KEY WITNESS IN ALLEGED POLICE CASE MAFIA FLEES TO S'PORE

 By Andi Abdussalam

          Jakarta, March 26 (ANTARA) - Tax official Gayus Tambunan who is wanted by police for alleged tax evasion of Rp25 billion and is a key witness in alleged case brokerage at the police headquarters had fled to Singapore on Wednesday, two days before the Indonesian Police Headquarters requested the immigration office to prevent him from leaving the country.

         According to Law and Human Rights Minister  Patrialis Akbar who has reliable information,  Gayus Tambunan had left for Singapore last March 24, 2010. "He left for Singapore two days ago, on March 24, 2010," the minister said.

         Based on immigration records, Gayus left for Singapore two days before a travel ban was issued on him. The Directorate General of Immigration had received a police  request to prevent  Gayus from leaving the country  only on Friday morning.

         "Only this morning did the directorate general of immigration receive the request for his travel ban from the Police Headquarters," Minister Patrialis Akbar said on Friday.

         The case of Gayus Tambunan came up to surface recently when former chief of Police Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) Commissioner General Susno Duadji claimed that case brokerage involving two brigadier generals had taken place in the Police Headquarters.

         It began during the investigation of a suspicious account of Rp25 billion belonging to Gayus Tambunan, a tax official of the Directorate General of Taxation. Susno said that police only investigated Rp395 million of the Rp25 billion while the remaining one disappeared and police stopped investigating it.

         The Financial Transactions Analysis and Reporting Center has earlier discovered Gayus had a suspicious fund of  Rp25 billion in his bank account, and police believed the money was a reward for helping another person  evade taxes or actually  laundered ill-gotten cash.

         Gayus was later prosecuted at a district court in Tangerang (Banten province) near Jakarta.  The defendant was charged with tax embezzlement from PT Megah Jaya Citra Germindo which was transferred in two stage worth Rp370 million. The first transfer was worth Rp270 million and the second one was Rp100 million.

         The prosecutors had demanded one year jail term and another one year probation for Gayus for the alleged crime. However, judges at the district court acquitted Gayus Tambunan because the embezzlement charges leveled by public prosecutors were not proven.

         "The money was not transferred to the state because the defendant did not intend to assist PT Megah Jaya and the company did not come to the tax office," Supreme Court (MA) chairman Arifin Tumpa said on Friday. Therefore, the money stayed in the defendant's account.

         In the meantime, the case of a suspicious fund amounting to Rp24.6 billion in his account at Panin Bank which was investigated by police was not taken to court because there was not enough evidence about money laundering, embezzlement and corruption.

         But after the investigation was halted, most of the money in Gayus account was transferred elsewhere and only Rp400 million had remained.

         Therefore, Susno suspected the disappearance of the money was the result of a mafia practice at the National Police Headquarters which involved high ranking police officers.

         He claimed  that two police brigadier generals had benefited from the disbursement of the funds from the account.

         For his claims of case brokers in the police, Susno is now to undergo questioning by his own institution. On Friday he visited the Police's Profession and Security Division (Divpropam) but he rejected the interrogation.

         His lawyer Henry Yosodingrat said Susno was not prepared to be questioned because  those who would carry out the interrogation did not represent the Police's Ethics Commission. After all, the legal basis for the examination, namely Police Chief Regulation No. 7, 2006 on the Police Organization and  Ethics Commission had not yet come into force.

         "The examination is unlawful, has to be declared null and void," Susno's lawyer Henry Yosodiningrat said in the written statement.

          The Divpropam is investigating Susno on charges of having violated the Police's Ethics and Rules of Professional Conduct, among others his absence from work for 78 days, his allegation of court mafia within the police institution and his mentioning of two police generals as case brokers.

         In the meantime, besides pursuing Gayus Tambunan, police also seeking for the arrest of businessman Andi Kosasih (who has surrendered) and Robertus Santonius in the suspicious account of Rp25 billion.

         Police Spokesman Insp. Gen Edward Aritonang said the Bareskrim had form a team to investigate them. When Gayus Tambunan was a suspect in the first case, Andi Kosasih took a witness stand and admitted that the Rp25 billion was his money. However, police later have evidence that the money did not belong to Andi.

         Police also investigated the disbursement process of the remaining Rp24.6 billion because they believed that it involved unlawful deeds. Police will also examine Robertus Santonius who is suspected to have given a bribe of Rp25 million to Gayus Tambunan.

         In an effort to arrerst Gayus Tambunan, the Foreign Affairs Ministry has stated its commitment to helping locate the Indonesian tax official who is believed to have fled to Singapore.

         "We  heard the news about Gayus possibly having fled to Singapore through the media. At the moment, the Foreign Affairs Ministry, through the Indonesian embassy in Singapore, is trying to verify the truth of the information," Foreign Ministry spokesman Tengku Faizasyah said at a press conference here Friday.

    

(T.A014/A/HAJM/21:10/....  )

