By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Nov 14 (ANTARA) - Greenpeace activists --who set up a camp last month and sealed the heavy-duty equipment of PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (RAPP) in Kampar Peninsula, Indonesia's province of Riau, two days ago -- left the location on Saturday after police gave them until 6 pm to leave the area.
"Fifteen of the volunteers --who came there in protest against deforestation and peatland drainage-- have already left the camp while the other 35 are still packing their belongings," Southeast Asia Greenpeace forest campaigner Bustar Maitar said on Saturday evening.
He said Greenpeace would not stop its fight to protect forests in Riau and would continue to call for protection of Kampar Peninsula forest and exert pressure on the company that had cleared the natural forest.
However, according to latest negotiations the local police in Pelalawan had given them a security guarantee and until Sunday morning to leave.
Earlier, chief of the Pelalawan police resort Adj. Chief Coms. Ari Rachman called on them to leave the site and vacate the 'Climate Protection Camp' as soon as possible around the peatland area.
The call was directly made by the Pelalawan police resort chief when he had a dialog with the locals who held a rally against the presence of the Greenpeace activists.
Rachaman said police would not take risk in maintaining the presence of the environmental activists in the area. He said he received orders from the Riau police chief to evacuate them in order to prevent physical clashes between the volunteers and local people.
Since the activists' presence, tension between groups of local people who were for and against the activity had also increased although it was believed it was the company who had incited local sentiment against the environmental activists.
Greenpeace's action took place on the Kampar Peninsula on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, on Thursday, where Greenpeace has set up a 'Climate Defenders' Camp'.
The activists locked themselves to three excavators, owned by Asia Pacific Resources International Limited (APRIL), one of Indonesia's biggest pulp and paper producers, to prevent it destroying the rainforest to make way for tree plantations, grown to make pulp and paper for international customers, including UPM Kymmene.
UPM-Kymmene is one of the world's leading forest industry groups and the leading producer of printing papers. It is a modern, efficient and focused forest industry company. It has production facilities in 15 countries and its main market areas are Europe and North America. UPM's shares are listed on the stock exchange in Helsinki. UPM creates value from renewable and recyclable.
The activists decided to leave the area in an effort to prevent increasing tension among groups of local people.
"Greenpeace is in a position where it has to make a hard decision for the sake of the interest of the local people," Greenpeace forest campaigner Bustar Maitar said.
He added: "We are at a loss about what to do," he said. As an organization that shuns violence, he said, the organization did not want to see a communal conflict to happen after they had left.
Maitar believed that the company was behind all this and therefore his side had asked the police to follow it up.
"The license of PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (RAPP) is not complete and therefore the company's action in clearing the forest is against the law. If the government acts as if it does not know it it means they are ignoring existing public norms," he said.
He said Greenpeace would also hand over the camp set up last month on the side of Kampar River to the local community.
It was reported on Friday that police have named 21 of the activists after they sealed the heavy-duty equipment of RAPP.
The 21 were among 33 Greenpeace activists detained at the Pelalawan police resort after they sealed the heavy-duty equipment in a peatland forest area in the peninsula on Thursday, their lawyer Susilaningtias said.
Twelve of the 33 Greenpeace activists are foreign nationals. They come from Brazil, Germany, Thailand, Spain and the Philippines.
Their lawyer said the 21 activists are charged with committing an unpleasant act under article 335 of the Criminal Code and violating a ban on entry into a company's working area without a permit under article 551 of the code.
"They may be penalized under articles 335 and 551 of the Criminal Code. It was a RAPP employee who reported them to the police," Susilaningtias said.
However, police denied having arrested them. All the 21 suspects are from Indonesia.
Chief of the Pelalawan police resort Adj. Chief Coms. Ari Rachman denied that the police had detained tens of Greenpeace activists after they sealed the heavy-duty equipment.
"The police did not arrest but protected them after the local people had written to the Riau governor, the Riau provincial police and the Pelalawan police resort rejecting the presence of the Greenpeace activists," he said.***3*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/00:43/a014) (T.A014/A/A014/A/A014) 15-11-2009 00:54:45
Sabtu, 14 November 2009
GOVT READY TO FACE HOUSE PROBE INTO BANK CENTURY CASE
By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Nov 13 (ANTARA) - The government said on Friday it was ready to face a House motion to probe the Rp6.7 trillion (US$723 million) bailout it had provided for ailing Bank Century.
A total of 139 legislators officially submitted on Thursday a proposal to form an inquiry team for the investigation of the bailout. Ailing Bank Century was taken over by the Deposit Insurance Agency (LPS) late last year after it had a liquidity problem and was unable to refund its customers' money.
The inquiry proposal was submitted by around 30 members of the House of Representatives (DPR) representing 139 members from seven factions that had given their signatures.
Vice President Boedino said the initiative of a number of legislators to form an inquiry committee on the Bank Century case was a normal thing, and the government was ready to provide the needed information.
"It (the inquiry initiative) is a normal thing. So, please go ahead. The main purpose is to make it clear to the public," the vice president told a press conference at his office here on Friday.
Indications of criminal offenses in the Bank Century case were revealed during a closed-door meeting of the House of Representatives (DPR)'s Commission XI for financial affairs at the end of September, 2009. After studying the results of a progress report by the State Audit Board (BPK), the House found that various banking crimes had taken place in the bank.
The interim audit report also indicated that abuse of authority or error of judgment by Bank Indonesia (BI/the central bank) and the Financial Sector Stability Committee (KSSK) had also occurred that had caused a considerable amount of financial loss to the state.
After all, the funds were disbursed under Government Regulation in lieu of Law No. 4 / 2008 on Financial System Safety Net (JPSK) which basically was never approved by the House.
The BPK auditors had said they had found irregularities in the disbursement of Rp6.7 trillion to bail out the bank. The bailout amount was far bigger than the Rp1.3 trillion previously discussed with the House.
However, House Speaker Marzuki Alie refused to sign the inquiry proposal on Thursday. He said he would not sign the proposal to exercise the right of inquiry over f Bank Century case pending the final audit result from the State Audit Board (BPK).
"The proposal came from around 140 members of the House of Representatives (DPR). Around 400 others still have yet to sign it. My position is like that of the other 400 members," he said when receiving the proposal at his office at the parliament building.
The seven factions of the House which had supported the proposed inquiry were the Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle (PDI-P), Golkar Party, United Development Party (PPP), National Awakening Party (PKB), People's Conscience Party (Hanura), Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), and Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).
However, House Speaker Marzuki Alie, who is also the secretary general of the ruling Democrat Party said support for the proposal was a commitment of individuals and factions. The Democrat Party faction will not as yet take a stance and prefer to wait for the final report from the BPK, he said.
As the House Speaker, he said, he welcomed the aspirations of the 139 members.
He said their proposal would be immediately discussed at a Consultative Body (Bamus) meeting. Marzuki said the proposal had already been discussed at DPR leadership level and the DPR leadership had decided to pass it on to the Bamus so that the Bank Century problem could be made more transparent and clearer.
In the meantime, Vice President Boediono said the people needed clear information about the Bank Century case. Therefore, the government was ready to provide explanations.
"We will provide whatever information is needed by the people. The people need clarifications so that they need not continue to question it and work again as usual," Boediono said.
Boediono, who was the BI Governor when the bailout funds were disbursed, even said he was ready to be questioned by a House inquiry team to make the matter clear. "The vice president is also a citizen. As a citizen, I am ready to be questioned," he told a press conference.
The government's decision to bail out the ailing bank at the time was an effort to overcome an emergency situation. There was an extraordinary problem, including a liquidity problem. So, if any criminal act had been committed in the bail-out process, it should be investigated, no matter who was involved.
"So, we did not do anything wrong. Everything was based on existing regulations," the vice president added. He said people needed to understand the salvaging efforts made during the emergency situation, particularly to safeguard the system. If fraud proved to have taken place, it should be investigated, he added.
"In an emergency situation we should first take salvaging measures, but if it later turns out fraud was committed in the process, that is another problem," he said.
In the meantime, about 30 customers of Bank Century domiciled in Jakarta lodged a complaint with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Friday, asking the anti-graft body to investigate suspected corruption at the bank. They asked the body to investigate the case because until now they had not been able to withdraw the funds they had deposited at the bank.
