid documents, even for a first offence, newspapers reported on Sunday.
At present only second-time offenders are liable to be whipped. more
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