GAYS FORCED TO CANCEL REGIONAL CONFERENCE

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, March 26 (ANTARA) - Gay organizers are likely to cancel their plan to hold a three-day regional conference beginning Friday in Surabaya, East Java, to discuss the rights of members of the gay, lesbian and transgender communities in Asia after police refused to issue  permits and wide rejection by Muslim organizations.          Rafael Hendrikus Da Costa, chairman of Indonesia's homosexual association 'GAY Nusantara' said, the organizers were determined to hold the conference but we have to cancel it if police did not issue a permit.          He said that the organizers were holding lobbies with opposing parties and police so that would be able to obtain a permit to organize the fourth regional conference of the Asia chapter of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Association (ILGA).          "We do not have any plan to change the venue of the conference because Surabaya is a conducive and neutral place," Rafael said. He said his side was disappointed by the rejection of a number of Islamic organizations because their protest was a form of human rights violation.          Rafael said the activities that  gays would do were social activities such as public health care and others. "Our country highly respect human rights but this case is not enjoyed by gays and lesbians," he said.          Until Thursday evening, the organizers had not yet secured any permit to hold the conference from Surabaya regional police. "We have received their request to organize the conference but police refused to issue permits because it is a sensitive issue for the people of Surabaya," Adj. Senior. Commissioner Sri Setyo Rahayu, who heads the city's community policing department, said.           A number of student activists from various universities in Surabaya took to the streets in protest against the plan to organize the conference. Student Executive Board (BEM) activists of the Airlangga University (Unair), the 10 November Technology Institute (ITS)  held a rally on Thursday outside the regional legislative assembly (DPRD) in protest against the plan.          Rally coordinator Arif Fatkhurrahman said the Human Rights Law that was used by gays as a reason to organize the conference should be seen from the aspects that were in line with basic societal values and the eastern cultures.          "We cannot reject foreign values but neither could we forget local and eastern values," he said.           Chairman of the East Java chapter of the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI), Abdusshomad Buchori said that the conference ran counter to the culture of the Indonesian people. "If they force themselves to organize the conference it would create social unrest," he said.          Therefore, he supported East Java police's steps to reject  a permit for the holding of the regional conference of the ILGA.          A number of Islamic organizations in Surabaya visited on Thursday Hotel Mercure where the conference would be held to deliver their protest. The Islamic organizations included East Java's MUI, the Islamic Defender Front (FPI), and other Islamic organizations.          East Java MUI chairman Abdul Rochman Aziz said that all Islamic organizations in East Java rejected the plan. "The conference will never bring benefits to the people," he said.           Rejection also came from the Indonesian United Development Party (PPP). The Islamic-based political organization strongly opposed the plan. "PPP strongly rejects the conference because it offended the feeling of the Indonesian people, particularly Muslims," PPP associate chairman Emron Pangkapi and PPP Executive Board secretary Irgan Chairul Mahfiz said in a press  statement on Thursday.          According to the Jakarta Globe, the event, hosted by gay rights group Gaya Nusantara, had been expected to attract more than 150 activists to discuss how gay, lesbian and transgender communities across the region might move toward a "common vision, mission and goal".          Abdusshomad Buchori said the conference was an attempt "to ruin the people and the young generation".          "According to Islamic teachings, the same-sex relationships of gays or lesbians as well as bisexuals are condemned by  Almighty God," he said, adding that his organization had sent a formal request to the National Police headquarters and the East Java administration not to permit the conference to go ahead.          Abdusshomad said his organization would not hesitate "to use our own methods" to break up the event should authorities allow it to go forward. "If there are parties that insist on holding the event, we will play rough," he warned.          Abdusshomad criticized the activists for using human rights to defend their movement, saying "their actions are contrary to human rights because people feel disturbed by their activities".          Pujiatiam, who chairs the organizing committee of the conference, said the group would negotiate with the police to try and secure the permit while discussing other possibilities to ensure the conference to go  ahead in some form or another.      (T.A014/A/H-NG/a014) (T.A014/A/A014/A/A014) 26-03-2010 01:04

OPPOSITION PDIP TO JOIN RULING PD COALITION ?

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, March 24 (ANTARA) - The discourse on the possibility of a coalition between the ruling Democrat Party (PD) and its most bitter rival so far, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), is raising an important question, namely what cabinet portfolio is going to be offered to the latter.          While aspirations within the PDIP itself over the discourse are still divided, including PDIP leader Megawati Soekarnoputri who is opposed to it, the PD's gesture can basically be construed as its   readiness to reserve a ministerial post for the PDIP.          After all, the PD might have been  disillusioned with some of the  political parties with which it is officially allied after they  did not follow its political line with regard to the  Bank Century bailout scandal.          Its experience with these 'renegade' coalition partners has now led the PD to want to evaluate its coalition with them.          In a national coordination meeting next month, the PD is to evaluate its coalition with a number of other parties, including the idea of an alliance with the Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle (PDIP).          Djafar Hafsah, a PD associate chairman, said on Tuesday various things would be discussed at the meeting ahead of a party congress to be held in Bandung in May. "The coordination meeting will also evaluate the coalition, including a discourse of including PDIP in the coalition," he said.          The idea of coalescing with PDIP is actually not new or had not arisen after the three coalition members namely Golkar Party, the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the United Development Party (PPP) took a stance against the Democrat Party in the  Bank Century case.          It has been put forward since the chief patron of the Democrat Party, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, was elected president in July 2009. "At the time, the Democrat Party several times made an offer to PDIP to coalesce with the party but no agreement was reached," Djafar Hafsah said.          The idea to include the PDIP in the ruling coalition was also raised by PD vice chairman Ahmad Mubarok, who described it as a big idea about a coalition among the three nationalist parties, namely PDIP, the Democrat Party and the Golkar Party to face political competition in 2014.          "This means a match because the idea has been there for a long time and was once discussed with Tjahjo Kumolo(PDIP faction leader in parliament). If the three parties coalesce and the coalition is solid it can become a political anchor because all religious-oriented parties are declining," he said.         "It could be seen like that (the chance to join the coalition is bigger) but I think PDIP is also thinking about long-term goals," Mubarokb said.          Earlier, PDIP has indicated its intention to shift its political position. PDIP secretary general Pramono Anung said that his party would no longer position itself as an opposition party but a balancing force which is pro-people.          The discourse on the coalition with the PD originated from PDIP chief patron Taufik Kiemas who has since sometime ago voiced the idea to coalesce with the ruling party. However the idea is not supported by PDIP  Chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri who is also Kiemas's wife. Megawati preferred PDIP serving as a balancing party or opposition that watches over  the government.          Moreover, if PDIP joins the ruling coalition, it was feared it would lose its grass-root supporters. According to a political observer, public support for the PDIP will weaken continuously and reach rock bottom in the 2014 general elections if it coalesces with the PD.          "It will really happen if the PDIP joins the PD-led coalition that supports the SBY-Boediono government," political observer Sukardi Rinakit said. Rinakit made the remark to comment on PDIP Secretary General Pramono Anung's statement about the possibility of his party coalescing with the Democrat Party.          "If it happens, I predict that public support for the Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle will surely weaken. It would then even lose its most loyal supporters," Sukardi Rinakit added.          Hanny Senewe, a senior observer of the Center for Indonesian National Policy Studies (CINAPS), concurred with Rinakit. The main axis  supporting the PDIP, namely those with a Marhaenist ideology would surely feel offended if the party ceases to function as an opposition.          "This is because they have so far been in the forefront with various other elements of the public in opposing  what they call  Neo-colonialist imperialism (Nekolim) which is now also  known as Neoliberalism (Neolib) whose stooges in the government, legislative, and business circles continue to build their capitalist network in the country," she said.          In this respect, PDIP Regional Executive Board for Yoyakarta decided to maintain the idea that PDIP should maintain its opposition stance.          "In our regional working meeting that was held since Friday last week we decided to maintain the stance that PDIP should remain an opposition. The opposition stance we mean here is a constructive one," PDIP chairman for Yogyakarta branch Idham Samawi said.          In order to take a stance regarding the coalition discourse, the PDIP will discuss it in its Congress scheduled for next month. The congress will be attended by all regional executive boards throughout the country.          According to PDIP chairman for West Java branch, Rudi Harsa, the April congress will discuss two options the results of which are expected to make PDIP a party which always defends the people's interest.          "We should not think black and white where opposition or coalition is the most correct choice. What is important is that we live up to our reputation as 'the small people's party'", he said.      (T.A014/A/HAJM/17:05/a014) (T.A014/A/A014/A/A014) 24-03-2010 17:23