This had happened although the ailing bank had been taken over by the LPS and had received bailout funds from the government amounting to Rp6.7 trillion. Gunawan Setiadi, one of the customers, said that there were at least two big cases involving Bank Century, namely embezzlement of customers' deposits by its management and misappropriation of the government's bailout funds.
He said it was hard to understand that after receiving an injection of Rp6.7 trillion from the government, the bank could still not return the money of its small depositors totaling only Rp1.4 trillion.
On the previous day, a delegation of several civil society organizations came to the KPK office to submit a report on corruption in the bailout of Bank Century. Addie Massardi, the delegation's spokesman, said the report was received by the KPK's public complaints section.
"The Bank Century case is the source of the acute law enforcement-related problems the nation is facing now," Addie Massardi told reporters. ***4*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/19:30/a014) (T.A014/A/A014/A/A014) 13-11-2009 19:33:24
Jakarta, Nov 13 (ANTARA) - The government said on Friday it was ready to face a House motion to probe the Rp6.7 trillion (US$723 million) bailout it had provided for ailing Bank Century.
A total of 139 legislators officially submitted on Thursday a proposal to form an inquiry team for the investigation of the bailout. Ailing Bank Century was taken over by the Deposit Insurance Agency (LPS) late last year after it had a liquidity problem and was unable to refund its customers' money.
The inquiry proposal was submitted by around 30 members of the House of Representatives (DPR) representing 139 members from seven factions that had given their signatures.
Vice President Boedino said the initiative of a number of legislators to form an inquiry committee on the Bank Century case was a normal thing, and the government was ready to provide the needed information.
"It (the inquiry initiative) is a normal thing. So, please go ahead. The main purpose is to make it clear to the public," the vice president told a press conference at his office here on Friday.
Indications of criminal offenses in the Bank Century case were revealed during a closed-door meeting of the House of Representatives (DPR)'s Commission XI for financial affairs at the end of September, 2009. After studying the results of a progress report by the State Audit Board (BPK), the House found that various banking crimes had taken place in the bank.
The interim audit report also indicated that abuse of authority or error of judgment by Bank Indonesia (BI/the central bank) and the Financial Sector Stability Committee (KSSK) had also occurred that had caused a considerable amount of financial loss to the state.
After all, the funds were disbursed under Government Regulation in lieu of Law No. 4 / 2008 on Financial System Safety Net (JPSK) which basically was never approved by the House.
The BPK auditors had said they had found irregularities in the disbursement of Rp6.7 trillion to bail out the bank. The bailout amount was far bigger than the Rp1.3 trillion previously discussed with the House.
However, House Speaker Marzuki Alie refused to sign the inquiry proposal on Thursday. He said he would not sign the proposal to exercise the right of inquiry over f Bank Century case pending the final audit result from the State Audit Board (BPK).
"The proposal came from around 140 members of the House of Representatives (DPR). Around 400 others still have yet to sign it. My position is like that of the other 400 members," he said when receiving the proposal at his office at the parliament building.
The seven factions of the House which had supported the proposed inquiry were the Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle (PDI-P), Golkar Party, United Development Party (PPP), National Awakening Party (PKB), People's Conscience Party (Hanura), Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), and Prosperous Justice Party (PKS).
However, House Speaker Marzuki Alie, who is also the secretary general of the ruling Democrat Party said support for the proposal was a commitment of individuals and factions. The Democrat Party faction will not as yet take a stance and prefer to wait for the final report from the BPK, he said.
As the House Speaker, he said, he welcomed the aspirations of the 139 members.
He said their proposal would be immediately discussed at a Consultative Body (Bamus) meeting. Marzuki said the proposal had already been discussed at DPR leadership level and the DPR leadership had decided to pass it on to the Bamus so that the Bank Century problem could be made more transparent and clearer.
In the meantime, Vice President Boediono said the people needed clear information about the Bank Century case. Therefore, the government was ready to provide explanations.
"We will provide whatever information is needed by the people. The people need clarifications so that they need not continue to question it and work again as usual," Boediono said.
Boediono, who was the BI Governor when the bailout funds were disbursed, even said he was ready to be questioned by a House inquiry team to make the matter clear. "The vice president is also a citizen. As a citizen, I am ready to be questioned," he told a press conference.
The government's decision to bail out the ailing bank at the time was an effort to overcome an emergency situation. There was an extraordinary problem, including a liquidity problem. So, if any criminal act had been committed in the bail-out process, it should be investigated, no matter who was involved.
"So, we did not do anything wrong. Everything was based on existing regulations," the vice president added. He said people needed to understand the salvaging efforts made during the emergency situation, particularly to safeguard the system. If fraud proved to have taken place, it should be investigated, he added.
"In an emergency situation we should first take salvaging measures, but if it later turns out fraud was committed in the process, that is another problem," he said.
In the meantime, about 30 customers of Bank Century domiciled in Jakarta lodged a complaint with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Friday, asking the anti-graft body to investigate suspected corruption at the bank. They asked the body to investigate the case because until now they had not been able to withdraw the funds they had deposited at the bank.
This had happened although the ailing bank had been taken over by the LPS and had received bailout funds from the government amounting to Rp6.7 trillion. Gunawan Setiadi, one of the customers, said that there were at least two big cases involving Bank Century, namely embezzlement of customers' deposits by its management and misappropriation of the government's bailout funds.
He said it was hard to understand that after receiving an injection of Rp6.7 trillion from the government, the bank could still not return the money of its small depositors totaling only Rp1.4 trillion.
On the previous day, a delegation of several civil society organizations came to the KPK office to submit a report on corruption in the bailout of Bank Century. Addie Massardi, the delegation's spokesman, said the report was received by the KPK's public complaints section.
"The Bank Century case is the source of the acute law enforcement-related problems the nation is facing now," Addie Massardi told reporters. ***4*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/19:30/a014) (T.A014/A/A014/A/A014) 13-11-2009 19:33:24
RI TO BOOST ECONOMIC GROWTH UP TO 7 PCENT IN 2014
By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Nov 12 (ANTARA) - With Indonesia's economic growth rate expected to reach 4.3 percent this year, the government is optimistic the figure will have gradually risen to as high as seven percent by 2014.
"Indonesia is now intensifying its development and minimizing the impact of the economic crisis. We hope this year economic growth will reach 4.3 percent. Admittedly it is much lower than the growth we had before the economic crisis but we are convinced it will continue to increase and reach 7 percent in 2014," President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.
The president said he believed that with a just and stable economic growth, the development programs carried out by the government would be able to reduce poverty and unemployment, and improve the quality of the people's life.
In order to achieve the target, he said, the government would reinforce its partnerships with domestic and foreign private businesses, particularly with the aim of meeting the investment need of US$150-US$200 billion per year.
The president also expressed his conviction that the country's economic growth this year would reach 4.3 percent as projected in the state budget.
Yudhoyono's conviction is supported by the Bank Indonesia (BI/the central bank)'s prediction that Indonesia's economic growth in the fourth quarter of 2009 would reach 4.4 percent.
"We project an economic growth of 4.4 percent for the fourth quarter of 2009 compared with the 4.2 percent recorded in the third quarter," Hartadi said at a hearing with House of Representatives (DPR)'s Commission XI on financial affairs on Thursday.
Hartadi said that the increase in economic growth if compared with the previous third quarter was triggered by the consumption sector and investment.
After the economic meltdown, which caused many countries to experience negative economic growth, Indonesia is confident that it will be able to boost its economic growth gradually from 4.3 percent this year to 5.5 percent in 2010, 6 percent in 2011 and 7 percent in 2014.
Next year's target of 5.5 percent, for example, was quite achievable, according to an economic analyst.
"Indonesia's economic growth is able to reach 5.5 percent. I am convinced this target will be met," Bramantyo Djohanputro, director of Finance and HRD of PPM Management, said.
He said that with the people lowering the specifications of their expenditures, inflation which was feared to disturb economic growth could be curbed. Despite the fact that people would continue to spend money for their expenditure, they would be able to refrain from purchasing goods that could trigger inflation.
On the other hand, this form of self-restraint would not automatically reflect the weaknesses of their purchasing power. The relatively small number of worker layoffs in 2009 can reflect the real purchasing power of the people.
The ability of small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) to withstand global financial crises is, according to Bramantyo, not yet fully recorded. But based on his calculations, SMEs contributed a lot to the country's economic growth.