DISCLOSURES OF POLICE CASE BROKERS DEEMED POSITIVE

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, March 23 (ANTARA) - The daring statements by former police chief detective Susno Duadji that two police brigadier generals had acted as  case brokers in money laundering and tax evasion cases are seen by some civil society quarters as good public communications and a positive contribution to the creation of a  transparent police force.          "In the eyes of high ranking police officers, Susno's move to reveal alleged case brokers in the police institution is inappropriate and infuriating but we need people like him to uncover irregularities in the police force," communications expert Ade Armando of the University of Indonesia (UI) said.           What was disclosed by Susno was a positive aspect of democracy in a transparent society. If Susno had discussed the matter internally with the police leadership it would never have been  revealed to the public.          "Here democracy shows its virtue. Once a case is disclosed, a chain of reactions will follow. Because Susno felt offended by what was done to him by other high ranking police officers, now  he talks to the media," the communications expert said.           That is why, in this case, politeness in communications  is no longer important because what is important is to provide information to the public, according to Ade Armando.          Susno  made headlines with his claims that three high-raking National Police officials accepted Rp25 billion to drop an investigation into a tax evasion case.          In his previous statements, Susno mentioned the initials of two brigadier generals, namely R.E. and E.I. and several middle-ranking officials, who he said had acted  as case brokers in money laundering and tax evasion cases.          Susno told the media that last year, while he was serving as the chief detective, his division was investigating a report about an account that had suddenly received a Rp25 billion deposit.          However, in November 2009 before the investigations were completed, Susno was dismissed from his position for his alleged role in the framing of two anti-corruption body officials.          He was later informed that the investigation had been stopped after which  he also discovered that police had tampered with the investigation and stolen some of the money.          Police Spokesman Insp. General Edward Aritonang said police had to take legal steps against Susno who claimed that there were case brokers at the Police Headquarters, generals taking bribes and operating as a judicial mafia.          He said  Susono's claims had tarnished the image of the police as an institution.          However, Ade Armando said that what had been disclosed by Susno would had a positive impact on the administration or the running of institutions in Indonesia.          "This (disclosure) could happen to anyone and if it becomes a trend setter we  would have natural public deterrent against the inclination to commit corruption in public office," he said.          In this case, the media plays a significant role and serves as a channel for a transparent society so that those who have committed corruption would never feel secure because their crimes could be uncovered any time.          But other experts said that Susono had made the disclosure as an expression of his hard feeling towards his dismissal as the chief detective, as well as an effort to improve his image that had been tarnished with his alleged role in the framing of two deputies of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).           UI's criminologist Andrianus Meliala said Susno was trying to improve his image so that the people would consider him clean. He came up to show that he was clean at a time when the police institution was alleged as not being free from a legal case mafia.           "With the clean image, Susno hopes he would get something from the people," Meliala said adding that the former chief detective was also trying to leave the impression that he was a general who was being sidelined by their colleagues. By leaving such an impression he could win people's sympathy.         "He was trying to convince the public that he was discharged as chief detective while he was not guilty" the UI criminologist said.       UI's professor of psychology  Hamdi Muluk said Susno had disclosed the alleged case brokers at the police institution because his feeling was hurt and he could not accept the sanction taken against him.          "Susno was hurt and he rejected the treatment taken against him," Hamdi said. He said that he was hurt after a series of actions taken against him, including his discharge as the chief of the Police Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim).          After all, in Susono's perspective, suspension should not only be taken against him alone but also against other high ranking officers who he considered should also receive the same treatment.          "Susno in his perspective was treated unfairly," said Hamdi.          Apart from what Susno's motives are in disclosing the alleged case brokers at the police institution, the National Police should investigate the case.          Andrianus Meliala said that Susno's statements had posed difficulties to the police leadership. The police institution has take an attitude to respond to the statement.          The Bareskrim should investigate the allegation of case brokers in the police institution.          "If the Bareskrim is unable to investigate the allegation, the President's Anti-Judicial Mafia Task Force may ask the KPK to investigate it," the UI criminologist said.      (T.A014/A/HAJM/18:40/a014) (T.A014/A/A014/A/A014) 23-03-2010 18:51

DELAY IN OBAMA'S VISIT GOOD FOR MORE FOCUSED TALKS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, March 19 (ANTARA) - US President Barack Obama who has postponed his planned visit to Indonesia to June is expected then to be more able to  focus on US-Indonesia bilateral talks when he meets with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.          The US President, who is facing a vote on health insurance reform at home, would be more relaxed if he visits Indonesia after the US Congressional deliberations on Obama's  health care legislation are over.          Due to the health reform issue, Obama has had to postpone his planned three-day trip to Indonesia which was initially  scheduled  to begin in Jakarta next Tuesday.          According to Obama's press secretary, Robert Gibbs, the President had telephoned the leaders of Indonesia and Australia and told them that he must postpone his planned visits to a later date so he can remain in Washington for the critical vote.          The President now expects to visit Indonesia and Australia in June. The passage of health insurance reform is of paramount importance, and the President is determined to see this battle through.          President Yudhoyono's Special Staff for foreign affairs Dino Patti Djalal said with the delay of his visit until June, Obama could be more focused in discussing efforts to increase cooperation between the two nations.          "We hope that when Obama is in Indonesia in June he will  be  focused 100 percent on increasing Indonesia-US cooperation. His focus of attention should be on Indonesia-US relations, not on his country's domestic affairs," Dino said.          Dino said that before Obama delayed his planned visit from March 20 to March 23, Yudhoyono had suggested that the US president should first focus his attention on the US domestic political affairs.          "President Yudhoyono had previously sent a message that Obama's  visit should  be made at a time when his  domestic affairs are settled," Dino said.          President Obama was previously planned to begin his visit in Indonesia on March 20 and later postponed to March 23. Yudhoyono hoped that Obama should not be in Jakarta while his attention would still be in Washington because of unsettled domestic problems.          "And for this, President Yudhono suggested that the visit be made in June," Dino said.          Communications between the White House and Jakarta had been very intense and on Thursday night the White House said Obama's visit to Jakarta was delayed until June.          "The president could understand it because we have been active in monitoring the situation in Washington since the beginning. We learned how tight the political process was in Washington regarding the health care legislation. And we really understand the paramount importance of the legislation for the government of Obama," he said.          But until now, no fixed date and schedules in Jakarta for the June visit of the US President have been made.          In the meantime, associate chairman of President Yudhoyono's Democrats Party Anas Urbaningrum said that Obama would be more relaxed and can concentrate on his visit if he made it next June.          "We appreciate President Obama's schedule. We could understand if he gives priority to his domestic agenda and for him his visit in June would make him more relaxed and full of concentration," Anas told ANTARA.          For Indonesia, the postponement of the visit would give a chance to make a more complete draft agreement on Indonesia-US comprehensive partnership scheme.  But Anas expressed his hope that the planned visit in June would no longer be postponed.          "If it is once again delayed it would give the impression that Obama's visit to Indonesia is not too nice, despite the fact that the substance of the visit would not change," Anas who is also former central executive board chairman of the Muslim Students Association (HMI), said.          He said that as countries which share similar sovereignty and a decisive role in the Asia-Pacific region, the United State and Indonesia needed to increase their mutual understanding and cooperation in various fields in order to commonly bring order to the world.          The same view was also expressed by political observer Ansari Yamah of the North Sumatra's State Institute of Islamic Studies (IAIN). He said that the visit of Obama to Indonesia would bring benefit to the nation.          In general sense, there is no strong reason to reject Obama's visit to Indonesia. Besides having respect for eastern values, Obama is also  able to give a lesson on the absence of race and color differences in the life of nation and state.          As a leader of a superpower nation, Obama is able to bring changes and peace process to the world. "Obama is also able to show his love for Muslims," Ansari said.          Therefore, Ansari expressed his disillusion over the postponement of Obama's planned visit.          "The postponement of his visit also means that the benefit Indonesia can reap from the trip is also delayed," he said.         (T.A014/A/HAJM/19:40/a014) (T.A014/A/A014/A/A014) 19-03-2010 19:52

WHAT HAPPENS IF A SMOKER COUNTRY GETS A NO-SMOKING 'FATWA'?

By Andi Abdussalam

           Jakarta, March 16 (ANTARA) - Tobacconists, cigarettes makers and even the cabinet member in charge of religious affairs have voiced opposition to an edict or fatwa issued by the country's Muslim organization Muhammadiyah declaring  smoking "haram" or forbidden in Islamic law.

         Considering that it is harmful to people's health and could have other negative impacts on the people's life, the Legal Council (Tarjih) of Muhammadiyah is of the view that smoking is no longer Makruh (should be avoided) but  actually 'haram', or against Islamic law.

         However, smoking is closely linked to the livelihoods of tobacco farmers and cigarette industries so that a 'haram' fatwa on it will, if implemented, affect the livelihoods of millions of people and state income.

         Thus, Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali asked religious organizations to be wise in issuing fatwas that could affect the people's life, particularly  their livelihoods.

         If religious organizations are not wise in issuing  religious edicts they would create unrest in the people's life.

         "Fatwas can affect  many aspects of life, not only religion but also people's  economy. So, I hope that religious organizations will be wise in issuing religious advice because it could have an impact on many sectors. If it impacts on the people's economy it will create unrest," he said in response to  ongoing polemics on the admonition issued by Muhammadiyah's lawmaking body that  smoking was haram.

          Reducing the number of cigarette consumers would threaten tobacco/cigarette producers and millions of people whose livelihoods depend on the industries.