In order to achieve the 5.5 percent target, however, the government had to accomplish basic homework tasks, among others, improvement of the bureaucracy, infrastructure, security and legal certainties in the business sector.
"All this is important to encourage foreign companies to invest in Indonesia, including foreign investment made through the government-private partnerships (KPS) and public-private partnership (PPP) schemes," he said.
The other important thing to be carried out is to encourage the banking sector to play its intermediary role more intensively by distributing larger amounts of credits. Of course, in this case, the interest rates of third party funds, deposits in particular, should be lowered, beside cutting down the interest rate of state debentures (SUN).
In the meantime, chief analyst of Bank Indonesia (BI)'s Financial System Stability Bureau, Suhaedi said with the lowering of the BI key rate to 6.5 percent in stages it could help drive down banks' interest rates.
He said that what BI was doing now is trying to put banks' landing rates at an appropriate level, in the sense that it could be accepted by banks and customers.
While for 2011, the government has set its target at six percent. State Minister of National Development Planning/Head of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) Armida S Alisjahbana said in 2011 the government will step up economic growth to six percent.
She said that the acceleration in 2011 was made as the world economy may have been restored to normal, increasing exports and investments.
Most economic obstacles may have been overcome in 2010, meeting the initial targets of the new government, so that in 2010 economic growth may at least reach 5.5 percent.
She said that under these circumstances, acceleration is possible, so that in 2014 economic growth could be expected to reach at least seven percent.
The acceleration would be successful if no external shock occurred such as an oil price hike to 160 US dollars per barrel, or a financial crisis like the one that happened in 2008.***2*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/18:40/a014) (T.A014/A/A014/A/A014) 12-11-2009 19:41:55
Jakarta, Nov 12 (ANTARA) - With Indonesia's economic growth rate expected to reach 4.3 percent this year, the government is optimistic the figure will have gradually risen to as high as seven percent by 2014.
"Indonesia is now intensifying its development and minimizing the impact of the economic crisis. We hope this year economic growth will reach 4.3 percent. Admittedly it is much lower than the growth we had before the economic crisis but we are convinced it will continue to increase and reach 7 percent in 2014," President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.
The president said he believed that with a just and stable economic growth, the development programs carried out by the government would be able to reduce poverty and unemployment, and improve the quality of the people's life.
In order to achieve the target, he said, the government would reinforce its partnerships with domestic and foreign private businesses, particularly with the aim of meeting the investment need of US$150-US$200 billion per year.
The president also expressed his conviction that the country's economic growth this year would reach 4.3 percent as projected in the state budget.
Yudhoyono's conviction is supported by the Bank Indonesia (BI/the central bank)'s prediction that Indonesia's economic growth in the fourth quarter of 2009 would reach 4.4 percent.
"We project an economic growth of 4.4 percent for the fourth quarter of 2009 compared with the 4.2 percent recorded in the third quarter," Hartadi said at a hearing with House of Representatives (DPR)'s Commission XI on financial affairs on Thursday.
Hartadi said that the increase in economic growth if compared with the previous third quarter was triggered by the consumption sector and investment.
After the economic meltdown, which caused many countries to experience negative economic growth, Indonesia is confident that it will be able to boost its economic growth gradually from 4.3 percent this year to 5.5 percent in 2010, 6 percent in 2011 and 7 percent in 2014.
Next year's target of 5.5 percent, for example, was quite achievable, according to an economic analyst.
"Indonesia's economic growth is able to reach 5.5 percent. I am convinced this target will be met," Bramantyo Djohanputro, director of Finance and HRD of PPM Management, said.
He said that with the people lowering the specifications of their expenditures, inflation which was feared to disturb economic growth could be curbed. Despite the fact that people would continue to spend money for their expenditure, they would be able to refrain from purchasing goods that could trigger inflation.
On the other hand, this form of self-restraint would not automatically reflect the weaknesses of their purchasing power. The relatively small number of worker layoffs in 2009 can reflect the real purchasing power of the people.
The ability of small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) to withstand global financial crises is, according to Bramantyo, not yet fully recorded. But based on his calculations, SMEs contributed a lot to the country's economic growth.
In order to achieve the 5.5 percent target, however, the government had to accomplish basic homework tasks, among others, improvement of the bureaucracy, infrastructure, security and legal certainties in the business sector.
"All this is important to encourage foreign companies to invest in Indonesia, including foreign investment made through the government-private partnerships (KPS) and public-private partnership (PPP) schemes," he said.
The other important thing to be carried out is to encourage the banking sector to play its intermediary role more intensively by distributing larger amounts of credits. Of course, in this case, the interest rates of third party funds, deposits in particular, should be lowered, beside cutting down the interest rate of state debentures (SUN).
In the meantime, chief analyst of Bank Indonesia (BI)'s Financial System Stability Bureau, Suhaedi said with the lowering of the BI key rate to 6.5 percent in stages it could help drive down banks' interest rates.
He said that what BI was doing now is trying to put banks' landing rates at an appropriate level, in the sense that it could be accepted by banks and customers.
While for 2011, the government has set its target at six percent. State Minister of National Development Planning/Head of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) Armida S Alisjahbana said in 2011 the government will step up economic growth to six percent.
She said that the acceleration in 2011 was made as the world economy may have been restored to normal, increasing exports and investments.
Most economic obstacles may have been overcome in 2010, meeting the initial targets of the new government, so that in 2010 economic growth may at least reach 5.5 percent.
She said that under these circumstances, acceleration is possible, so that in 2014 economic growth could be expected to reach at least seven percent.
The acceleration would be successful if no external shock occurred such as an oil price hike to 160 US dollars per barrel, or a financial crisis like the one that happened in 2008.***2*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/18:40/a014) (T.A014/A/A014/A/A014) 12-11-2009 19:41:55
RI UPBEAT TO ACHIEVE ITS TOURISM TARGET
By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Nov 10 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government is optimistic that it would be able to achieve its target to net 6.5 million foreign tourists this year.
Though the number of foreign tourists coming to Indonesia in September alone reached 4.6 million, the target of 6.5 million can be reached as in November and December, the number of foreign tourists to Indonesia is usually increasing.
"I am still optimistic that the target would be achieved," I Gde Pitana, director for overseas promotion of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture said here on Tuesday.
The number of foreign tourists coming to Indonesia up to September reaching 4.6 million indicated that Indonesia still has to work hard to attract another 1.9 billion in order to reach its target of 6.5 million in the remaining three months of this year.
Pitana said that the trend in the past years was that the number of foreign tourists to Indonesia increased drastically in November and December. The flocking of tourists to the country usually happened until the start of the new year.
After all, the figure is usually counted only from those entering the country through 15 main gates. This means that those arriving through other gates missed the count.
"Usually, the number of foreign tourists arriving in the country drastically increased in December so that the target is usually met toward the end of the year," Pitana said.
He said that Indonesia still had a chance to conclude sporadic tourism transactions at the end of the year. Moreover, his side at present was facilitating Indonesian tourism operators who were attending the World Tourism Market in London, which would last until Thursday this week (November 12, 2009).
Pitana said that his side was of the view that coordination with various components would serve as a decisive factor in making the target achievable.
"We are coordinating with various components, one of which is the coordination to increase air flight seat capacity to Indonesia," he said.
In the meantime, the Association of the Indonesian Tour & Travel Agencies (Asita) said tourism investment in Indonesia would grow positively after the holding of last month's national summit.
"The investment in the tourism sector will grow positively, though it would not be as rapid as our expectation," Asita Vice Chairman for Jakarta Jongki Adiyasa said over the weekend.
He said that significant growth could be expected from certain tourism sectors such as hotels and MICE (meeting, incentive, conference and exhibition) programs.
Unfortunately, the good investment climate is unlikely to be created in all sectors of the tourism business, he said.
"Among the causes of this condition is the fact that there are many inconsistent polices in the tourism sector which often overlap each other, particularly those issued by the central government and regional governments," the Asita chairman said.
He cited as an example the police numbers of vehicles for a tourism fleet in Bali and Jakarta.
"In Bali they are required to use private plate numbers while in Jakarta they have to use service ones. Thus, in Bali, a fleet has to pay tax higher than one that has to be paid in Jakarta," he said.
The Asita chairman said he was convinced that the investment in the hotel and MICE sectors would grow significantly in line with the improvement of the country's economic business climate.