          So far, cigarette industries have continued to grow in the country. Indonesia's cigarette production in 2005 was recorded at 221.1 billion pieces. It rose to 240 billion pieces in 2006 and in 2009 it stood at about 260 billion pieces.

          The Indonesian Tobacco Farmers Association (APTI) has also voiced opposition to the  Muhammadiyah's non-smoking edict. "I regret the declaration since it will have a negative impact on the social and economic sectors," APTI chairman Abdus Setyawan, said on Tuesday.

         He argued the decision would affect around 700,000 tobacco farmers nationwide who were planting a total of 200,000 hectares of land with a total production of 160,000-200,000 tons of tobacco per year.

         "The edict is opposed not only by tobacco farmers but also those who work in the cigarette industry," said the Jember district's secretary for tobacco affairs.

         The fatwa will affect not only tobacco farmers and cigarette industries, but also state receipts from cigarettes taxes.

         "Surely it (the edict) will affect the country's excise receipt target. We will see later how significant  its effect is because right now we have not yet calculated it," Director General of Customs and Excise Thomas Sugijata said.

         Thomas said that the directorate general of customs and excises would respect the edict, and would recalculate the potentials of the country's excise receipts if the fatwa is already in force.

         "We have not yet counted it. We will wait for one or two months after the fatwa has come into force before we can make any recalculations," the director general said.

         The target of excise receipts for 2010 is Rp57.29 trillion, the Directorate General of Customs and Excise said in its online report.  The government's receipts from cigarette taxes have continued to increase from year to year. The state income from cigarette taxes in 2006 stood at Rp37 trillion,  which rose to Rp42 trillion in 2007 and  Rp46.5 trillion in 2008.

         However, if the costs for all tobacco-related diseases and other negative impact are taken into account,  the government's spending would be bigger than the amount of the cigarette taxes it is receiving.

         According to the chairman of the National Commission for Tobacco Control, Farid Anfasa Moeloek, who is also a former health minister, smoking has a direct impact on the people's health and on the emergence of social ills  such as drug addiction, alcoholism  and violence.

        The total cost of treatment of tobacco-related diseases and deaths, are higher than the total amount of receipts from tobacco/cigarette taxes. Farid mentioned a study made in 2004 which revealed that the government spent a total of Rp127 trillion in 2001 on treatment of tobacco-related diseases while the cigarette taxes it collected in the same year amounted to Rp16 trillion only.

         "Tobacco consumption costs 7.5 times more than state income from tobacco excises," Farid said.

         Therefore, the lawmaking body of Muhammadiyah, which in 2005 issued a fatwa that smoking was 'makruh' changed its fatwa into haram.

         Muhammadiyah chairman Din Syamsuddin said  the edict on smoking was discussed by Muhammadiyah's lawmaking body (Mejelis Tarjih) and still constituted a legal view. It had not yet become a decision of the Majlis Tarjih which would be effective nationally.

         According to plan, he said, the Central Board of the Majlis Tarjih will discuss the problem at a national meeting so that it could become an official decision by Muhammadiyah as a whole.

         The legal council of the Muhammadiyah organization issued a fatwa last Tuesday (March 9) which stated that smoking, which had caused various negative impacts on the health, social and economic sectors, is haram, or unlawful based on the Islamic law.

    
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(T.A014/A/A014/A/S012) 16-03-2010

OBAMA'S VISIT GETS THUMBS UP, THUMBS DOWN

 By Andi Abdussalam

          Jakarta, March 17 (ANTARA) - Next week's planned visit to  Indonesia of United States President Barack Obama has in the past few weeks sparked pros and cons.

         Those rejecting it said Obama is no different from warmonger George W Bush who has a predisposition for colonizing other nations and dominating other countries' economies.

         Despite opposition from conservatives, however, Obama, who once spent several years of elementary school in Jakarta,  is largely welcomed by the predominantly moderate Muslims in a country of more than 230 million.

         Until Tuesday, rallies still took place in certain regions in Indonesia to protest the upcoming visit of the United State president, such as those organized in West Java and
South Kalimantan.

         Tens of students in Purwakarta district, West Java, took to the streets to protest the visit. "Obama is the leader of a country with a predisposition for colonizing other nations. That's why we are opposed to his visit to Indonesia," Supriadi, one of the demonstrators, said.

         The US was one of the countries oppressing a number of Muslim countries, such as Iraq and Afghanistan. Therefore, Obama did not deserve a welcome. "The US leader is the real terrorist so we must reject his visit," he said.

         In Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, a number of people took to the streets rejecting the visit. The demonstrators from various colleges went to the South Kalimantan legislative council (DPRD) building to express their rejection. They said Obama was no different from George W. Bush, both are warmongers, no policy of Bush had been changed by the current US president.

         Besides, Obama did not deserve a welcome in Indonesia, especially that his visit would foster the economic domination and secular capitalistic system which had caused problems in Indonesia.

         In the meantime,  conservative Islamic organization Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI) said on Tuesday that it rejected Obama's visit, claiming it was aimed only at boosting America's economic interests in Indonesia.

         HTI spokesman Muhamad Ismail Yusanto said the US enjoyed Indonesia's abundant natural resources, with many US oil and mining companies operating in the country. The fact that Obama lived in Jakarta as a child did not warrant special treatment, he added.

         Recently, some 750 clerics (ulamas) of the HTI in East Java also expressed opposition to the US leader's planned tour four three days in Indonesia on March 23-25, 2010.

        "We reject Obama's plan to come to Indonesia since he is the head of a country which has been fighting Muslims in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine and Pakistan," local HTI chairman, Muhammad Abu Syifa, said.

         Abu Syifa said the US is a colonizer country. Accepting Obama in Indonesia would give the US a chance to put its claws in the country, he added. He said that Obama did not have the intention to change his predecessor's policy on Iraq.  In fact, Obama wants to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan.