Especially for this year, it seems that the government is able to meet its target to net 6.5 million foreign tourists.
A total of 4.619 million foreign tourists have made a visit to Indonesia since January up to September 2009, or an increase of 1.07 percent compared with the same period a year earlier.
In September 2009 alone, the number of tourist arrivals was 493,799," head of the ministry's data processing and network system center Wibowo said in the meantime.
Compared to those arriving in the same period last year, which stood at 501,018, the number of tourist arrivals in September 2009 slightly fell 1.44 percent, he said.
He said seven entry points including Ngurah Rai, Polonia and Sam Ratulangi Airports saw an increase in the number of tourist arrivals in September 2009.
A total of 218.245 foreign tourists visited Indonesia via Ngurah Rai Airport in September 2009, a 15.32 percent increase compared to the same period last year, he said.
Meanwhile, the number of tourist arrivals through Polonia Airport in Medan and Sam Ratulangi Airport in Manado respectively rose 20.96 percent to 9,702 and 24.85 percent to 2,633 from a year earlier, he said. Those coming through the Entikong gate way also increased 22.46 percent to 2,192.
The other gates were Sultan Syarif Kasim II (increasing 60.50 percent to 1,796), Adisumarmo (up 27.88 percent to 1,211) and Makassar (up 6.55 percent to 797).
He said eight other main entry points including Soekarno-Hatta and Juanda Airports recorded a decline in the number of tourist arrivals in September 2009.
The number of tourist arrivals through Soekarno-Hatta Airport in September 2009 fell 10.96 percent to 87,047 compared to the same period last year, he said.
Indonesia has set the target of tourist arrivals this year at 6.5 million. The figure is projected to increase to 7 million next year. ***2*** (T.A014/A/ H-NG /a014 )
Jakarta, Nov 10 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government is optimistic that it would be able to achieve its target to net 6.5 million foreign tourists this year.
Though the number of foreign tourists coming to Indonesia in September alone reached 4.6 million, the target of 6.5 million can be reached as in November and December, the number of foreign tourists to Indonesia is usually increasing.
"I am still optimistic that the target would be achieved," I Gde Pitana, director for overseas promotion of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture said here on Tuesday.
The number of foreign tourists coming to Indonesia up to September reaching 4.6 million indicated that Indonesia still has to work hard to attract another 1.9 billion in order to reach its target of 6.5 million in the remaining three months of this year.
Pitana said that the trend in the past years was that the number of foreign tourists to Indonesia increased drastically in November and December. The flocking of tourists to the country usually happened until the start of the new year.
After all, the figure is usually counted only from those entering the country through 15 main gates. This means that those arriving through other gates missed the count.
"Usually, the number of foreign tourists arriving in the country drastically increased in December so that the target is usually met toward the end of the year," Pitana said.
He said that Indonesia still had a chance to conclude sporadic tourism transactions at the end of the year. Moreover, his side at present was facilitating Indonesian tourism operators who were attending the World Tourism Market in London, which would last until Thursday this week (November 12, 2009).
Pitana said that his side was of the view that coordination with various components would serve as a decisive factor in making the target achievable.
"We are coordinating with various components, one of which is the coordination to increase air flight seat capacity to Indonesia," he said.
In the meantime, the Association of the Indonesian Tour & Travel Agencies (Asita) said tourism investment in Indonesia would grow positively after the holding of last month's national summit.
"The investment in the tourism sector will grow positively, though it would not be as rapid as our expectation," Asita Vice Chairman for Jakarta Jongki Adiyasa said over the weekend.
He said that significant growth could be expected from certain tourism sectors such as hotels and MICE (meeting, incentive, conference and exhibition) programs.
Unfortunately, the good investment climate is unlikely to be created in all sectors of the tourism business, he said.
"Among the causes of this condition is the fact that there are many inconsistent polices in the tourism sector which often overlap each other, particularly those issued by the central government and regional governments," the Asita chairman said.
He cited as an example the police numbers of vehicles for a tourism fleet in Bali and Jakarta.
"In Bali they are required to use private plate numbers while in Jakarta they have to use service ones. Thus, in Bali, a fleet has to pay tax higher than one that has to be paid in Jakarta," he said.
The Asita chairman said he was convinced that the investment in the hotel and MICE sectors would grow significantly in line with the improvement of the country's economic business climate.
Especially for this year, it seems that the government is able to meet its target to net 6.5 million foreign tourists.
A total of 4.619 million foreign tourists have made a visit to Indonesia since January up to September 2009, or an increase of 1.07 percent compared with the same period a year earlier.
In September 2009 alone, the number of tourist arrivals was 493,799," head of the ministry's data processing and network system center Wibowo said in the meantime.
Compared to those arriving in the same period last year, which stood at 501,018, the number of tourist arrivals in September 2009 slightly fell 1.44 percent, he said.
He said seven entry points including Ngurah Rai, Polonia and Sam Ratulangi Airports saw an increase in the number of tourist arrivals in September 2009.
A total of 218.245 foreign tourists visited Indonesia via Ngurah Rai Airport in September 2009, a 15.32 percent increase compared to the same period last year, he said.
Meanwhile, the number of tourist arrivals through Polonia Airport in Medan and Sam Ratulangi Airport in Manado respectively rose 20.96 percent to 9,702 and 24.85 percent to 2,633 from a year earlier, he said. Those coming through the Entikong gate way also increased 22.46 percent to 2,192.
The other gates were Sultan Syarif Kasim II (increasing 60.50 percent to 1,796), Adisumarmo (up 27.88 percent to 1,211) and Makassar (up 6.55 percent to 797).
He said eight other main entry points including Soekarno-Hatta and Juanda Airports recorded a decline in the number of tourist arrivals in September 2009.
The number of tourist arrivals through Soekarno-Hatta Airport in September 2009 fell 10.96 percent to 87,047 compared to the same period last year, he said.
Indonesia has set the target of tourist arrivals this year at 6.5 million. The figure is projected to increase to 7 million next year. ***2*** (T.A014/A/ H-NG /a014 )
TOURISM SECTOR NEEDS CONSISTENT POLICIES
By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Nov 9 (ANTARA) - The tourism industry in Indonesia has yet to develop maximally. Though the country is rich in tourism potentials, this sector could not yet be fully tapped to give benefit to the nation.
Apart from terrorist and natural disaster disturbances in recent years, the government's inconsistent polices can also be a factor that hampers the country's tourism development.
"There are many inconsistent polices in the tourism sector which often overlap each other, particularly those issued between the central government and the regional administrations," Jongki Adiyasa, vice chairman of The Association of the Indonesian Tour & Travel Agencies (Asita) for Jakarta, said.
In Asita's view, the recent national summit could virtually create a good investment climate for the tourism sector. Unfortunately, the good investment climate is unlikely to be created for the whole sectors in the tourism business.
"Among the causes of this condition included the fact that there are many inconsistent polices which often overlap each other, particularly those made between the central and regional governments," the Asita vice chairman said.
He cited as an example the police numbers of vehicles for a tourism fleet in Bali and Jakarta. "In Bali they are required to use private plate numbers while in Jakarta they have to use service ones. Thus, in Bali, a fleet has to pay tax higher than one that has to be paid in Jakarta," he said.
Jongki said that many investors were actually waiting for the government's consistent policies before they could go ahead with making a serious investment in Indonesia.
He considered that consistency was important because the tourism business was sensitive to policy changes. The more frequent change in the policy the bigger the loss a tourism business would likely to suffer.
Therefore, Asita was calling on policy makers to be consistent in drawing up their polices which had to be synchronized with those produced in the regions.
However, there are still certain sectors in the tourism business which are still promising, especially after the holding of the recent national summit.
It seems that after the summit which was held last month, tourism investment in Indonesia would grow positively. "The investment in the tourism sector will grow positively, though it would not be as rapid as our expectation," Jongki Adiyasa said.
He said that significant growth could be expected from certain tourism sectors such as hotels and MICE (meeting, incentive, conference and exhibition) programs.
The Asita chairman said he was convinced that the investment in the hotel and MICE sectors would grow significantly in line with the improvement of the country's economic business climate.
After all, the slight increase of foreign tourist arrivals in the first nine months of this year can serve as an indication of improving tourism business in the country, albeit in the last two months there is downward trend due to terror attacks on two international hotels in Jakarta.