         The US leader has never expressed his sympathy to the Palestinians in the Gaza strip who were attacked by Israeli troops last year
    Although he is facing rejection by minority conservatives, Obama is welcomed by the country's largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) which claims more than 35 million members, and by the second largest Muhammadiyah which has over 25 million followers.

         The NU on Monday  called on Muslims across the country not to reject US President Barack Obama's visit. "I hope that Indonesian Muslims will not reject Obama's visit to Indonesia. It (the rejection) is against not only the Islamic but also international diplomacy ethics," NU chairman KH Hasyim Muzadi.

         No Islamic teaching allowed its adherents to reject a guest, he said. "The Prophet (Muhammad) himself also had 'diplomatic ties' with adherents of other faiths including Jews," he said explaining that Obama had shown good intention to improve the US ties with the Islamic world.

         "In the US, the  president is definitely the supreme executive authority. But as a democratic state, the US considers the president as not being everything," he said.

         The Muhammadiyah leader also concurred Muzadi's call.

         "We can hold a dialogue during the visit. I believe with a dialogue he could develop better relationship especially with the Islamic world," Din Sjamsuddin, the chief of Muhammadiyah, said.

         In view of that he said President Obama's visit must not be made a problem nor rejected and the Islamic community in particular must welcome him as a guest.

         "According to Islamic teachings welcoming a guest is a good deed. Therefore Obama's arrival must be welcome and accepted like other presidents of other countries," he said.

         Din said he believed President Obama with the planned visit wished to meet part of his election campaign namely to build better relationship with the Islamic world.

         He deplored the stance of several organizations to reject Obama's visit.

         "I hope people would respect and accept the US President. Moreover, Obama also has emotional relationship with Indonesia as he once attended an elementary school in Jakarta," he said. Din said that President Barack Obama's visit to the country later this month is positive because he wants to build better relations with Islam.

         Former Muhammadiyah chairman Syafii Maarif said  Muslims in Indonesia should make use of Obama's visit to channel the hopes and the agenda of Muslims' struggle to obtain justice for the Muslim world.

         "It is only through a dialog and global political cooperation such as with the United States that the interests of the Muslim world can be served," Syafii said.

         While in Indonesia, President Obama is scheduled to also meet and hold discussions with leaders of Islamic groups including chief of the Al Mukmin boarding school in Sukoharjo, Abu Bakar Ba'asyir, according to an ANTARA source.

         In the meantime, the Maarif Institute is planning to hold a public dialog to give a socio-political welcome to US President Barack Oabama.

         The institute's executive director, Fajar Riza Ul Haq, said the public dialog was intended to give a fair judgment and positive welcome to Obama's presence in Indonesia.

      
(T.A014/A/H-GN/f001)

WHT HAPPENS IF A SMOKER COUNTRY GETS NO-SMOKING 'FATWA'?

  By Andi Abdussalam

           Jakarta, March 16 (ANTARA) - Tobacconists, cigarettes makers and even the cabinet member in charge of religious affairs have voiced opposition to an edict or fatwa issued by the country's Muslim organization Muhammadiyah declaring  smoking "haram" or forbidden in Islamic law.

         Considering that it is harmful to people's health and could have other negative impacts on the people's life, the Legal Council (Tarjih) of Muhammadiyah is of the view that smoking is no longer Makruh (should be avoided) but  actually 'haram', or against Islamic law.

         However, smoking is closely linked to the livelihoods of tobacco farmers and cigarette industries so that a 'haram' fatwa on it will, if implemented, affect the livelihoods of millions of people and state income.

         Thus, Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali asked religious organizations to be wise in issuing fatwas that could affect the people's life, particularly  their livelihoods.

         If religious organizations are not wise in issuing  religious edicts they would create unrest in the people's life.

         "Fatwas can affect  many aspects of life, not only religion but also people's  economy. So, I hope that religious organizations will be wise in issuing religious advice because it could have an impact on many sectors. If it impacts on the people's economy it will create unrest," he said in response to  ongoing polemics on the admonition issued by Muhammadiyah's lawmaking body that  smoking was haram.

          Reducing the number of cigarette consumers would threaten tobacco/cigarette producers and millions of people whose livelihoods depend on the industries.

          So far, cigarette industries have continued to grow in the country. Indonesia's cigarette production in 2005 was recorded at 221.1 billion pieces. It rose to 240 billion pieces in 2006 and in 2009 it stood at about 260 billion pieces.

          The Indonesian Tobacco Farmers Association (APTI) has also voiced opposition to the  Muhammadiyah's non-smoking edict. "I regret the declaration since it will have a negative impact on the social and economic sectors," APTI chairman Abdus Setyawan, said on Tuesday.

         He argued the decision would affect around 700,000 tobacco farmers nationwide who were planting a total of 200,000 hectares of land with a total production of 160,000-200,000 tons of tobacco per year.

         "The edict is opposed not only by tobacco farmers but also those who work in the cigarette industry," said the Jember district's secretary for tobacco affairs.

         The fatwa will affect not only tobacco farmers and cigarette industries, but also state receipts from cigarettes taxes.

         "Surely it (the edict) will affect the country's excise receipt target. We will see later how significant  its effect is because right now we have not yet calculated it," Director General of Customs and Excise Thomas Sugijata said.

         Thomas said that the directorate general of customs and excises would respect the edict, and would recalculate the potentials of the country's excise receipts if the fatwa is already in force.

         "We have not yet counted it. We will wait for one or two months after the fatwa has come into force before we can make any recalculations," the director general said.

         The target of excise receipts for 2010 is Rp57.29 trillion, the Directorate General of Customs and Excise said in its online report.  The government's receipts from cigarette taxes have continued to increase from year to year. The state income from cigarette taxes in 2006 stood at Rp37 trillion,  which rose to Rp42 trillion in 2007 and  Rp46.5 trillion in 2008.