In the first nine months of this year, more than 4.61 million foreign tourists visited Indonesia up 1.07 percent from the same period last year.
With the remaining three months, Indonesia still has to work hard to achieve its target set at 6.5 million. The figure is projected to increase to 7 million next year.
According to Central Board of Statistics (BPS)'s Head Rusman Heriawan, albeit small, the increase showed signs of improving tourism industry in the country amid the global economic meltdown.
The same optimism was also expressed by an official of the Tourism and Culture Ministry.
"In September 2009 alone, the number of tourist arrivals was 493,799," head of the Tourism and Culture Ministry's data processing and network system center Wibowo said.
Compared to the same period last year, however, the number of tourist arrivals in September 2009 slightly fell 1.44 percent, he said.
"The number of foreign tourists to Indonesia in the January-September 2009 period increased by an average of more than two digits," he said.
Based on the BPS data, the number of foreign tourists visiting Indonesia in the first eight months of 2009 rose 1.38 percent to 4.13 million from the same period last year. More than 4.06 million foreign tourists visited Indonesia in the January-August 2008 period.
The Indonesian tourist resort island of Bali took the lead with 1.53 million tourist arrivals, a 13.38 percent increase compared to the same period last year when the figure was 1.35 million.
However, according to Made Kawiana, a tourism observer and businessman, foreign tourist arrivals in Bali in the January-August period in 2009 numbered 1,464,738 or 12.8 percent higher than in the same period last year when the figure was 1,296,046.
"This means foreign tourists wishing to visit Bali were not affected by the terrorism issue in Indonesia," Made Kawiana.
The bombings that happened in Jakarta in mid-July 2009 did not discourage foreign tourists from spending their holidays in Bali as proven by the fact that they continued to flock to Bali after the twin luxury hotel bombings in central Jakarta.***2*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/20:31/H-YH) (T.A014/A/A014/A/H-YH) 09-11-2009 21:40:27
Jakarta, Nov 9 (ANTARA) - The tourism industry in Indonesia has yet to develop maximally. Though the country is rich in tourism potentials, this sector could not yet be fully tapped to give benefit to the nation.
Apart from terrorist and natural disaster disturbances in recent years, the government's inconsistent polices can also be a factor that hampers the country's tourism development.
"There are many inconsistent polices in the tourism sector which often overlap each other, particularly those issued between the central government and the regional administrations," Jongki Adiyasa, vice chairman of The Association of the Indonesian Tour & Travel Agencies (Asita) for Jakarta, said.
In Asita's view, the recent national summit could virtually create a good investment climate for the tourism sector. Unfortunately, the good investment climate is unlikely to be created for the whole sectors in the tourism business.
"Among the causes of this condition included the fact that there are many inconsistent polices which often overlap each other, particularly those made between the central and regional governments," the Asita vice chairman said.
He cited as an example the police numbers of vehicles for a tourism fleet in Bali and Jakarta. "In Bali they are required to use private plate numbers while in Jakarta they have to use service ones. Thus, in Bali, a fleet has to pay tax higher than one that has to be paid in Jakarta," he said.
Jongki said that many investors were actually waiting for the government's consistent policies before they could go ahead with making a serious investment in Indonesia.
He considered that consistency was important because the tourism business was sensitive to policy changes. The more frequent change in the policy the bigger the loss a tourism business would likely to suffer.
Therefore, Asita was calling on policy makers to be consistent in drawing up their polices which had to be synchronized with those produced in the regions.
However, there are still certain sectors in the tourism business which are still promising, especially after the holding of the recent national summit.
It seems that after the summit which was held last month, tourism investment in Indonesia would grow positively. "The investment in the tourism sector will grow positively, though it would not be as rapid as our expectation," Jongki Adiyasa said.
He said that significant growth could be expected from certain tourism sectors such as hotels and MICE (meeting, incentive, conference and exhibition) programs.
The Asita chairman said he was convinced that the investment in the hotel and MICE sectors would grow significantly in line with the improvement of the country's economic business climate.
After all, the slight increase of foreign tourist arrivals in the first nine months of this year can serve as an indication of improving tourism business in the country, albeit in the last two months there is downward trend due to terror attacks on two international hotels in Jakarta.
In the first nine months of this year, more than 4.61 million foreign tourists visited Indonesia up 1.07 percent from the same period last year.
With the remaining three months, Indonesia still has to work hard to achieve its target set at 6.5 million. The figure is projected to increase to 7 million next year.
According to Central Board of Statistics (BPS)'s Head Rusman Heriawan, albeit small, the increase showed signs of improving tourism industry in the country amid the global economic meltdown.
The same optimism was also expressed by an official of the Tourism and Culture Ministry.
"In September 2009 alone, the number of tourist arrivals was 493,799," head of the Tourism and Culture Ministry's data processing and network system center Wibowo said.
Compared to the same period last year, however, the number of tourist arrivals in September 2009 slightly fell 1.44 percent, he said.
"The number of foreign tourists to Indonesia in the January-September 2009 period increased by an average of more than two digits," he said.
Based on the BPS data, the number of foreign tourists visiting Indonesia in the first eight months of 2009 rose 1.38 percent to 4.13 million from the same period last year. More than 4.06 million foreign tourists visited Indonesia in the January-August 2008 period.
The Indonesian tourist resort island of Bali took the lead with 1.53 million tourist arrivals, a 13.38 percent increase compared to the same period last year when the figure was 1.35 million.
However, according to Made Kawiana, a tourism observer and businessman, foreign tourist arrivals in Bali in the January-August period in 2009 numbered 1,464,738 or 12.8 percent higher than in the same period last year when the figure was 1,296,046.
"This means foreign tourists wishing to visit Bali were not affected by the terrorism issue in Indonesia," Made Kawiana.
The bombings that happened in Jakarta in mid-July 2009 did not discourage foreign tourists from spending their holidays in Bali as proven by the fact that they continued to flock to Bali after the twin luxury hotel bombings in central Jakarta.***2*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/20:31/H-YH) (T.A014/A/A014/A/H-YH) 09-11-2009 21:40:27
GOVT TO BOOST SUGAR PRODUCTION
By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Nov 7 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government is planning to revitalize sugar mills in the country in an effort to increase sugar production and meet domestic needs which continue to increase.
With a population of about 230 million Indonesia is a big sugar consumer needing about 3.8 million tons per annum. It needs some 2.7 million tons of sugar for direct consumption and 1.2 million tons of refined sugar for industries (1 million for large industries and 200,000 tons for small ones).
However, its own annual sugar output from about 60 factories only ranges between 2.7 million and 3 million tons, requiring it to import the balance. The problem is that when stocks fall short, prices increase and consumers will cry, but when the government imports the commodity, sugar sugar cane farmers will be impacted.
Indonesia's sugar output in 2009 is likely to fall short of the targeted 3 million tons. "What we predicted at the start of this year has drawn attention as sugar output is likely to fall 200,000-300,000 tons short of the target of 3,000,000 tons," assistant for agricultural and fisheries affairs to the chief economic minister Bayu Krisnamurthi said recently.
He said the national sugar production in 2009 is likely to range from 2.73 million tons to 2.75 million tons. "The figures are not yet definite. The exact ones will be available next week," he said.
After all, the government will make every effort to ensure that year-end sugar stocks will reach one million tons to meet consumption for four to five months in 2010, he said.
Shortage of stocks easily generate price increases, let alone if the nation is facing fasting month. In the face of this year?s fasting month last August for example, prices of sugar sky-rocketed in various pars of the country. Sugar prices in various parts of the country increased from Rp7,000 per kg to a range between Rp8,000 per kg and Rp11,000 per kg.
The dynamics of stocks volumes and prices of sugar is also influenced by the world sugar price condition. According to Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, the dynamics of sugar in the international market developed fast while sugar factories at home still used non-competitive technologies and were still inefficient.
"This conditions require us to formulate a balanced policy, including import policy and its import duty," she said.
Bayu Krisnamurthi said to solve the sugar stock shortage problem the government was trying to raise the stocks by increasing imports.
Meanwhile, Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said her ministry will evaluate state-owned plantation company PTPN's performance in importing raw sugar.
"But there will be no sanction if the import does not materialize," she said.
The government decided last month to cut duties on imported raw sugar by 73 percent and refined sugar by 49 percent effective this month to bolster domestic stocks and stabilize prices.