         However, if the costs for all tobacco-related diseases and other negative impact are taken into account,  the government's spending would be bigger than the amount of the cigarette taxes it is receiving.

         According to the chairman of the National Commission for Tobacco Control, Farid Anfasa Moeloek, who is also a former health minister, smoking has a direct impact on the people's health and on the emergence of social ills  such as drug addiction, alcoholism  and violence.

        The total cost of treatment of tobacco-related diseases and deaths, are higher than the total amount of receipts from tobacco/cigarette taxes. Farid mentioned a study made in 2004 which revealed that the government spent a total of Rp127 trillion in 2001 on treatment of tobacco-related diseases while the cigarette taxes it collected in the same year amounted to Rp16 trillion only.

         "Tobacco consumption costs 7.5 times more than state income from tobacco excises," Farid said.

         Therefore, the lawmaking body of Muhammadiyah, which in 2005 issued a fatwa that smoking was 'makruh' changed its fatwa into haram.

         Muhammadiyah chairman Din Syamsuddin said  the edict on smoking was discussed by Muhammadiyah's lawmaking body (Mejelis Tarjih) and still constituted a legal view. It had not yet become a decision of the Majlis Tarjih which would be effective nationally.

         According to plan, he said, the Central Board of the Majlis Tarjih will discuss the problem at a national meeting so that it could become an official decision by Muhammadiyah as a whole.

         The legal council of the Muhammadiyah organization issued a fatwa last Tuesday (March 9) which stated that smoking, which had caused various negative impacts on the health, social and economic sectors, is haram, or unlawful based on the Islamic law.

    
(T.A014/A/HAJM/A/S012)
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(T.A014/A/A014/A/S012) 16-03-2010

TERRORISTS KILLED AHEAD OF OBAMA'S VISIT

 By Andi Abdussalam

 

           Jakarta, March 9 (ANTARA) - In the runup to United States President Barack Obama's visit, the Indonesian police have since last week arrested at least 19 suspected terrorists and killed six others, one of whom is believed to be Dulmatin, a highly-wanted  terror suspect.

         The Densus-88 anti-terror police  located and raided a number of terror hideouts in West Java and Jakarta, as well as in Aceh in the western tip of Sumatra, which according to Aceh Governor Irwandi Yusuf, will be used by terrorists as their base in Southeast Asia.

         According to National Police Headquarters Spokesman Inspector General Edward Aritonang, anti-terror police in a number of raids have since last week arrested 14 terror suspects and shot dead three others in Aceh province. They have also arrested four in West Java and  one in Jakarta.

        The most recent case was on Tuesday when the Densus-88 anti-terror unit raided two places in Pamulang subdistrict, South Tangerang city in the province of Banten, near Jakarta.

         On Tuesday, the Densus-88 anti-terror police located  and shot dead three terror suspects in two separate places in South Tangerang. One of the dead victims was believed to be Dulmatin.

         Dulmatin is suspected of involvement in terror movements in Java, Ambon and Poso. One of the men convicted in the 2002 Bali bombing had said Dulmatin made the ingition  devices of  bombs. He is also believed to be responsible for church bombings in Jakarta on Christmas Eve in 2000, and may have helped make the bombs used in an attack on Jakarta's JW Marriott hotel in 2004.

         Head of the National Police headquarters' information division,  Insp. Gen. Edward Aritonang, said that in Pamulang, police raided two places. The first raid was conducted at 11.30 am on an Internet outlet at the Puri Pamulang shophouse complex on Jalan Siliwangi No.6 in Pamulang, in South Tangerang city.

         "The suspect with his initial YI alias M was shot dead after he opened fire at police," Aritonang said. YI alias M was believed to be Dulmatin but police were cautious to produce his identity before a complete identification process was conducted.

          At the scene, police also took into custody a woman with three children because they were at the location during the raid, Aritonang said.

          Besides shooting dead one terror suspect on Jalan Siliwangi, the police at 12.20 am also shot dead two other terror suspects at Jalan Setiabudi No.15, also in Pamulang, South Tangerang city or about several kilometers from the first raid scene.

           Aritonang said  the two dead terror suspects , one of whom was a woman, in Jalan Setiabudi were identified as R and H, while  two others known by their initials as BR alias AH and SB alias I were arrested.

          On the previous day, National Police Chief General Bambang Hendarso Danuri said the police arrested two suspected terrorist fire arms suppliers from Aceh Besar district,  Aceh.  "The two arms dealers were caught in West Java and Jakarta," he said on Monday.

         Danuri said the police already got the identities of those who got away. The police have changed their ways and methods of catching terror suspects after three police officers were killed and ten others injured during raids.

         When they were raided last week, the suspected terrorists were able to shoot death three policemen.

         The two suspects who had been caught, brought the number of suspects already arrested to 19, including the three who were shot dead, while the 14 suspects who were caught last week were held at the Salemba jail, and at the Kelapa Dua dtention center, Depok, West Java.

        During the raid in Aceh, five people, including three policemen, were killed in a firefight with suspected terrorists in Lamkabeu, Aceh Besar district. The killed policemen were second brigadier Darmansyah and second brigadier Hendrik Kusumo from the Mobile Brigade (Brimob) of the Aceh regional police command and first brigadier Boas Waosiri, a member of the Densus 88 police anti-terror unit.

         The two others are believed to be members of the armed group that had clashed with the police whose identities were still unknown.    
    Upon arrival at Bhayangkara Hospital in Banda Aceh all the bodies were taken to the morgue. Newsmen were not allowed to enter the hospital.

         Eleven Brimob members from the Aceh regional police command were taken to the Zainoel Abidin hospital after being wounded in the fight lasting from 2pm to around 6pm local time.

         The fight flared up after Brimob and Densus 88 members besieged a residential area in Lamkabeu since Tuesday (2/3) believed to have been used as a hiding place by an armed group suspected to be part of the Jalin group network in Jantho, capital of Aceh Besar district.