Under the decision, the import duty on raw sugar will be cut to Rp 150 per kilogram, down from Rp 550 per kg, while the duty on refined sugar will drop to Rp 400 per kg from Rp 790 per kg.
In an effort to overcome the problem of sugar shortage at home, President Susilo Bamgang Yudhoyono has included the sugar problem as one of his 45 priority programs in his first 100-day work target of his second-term government which began after he was installed last month (on October 20, 2009).
According to State-owned Enterprises Minister Mustafa Abubakar, the government is to earmark Rp 1 trillion in funds as initial support for the revitalization of sugar mills under a subsidized interest scheme.
"The subsidized interest scheme will allow sugar mill companies to obtain commercial credits from banks," Abubakar said on Friday after a meeting with Industry Minister MS Hidayat.
Mustafa said he and Hidayat had also discussed revitalization of other sectors, namely fertilizer and salt industries, and as a result, his ministry would come up with a concept for the revitalization of all three sectors within two weeks' time.
"But we will pay relatively greater attention to the sugar and fertilizer sectors," he added.
The minister said there were seven sugar factories under the coordination of the State Enterprises Ministry that needed to be revitalized by renewing their supporting equipment or rebuilding their factories.
"The program aims to increase their outputs in quantitative and qualitative terms. The concept will be ready in two weeks' time," Mustafa said.
In the meantime, Industry Minister MS Hidayat has unveiled a plan to revitalize fertilizer plants and sugar mills as part of his program in the first 100 days in office.
"For sugar mills, I have coordinated with the finance minister to revitalize aging machines by replacing them with new ones," he said after a cabinet session at the presidential office.
He said the government had set aside Rp1 trillion in funds to revitalize sugar mills' machinery. By revitalizing their machinery, the sugar mills would be able to increase their production capacity in support of the country's food resilience, he said. ***2*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/13:00/f001) (T.A014/A/A014/F001) 07-11-2009 13:06:24
Jakarta, Nov 7 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government is planning to revitalize sugar mills in the country in an effort to increase sugar production and meet domestic needs which continue to increase.
With a population of about 230 million Indonesia is a big sugar consumer needing about 3.8 million tons per annum. It needs some 2.7 million tons of sugar for direct consumption and 1.2 million tons of refined sugar for industries (1 million for large industries and 200,000 tons for small ones).
However, its own annual sugar output from about 60 factories only ranges between 2.7 million and 3 million tons, requiring it to import the balance. The problem is that when stocks fall short, prices increase and consumers will cry, but when the government imports the commodity, sugar sugar cane farmers will be impacted.
Indonesia's sugar output in 2009 is likely to fall short of the targeted 3 million tons. "What we predicted at the start of this year has drawn attention as sugar output is likely to fall 200,000-300,000 tons short of the target of 3,000,000 tons," assistant for agricultural and fisheries affairs to the chief economic minister Bayu Krisnamurthi said recently.
He said the national sugar production in 2009 is likely to range from 2.73 million tons to 2.75 million tons. "The figures are not yet definite. The exact ones will be available next week," he said.
After all, the government will make every effort to ensure that year-end sugar stocks will reach one million tons to meet consumption for four to five months in 2010, he said.
Shortage of stocks easily generate price increases, let alone if the nation is facing fasting month. In the face of this year?s fasting month last August for example, prices of sugar sky-rocketed in various pars of the country. Sugar prices in various parts of the country increased from Rp7,000 per kg to a range between Rp8,000 per kg and Rp11,000 per kg.
The dynamics of stocks volumes and prices of sugar is also influenced by the world sugar price condition. According to Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, the dynamics of sugar in the international market developed fast while sugar factories at home still used non-competitive technologies and were still inefficient.
"This conditions require us to formulate a balanced policy, including import policy and its import duty," she said.
Bayu Krisnamurthi said to solve the sugar stock shortage problem the government was trying to raise the stocks by increasing imports.
Meanwhile, Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said her ministry will evaluate state-owned plantation company PTPN's performance in importing raw sugar.
"But there will be no sanction if the import does not materialize," she said.
The government decided last month to cut duties on imported raw sugar by 73 percent and refined sugar by 49 percent effective this month to bolster domestic stocks and stabilize prices.
Under the decision, the import duty on raw sugar will be cut to Rp 150 per kilogram, down from Rp 550 per kg, while the duty on refined sugar will drop to Rp 400 per kg from Rp 790 per kg.
In an effort to overcome the problem of sugar shortage at home, President Susilo Bamgang Yudhoyono has included the sugar problem as one of his 45 priority programs in his first 100-day work target of his second-term government which began after he was installed last month (on October 20, 2009).
According to State-owned Enterprises Minister Mustafa Abubakar, the government is to earmark Rp 1 trillion in funds as initial support for the revitalization of sugar mills under a subsidized interest scheme.
"The subsidized interest scheme will allow sugar mill companies to obtain commercial credits from banks," Abubakar said on Friday after a meeting with Industry Minister MS Hidayat.
Mustafa said he and Hidayat had also discussed revitalization of other sectors, namely fertilizer and salt industries, and as a result, his ministry would come up with a concept for the revitalization of all three sectors within two weeks' time.
"But we will pay relatively greater attention to the sugar and fertilizer sectors," he added.
The minister said there were seven sugar factories under the coordination of the State Enterprises Ministry that needed to be revitalized by renewing their supporting equipment or rebuilding their factories.
"The program aims to increase their outputs in quantitative and qualitative terms. The concept will be ready in two weeks' time," Mustafa said.
In the meantime, Industry Minister MS Hidayat has unveiled a plan to revitalize fertilizer plants and sugar mills as part of his program in the first 100 days in office.
"For sugar mills, I have coordinated with the finance minister to revitalize aging machines by replacing them with new ones," he said after a cabinet session at the presidential office.
He said the government had set aside Rp1 trillion in funds to revitalize sugar mills' machinery. By revitalizing their machinery, the sugar mills would be able to increase their production capacity in support of the country's food resilience, he said. ***2*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/13:00/f001) (T.A014/A/A014/F001) 07-11-2009 13:06:24
Jumat, 06 November 2009
POLICE CHIEF INVESTIGATOR RESIGNS OVER ALLEGED FRAMING OF ANTI-GRAFT BODY
By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Nov 5 (ANTARA) - The head of the National Police's Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim), Commissioner General Susno Duaji and Junior Attorney General Abdul Hakim Ritonga resigned from their posts over an alleged attempt to frame Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) leaders and undermine the anti-graft body.
The news on the resignation of the Bareskrim chief was made public by National Police Chief General Bamgang Hendarso Danuri. "Susno is not suspended from his position. He himself asked to be relieved from his current job," said Danuri without saying when exactly Susno made the request and his reasons for doing so.
In the meantime, the resignation of Ritonga was revealed by Attorney General Hendarman Supandji. Supandji said Junior Attorney General Abdul Hakim Ritonga had tendered his resignation verbally on Wednesday and would submit the written one on Thursday.
"He said yesterday that he would resign and this morning he would submit his resignation letter," the attorney general said before attending a cabinet meeting at the presidential office on Thursday.
But he said had not yet received Ritonga's resignation letter so that he did not know Ritonga's official reason to resign. By Thursday morning, the attorney general had not yet received Ritonga's resignation letter. "I went to the presidential office directly so I had no time to check the letter in my office," Hendarman added.
The attorney general said that in his verbal request to resign on Wednesday, Ritonga said he would resign if he would become a burden to the attorney general's office as an institution. "If I become a burden to the institution, I will resign," Hendarman quoted Ritonga as saying.
Ritonga was named in a wiretapped conversation which indicated a plot to frame Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) leaders. The wiretapped conversations which were heard at a Constitutional Court (MK) session on Tuesday suggested the existence of a plot to frame the KPK leaders and undermine the anti-graft body.
In the meantime, Susno's resignation also followed a growing public clamor for his suspension due to his alleged involvement in a plot to frame two KPK deputy chiefs.
Demands for Susno's suspension climaxed after a recording of telephone conversations between businessman Anggodo Widjojo, younger brother of corruption suspect Anggoro Widjojo, and certain police and public prosecutors were played in a session of the Constitutional Court on Tuesday.
The conversations in which Duaji's name was mentioned several times suggested the existence of efforts to engineer a bribery case against KPK deputy chiefs Bibit Samat Rianto and Chandra M Hamzah.
Among those mentioned in the recordings were also vice attorney general Abdul Hakim Ritonga, former deputy attorney general for intelligence Wisnu Subroto, the National Police's chief detective, Susno Duadji and the former National Police's deputy chief detective, intelligence Inspector General Hadiatmoko.
An independent Fact-Finding Team which was formed by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, after attending Tueday's MK session, urged the Police Chief to suspend Susno Duaji.
On Thursday, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono asked for the suspension of police and Attorney General's Office (AGO) officers whose names were mentioned in the wiretapped conversations.
"I have told (the police chief and the attorney general) that those whose names were mentioned in the wiretapped conversations be relieved from their tasks so that investigations can be conducted properly," the president said at a cabinet plenary session.
The president also asked the coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs to provide protection for suspended KPK deputy chiefs Bibit Samad Rianto and Chandra Hamzah and the key witness in the bugged eavesdropping so that they could provide testimony with regard to the case.
"I call for protection of their safety. Protection of witnesses, or whoever, is important because our country is a law-abiding nation. There should be no irresponsible hands that would create a chaotic situation through irresponsible actions," Yudhoyono said.
Police on Tuesday (Sept. 15, 2009 ) named KPK vice chairmen Chandra M Hamzah and Bibit Samad Rianto suspects and later detained them on bribery, abuse of authority and extortion charges.
They were alleged to have abused authority with regard to the issuance of a travel ban on businessman Anggoro Widjojo, director of PT Masaro Radiokom. Aggoro was allegedly involved in a Rp180 billion corruption case with an Integrated Radio Communication System (SKRT) project in the Ministry of Forestry.
Earlier, the KPK had obtained initial proof Duaji had used his power to make ailing Bank Century return a huge amount of deposited funds to their owner unlawfully.
Commenting on the resignation of Duaji and Ritonga, Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR) Marzuki Alie appreciated their decisions to resign, saying it was a gentleman's attitude. "If he feels he is guilty and then decides to resign, it is a good decision," Marzuki Alie told the press.
The same opinion was also expressed by legal practitioner Hendardi, who is also chairman of the Setara Institute. "The decisions of Duaji and Ritonga to step down are the fruit of untiring public pressure," he said. (T.A014/A/HAJM/17:15/a014) (T.A014/A/A014/A/A014) 05-11-2009 17:32:53
Jakarta, Nov 5 (ANTARA) - The head of the National Police's Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim), Commissioner General Susno Duaji and Junior Attorney General Abdul Hakim Ritonga resigned from their posts over an alleged attempt to frame Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) leaders and undermine the anti-graft body.
The news on the resignation of the Bareskrim chief was made public by National Police Chief General Bamgang Hendarso Danuri. "Susno is not suspended from his position. He himself asked to be relieved from his current job," said Danuri without saying when exactly Susno made the request and his reasons for doing so.
In the meantime, the resignation of Ritonga was revealed by Attorney General Hendarman Supandji. Supandji said Junior Attorney General Abdul Hakim Ritonga had tendered his resignation verbally on Wednesday and would submit the written one on Thursday.
"He said yesterday that he would resign and this morning he would submit his resignation letter," the attorney general said before attending a cabinet meeting at the presidential office on Thursday.
But he said had not yet received Ritonga's resignation letter so that he did not know Ritonga's official reason to resign. By Thursday morning, the attorney general had not yet received Ritonga's resignation letter. "I went to the presidential office directly so I had no time to check the letter in my office," Hendarman added.
The attorney general said that in his verbal request to resign on Wednesday, Ritonga said he would resign if he would become a burden to the attorney general's office as an institution. "If I become a burden to the institution, I will resign," Hendarman quoted Ritonga as saying.
Ritonga was named in a wiretapped conversation which indicated a plot to frame Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) leaders. The wiretapped conversations which were heard at a Constitutional Court (MK) session on Tuesday suggested the existence of a plot to frame the KPK leaders and undermine the anti-graft body.
In the meantime, Susno's resignation also followed a growing public clamor for his suspension due to his alleged involvement in a plot to frame two KPK deputy chiefs.
Demands for Susno's suspension climaxed after a recording of telephone conversations between businessman Anggodo Widjojo, younger brother of corruption suspect Anggoro Widjojo, and certain police and public prosecutors were played in a session of the Constitutional Court on Tuesday.
The conversations in which Duaji's name was mentioned several times suggested the existence of efforts to engineer a bribery case against KPK deputy chiefs Bibit Samat Rianto and Chandra M Hamzah.
Among those mentioned in the recordings were also vice attorney general Abdul Hakim Ritonga, former deputy attorney general for intelligence Wisnu Subroto, the National Police's chief detective, Susno Duadji and the former National Police's deputy chief detective, intelligence Inspector General Hadiatmoko.
An independent Fact-Finding Team which was formed by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, after attending Tueday's MK session, urged the Police Chief to suspend Susno Duaji.
On Thursday, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono asked for the suspension of police and Attorney General's Office (AGO) officers whose names were mentioned in the wiretapped conversations.
"I have told (the police chief and the attorney general) that those whose names were mentioned in the wiretapped conversations be relieved from their tasks so that investigations can be conducted properly," the president said at a cabinet plenary session.
The president also asked the coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs to provide protection for suspended KPK deputy chiefs Bibit Samad Rianto and Chandra Hamzah and the key witness in the bugged eavesdropping so that they could provide testimony with regard to the case.
"I call for protection of their safety. Protection of witnesses, or whoever, is important because our country is a law-abiding nation. There should be no irresponsible hands that would create a chaotic situation through irresponsible actions," Yudhoyono said.
Police on Tuesday (Sept. 15, 2009 ) named KPK vice chairmen Chandra M Hamzah and Bibit Samad Rianto suspects and later detained them on bribery, abuse of authority and extortion charges.
They were alleged to have abused authority with regard to the issuance of a travel ban on businessman Anggoro Widjojo, director of PT Masaro Radiokom. Aggoro was allegedly involved in a Rp180 billion corruption case with an Integrated Radio Communication System (SKRT) project in the Ministry of Forestry.
Earlier, the KPK had obtained initial proof Duaji had used his power to make ailing Bank Century return a huge amount of deposited funds to their owner unlawfully.
Commenting on the resignation of Duaji and Ritonga, Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR) Marzuki Alie appreciated their decisions to resign, saying it was a gentleman's attitude. "If he feels he is guilty and then decides to resign, it is a good decision," Marzuki Alie told the press.
The same opinion was also expressed by legal practitioner Hendardi, who is also chairman of the Setara Institute. "The decisions of Duaji and Ritonga to step down are the fruit of untiring public pressure," he said. (T.A014/A/HAJM/17:15/a014) (T.A014/A/A014/A/A014) 05-11-2009 17:32:53
HOUSE CALLS FOR PROBE OF PEOPLE MENTIONED IN RECORDINGS
By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Nov 3 (ANTARA) - The House of Representatives (DPR) called for investigation of all people mentioned in the wiretapped conversations that indicated a alleged plot to frame anti-graft body leaders.
Besides the DPR call, the independent Fact-Finding team also urged the Police Chief to suspend Criminal Investigation Department Head Commissioner General Susno Duaji.
The calls were made after the Constitutional Court in its session here on Tuesday listened to a recording bugged by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
Among those mentioned in the recordings are vice attorney general Abdul Hakim Ritonga, former deputy attorney general for intelligence Wisnu Subroto, national police's chief intelligence Commissioner General Susno Duadji and former national police's deputy chief intelligence Inspector General Hadiatmoko.
After attending a Constitutional Court (MK) session to listen to a wiretapped recording purporting to show the existence of a plot to frame KPK deputy chiefs Bibit Samad Rianto and Chandara Hamzah, the team's chairman, Adnan Buyung Nasution, held a press conference at the building of the Presidential Advisory Institution.
Nasution told the press that he had immediately contacted National Police Chief General Bambang Hendarso Danuri with regard to the request of the team to suspend Susno Duaji.
"A quick response needs to be made against law enforcers, particularly the Police criminal investigation department (Barescrim) chief who handled the case of Chandra and Bibit," Nasution said.
Police on Tuesday (Sept. 15, 2009 ) named KPK vice chairmen Chandra M Hamzah and Bibit Samad Rianto suspects and later detained them in alleged bribery, abuse of authority and extortion charges.