         According to General Bambang Hendarso Danuri, police are still pursuing  at least 30 people suspected of involvement in a terrorist network in Aceh. "More or less 30. Yes, 30 others are still being pursued," he said.

         In the meantime, Aceh Governor Irwandi Yusuf said on Tuesday that terrorists were planning to use Aceh as their base in Southeast Asia. "We have detected that they were building strength to use Aceh as their movement base but only now could we act to arrest them," he said.

         The police success in uncovering and arresting or killing suspected terrorists was made in the runup to  US President Barack Obama's visit to  Indonesia in mid-March 2010. However, it was believed that terrorist activities in Aceh Province did not affect the US President's planned visit.

         "The international world, including the USA has admitted that Indonesia is  consistently fighting  terrorism with qualified personnel," said Anti Terror desk chief of the office of the coordinating minister for political and security affairs , Ansyaad Mbai.

    

(T.A014/A/HAJM/20:15/....  )

PRESIDENT DEFENDS BANK CENTURY BAILOUT

By Andi Abdussalam

          Jakarta, March 1 (ANTARA) - One day before the House of Representatives (DPR) begins its two-day plenary sessions to take a decision on the final views of its factions  in the Bank Century Inquiry Committee, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, when he  met with 30 bankers on Monday, spoke up  to defend the government's move to bail out ailing Bank Century in late 2008.

         The President met about 30 bankers at the Merdeka Palace for a talk about the current economic situation and for obtaining inputs about the Bank Century bailout amounting to Rp6.7 trillion.

         The meeting was held one day ahead of the DPR's plenary sessions which will make a decision regarding the inquiry committee's finding that violations were committed in the disbursement of the bailout.

         Having conducted an investigation  for about two  months, the House Inquiry Committee held a plenary last week to present its final views over the bailout.

         Of the nine factions of the House in the committee, seven  mentioned that violations had been committed with regard to the issuance of the Short-Term Funding Facility (FPJP) and  Temporary Capital Participation (PMS) amounting to Rp6.7 trillion for Bank Century.  
     Only two factions  held  the opinion  that the extension of the FPJP and PMS did not violate any regulation because it was done in accordance with the required procedures. The two factions are the factions of the ruling Democratic Party (PD) and the Nation's Awaking Party (PKB). PKB is one of the parties in PD's ruling coalition partners.

         On the flow of funds from Bank Century, all the nine factions mentioned that violations had been committed, but they differed on who committed the violations.

          Four factions mentioned the names of persons or state officials who were responsible for the violations that had been committed in the Bank Century case, these factions were of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the Golkar Party and the People's Conscience Party (Hanura). PKS and Golkar are partners in the ruling coalition.

         PKS and Golkar had stated that Boediono (former governor of the central bank, now Vice President) and Sri Mulyani (former chief of the Financial System Stability Committee - KSSK) as the most responsible persons in the Century bank case.

         In a meeting with bankers, however, President Yudhoyono said that  the government's decision to bail out  Bank Century in 2008 was correct in that it had saved the national economy and banks from the impact of the global financial crisis. He was ready to take responsibility for the decision to inject Rp6.7 trillion into the failed bank to prevent it from total collapse.

         "I say that what was done to save our economy and the banking sector was right. As a policy, a measure to save the economy and the banking sector, it was correct and I am responsible for it although in terms of technical operations it was done  by state officials in charge of financial affairs based on the law. Although I did not specifically issue an instruction or  directive to bail out the bank, I justified the actions taken to that effect," he said.

         In the meantime, former chief of the KSSK Sri Mulyani Indrawati, who is also the finance minister,  also defended the government's bailout of  Bank Century saying that all parties should  accept the decision because it was done to save the national economy. She said the bailout was justified based on credible reasons and prudently decided in response to the global economic crisis.

         Sri Mulyani said, from the beginning, the head of state had confirmed that the government's decision about the troubled bank was right. "What bankers have conveyed gives a kind of relief that the measures taken by the government have been able to give stability in the financial field but it was expensive," she said after a meeting with the House Budget Committee on Monday.

         Bankers during the meeting with the president stated that the government's decision to take over Bank Century in the midst of global financial crisis in 2008 was correct.

         According to President Yudhoyono, although the decision was taken while he was abroad it was actually not necessary for the state officials concerned to ask for his approval to do it as by law the finance minister and the central bank governor had the authority to do it and had to do it quickly.

         President Yudhoyono said the decision to bail out the bank was preferred above another option, namely closing the bank at the cost of around Rp6 trillion to repay  third party funds.

         "The options were closing the Century Bank and paying  Rp6 trillion or bailing it out with Rp6.7 trillion with the management being taken over, and the possibility of the funds being recovered," he said.

         In the meantime, the House Bank Century Inquiry Committee  is to present three alternative recommendations  to the House's plenary where the House  is to decide its stance on the controversial case on Tuesday.

         The  head of the committee's team tasked with formulating  the committee's conclusions and recommendations, Mahfudz Siddiq, said at a plenary meeting of the committee on Monday that "this is the best result  the team can  achieve."
      He said the three alternative recommendations are 'Alternative A' which consists of seven conclusions and six recommendations, 'Alerantive B' of 17 conclusions and six recommendations and 'Alternative C' of four conclusions and five recommendations.

           The three alternatives  were formulated  after several negotiations with a consequence of distortions on party factions' differing views particularly on the Short-term Funding Facility (FPJP) and the temporary capital participation (PMS).

           Mahfud said when the team was formed some had suggested that it  would later produce only one conclusion and one recommendation. However after discussions the idea could not be realized due to fundamental differences, he said.

    

(T.A014/A/HAJM/23:10/a014)

(T.A014/A/A014/A/A014) 01-03-2010 23:15