They were alleged to have abused authority with regard to the issuance of a travel ban on businessman Anggoro Widjojo, director of PT Masaro Radiokom. Aggoro was allegedly involved in a Rp180 billion corruption case with an Integrated Radio Communication System (SKRT) project in the Ministry of Forestry.
Earlier, the KPK had obtained initial proof Duaji had used his power to make ailing Bank Century return a huge amount of deposited funds to their owner unlawfully.
However, many quarters questioned the arrest of the two KPK leaders.
Thus, the independent verification team was formed by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to investigate the legal facts on the detention the two suspended KPK commissioners.
Adnan Budyung Nasution said that the police chief had positively responded to the team's request.
Besides asking for the suspension of the Bareskrim head, the team had also suggested that the Police Headquarters take quick action against Anggodo Widjojo.
"We all agree that Anggodo who is the central figure in the wiretapped conversations and has extensive relations with law enforcers, must be dealt with and not allowed to remain free to go anywhere," he said.
In the meantime, House Speaker Marzuki Alie has asked for the investigation of all the people mentioned in the wiretapped recording listened to at a Constitutional Court (MK) session on Tuesday.
"By making it transparent, the people will know and will not become confused with regard to the case," he told newsmen at the parliament building here on Tuesday.
Marzuki said the law enforcers must be frank in giving information to the public on dealing with the case of suspended antigraft commissioners Chandra M Hamzah and Bibit Samad Ryanto.
The law enforcers, he said, must work professionally and those who are really guilty including police members must be dealt with according to the law.
Marzuki said those mentioned in the recording must be investigated to clarify the case.
"It would be better for those people to be summoned for investigation," he said.
Constitutional Court (MK) judge Akil Mochtar meanwhile said the team must immediately investigate Anggodo to avoid bureaucratic hurdles.
Akil said the team which was set up based on a presidential instruction to collect legal facts surrounding the detention of suspended antigraft commissioners Bibit Samat Ryanto and Chandra M Hamzah to move quickly to uncover the case.
He said Anggodo's investigation would also help the team investigate the Bibit-Chandra case.
Akil said the status of the brother of corruption suspect Anggoro Widjojo was personal, not institutional like KPK, the Attorney General's Office or the police, and therefore could be immediately processed based on the recordings as Anggodo had also mentioned the name of the President in the recordings.
In order to verify those mentioned in the recordings, the independent Fact-Finding Team will hold a series of meetings with various sides before it submits a recommendation to the president.
"We have meeting agendas on Wednesday and Thursday," Nasution said after attending a session on a judicial review of Law No. 30 / 2002 on the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) at the Constitutional Court (MK) here on Tuesday.
Speaking to the press at the Presidential Advisory Building, Nasution said that the team would meet a number of prominent figures, including non-governmental organization (NGO) activists, on Wednesday.
On Thursday, the team will meet various sides suspected of involvement in an alleged plot to frame two KPK leaders Bibit Samad Rianto and Chandra Marta Hamzah.
It will also meet with former KPK chairman Antasari Azhar, businessman Anggodo, former junior attorney general for intelligence affairs Winu Subroto and chief of Police's Criminal Investigation Department, Susono Duaji.
He said that the most important thing was to ask for explanations from Anggodo which was the central figure in the alleged plot to frame the KPK leaders.****4*** (A014/A/H-NG/a014)
(T.A014/A/A014/A/A014) 04-11-2009 01:14:38
Jakarta, Nov 3 (ANTARA) - The House of Representatives (DPR) called for investigation of all people mentioned in the wiretapped conversations that indicated a alleged plot to frame anti-graft body leaders.
Besides the DPR call, the independent Fact-Finding team also urged the Police Chief to suspend Criminal Investigation Department Head Commissioner General Susno Duaji.
The calls were made after the Constitutional Court in its session here on Tuesday listened to a recording bugged by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
Among those mentioned in the recordings are vice attorney general Abdul Hakim Ritonga, former deputy attorney general for intelligence Wisnu Subroto, national police's chief intelligence Commissioner General Susno Duadji and former national police's deputy chief intelligence Inspector General Hadiatmoko.
After attending a Constitutional Court (MK) session to listen to a wiretapped recording purporting to show the existence of a plot to frame KPK deputy chiefs Bibit Samad Rianto and Chandara Hamzah, the team's chairman, Adnan Buyung Nasution, held a press conference at the building of the Presidential Advisory Institution.
Nasution told the press that he had immediately contacted National Police Chief General Bambang Hendarso Danuri with regard to the request of the team to suspend Susno Duaji.
"A quick response needs to be made against law enforcers, particularly the Police criminal investigation department (Barescrim) chief who handled the case of Chandra and Bibit," Nasution said.
Police on Tuesday (Sept. 15, 2009 ) named KPK vice chairmen Chandra M Hamzah and Bibit Samad Rianto suspects and later detained them in alleged bribery, abuse of authority and extortion charges.
They were alleged to have abused authority with regard to the issuance of a travel ban on businessman Anggoro Widjojo, director of PT Masaro Radiokom. Aggoro was allegedly involved in a Rp180 billion corruption case with an Integrated Radio Communication System (SKRT) project in the Ministry of Forestry.
Earlier, the KPK had obtained initial proof Duaji had used his power to make ailing Bank Century return a huge amount of deposited funds to their owner unlawfully.
However, many quarters questioned the arrest of the two KPK leaders.
Thus, the independent verification team was formed by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to investigate the legal facts on the detention the two suspended KPK commissioners.
Adnan Budyung Nasution said that the police chief had positively responded to the team's request.
Besides asking for the suspension of the Bareskrim head, the team had also suggested that the Police Headquarters take quick action against Anggodo Widjojo.
"We all agree that Anggodo who is the central figure in the wiretapped conversations and has extensive relations with law enforcers, must be dealt with and not allowed to remain free to go anywhere," he said.
In the meantime, House Speaker Marzuki Alie has asked for the investigation of all the people mentioned in the wiretapped recording listened to at a Constitutional Court (MK) session on Tuesday.
"By making it transparent, the people will know and will not become confused with regard to the case," he told newsmen at the parliament building here on Tuesday.
Marzuki said the law enforcers must be frank in giving information to the public on dealing with the case of suspended antigraft commissioners Chandra M Hamzah and Bibit Samad Ryanto.
The law enforcers, he said, must work professionally and those who are really guilty including police members must be dealt with according to the law.
Marzuki said those mentioned in the recording must be investigated to clarify the case.
"It would be better for those people to be summoned for investigation," he said.
Constitutional Court (MK) judge Akil Mochtar meanwhile said the team must immediately investigate Anggodo to avoid bureaucratic hurdles.
Akil said the team which was set up based on a presidential instruction to collect legal facts surrounding the detention of suspended antigraft commissioners Bibit Samat Ryanto and Chandra M Hamzah to move quickly to uncover the case.
He said Anggodo's investigation would also help the team investigate the Bibit-Chandra case.
Akil said the status of the brother of corruption suspect Anggoro Widjojo was personal, not institutional like KPK, the Attorney General's Office or the police, and therefore could be immediately processed based on the recordings as Anggodo had also mentioned the name of the President in the recordings.
In order to verify those mentioned in the recordings, the independent Fact-Finding Team will hold a series of meetings with various sides before it submits a recommendation to the president.
"We have meeting agendas on Wednesday and Thursday," Nasution said after attending a session on a judicial review of Law No. 30 / 2002 on the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) at the Constitutional Court (MK) here on Tuesday.
Speaking to the press at the Presidential Advisory Building, Nasution said that the team would meet a number of prominent figures, including non-governmental organization (NGO) activists, on Wednesday.
On Thursday, the team will meet various sides suspected of involvement in an alleged plot to frame two KPK leaders Bibit Samad Rianto and Chandra Marta Hamzah.
It will also meet with former KPK chairman Antasari Azhar, businessman Anggodo, former junior attorney general for intelligence affairs Winu Subroto and chief of Police's Criminal Investigation Department, Susono Duaji.
He said that the most important thing was to ask for explanations from Anggodo which was the central figure in the alleged plot to frame the KPK leaders.****4*** (A014/A/H-NG/a014)
(T.A014/A/A014/A/A014) 04-11-2009 01:14:38
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