| By Andi Abdussalam |
Jakarta, Feb 24 (ANTARA) - Two press bodies, the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) and the Press Council, have offered mediation efforts to settle the polemics between State Secretary Dipo Alam and three media organizations over Dipo's statement to boycott them. "We are ready to mediate this problem. We hope they are prepared to be mediated and have a tripartite meeting," Deputy Chairman of the Press Council Bambang Harimurti said after a discussion on boycott threat to media organizations on Thursday. The same offer was also made by the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) on Wednesday. "KPI is prepared to facilitate a meeting between the government and the media organizations so that they would discuss their problems," KPI commissioner Idy Muzayyad said. The cabinet secretary made a controversial statement on Monday which sparked reactions and regretted by various circles ranging from politicians, communications experts, activists to senior journalists. Dipo stated on Monday that he would ordered government agencies to boycott certain media organizations so that they would not put ads on them because they often made imbalanced reports and vilified the government. The threat of boycott is apparently addressed to national private television stations Metro TV and TVOne as well as the Media Indonesia daily. Metro TV and Media Indonesia which are grouped in the Media Group said on Wednesday they had sent a subpoena to the cabinet secretary in connection with his statement they considered as an attempt to put shackles on and silence the press. "We are calling on Dipo Alam to offer an apology to the public and withdraw his statement he made on February 21, 2011," Media Group lawyer OC Kaligis said. Dipo Alam was given a 3x24 hour deadline to apologize to the public and to withdraw his statement, or else the Media Group will take the legal avenue. "If he does not apologize and withdraw the statement, we will take the legal avenue," OC Kaligis said. He said Dipo in his statement violated an article in Law No. 40 /1999 on the press, which is punishable by two years in jail and a fine of Rp500 million. He said that it was inappropriate for Dipo to make the statement threatening the freedom of the press as one of the pillars of democracy. Dipo's statement triggered criticisms from various circles. At a hearing with Commission II on home affairs, Dipo was grilled by lawmakers. "Your statement on media boycott is inappropriate because the media is one of the pillars of democracy in Indonesia ," legislator Nurul Arifin of the Golkar Party faction said. Coordinator of the Indonesia Clean Movement (GIB) Adhie M Massadi accused Dipo of having made the statement with the knowledge of the president. He said that the statement was the voice of the government. "Dipo has made the statement with only two possibilities, namely at the instruction of the president or at his knowledge," Adhie said. Petition-28 activist Haris Rusli Moti said that Dipo as a state official had set a bad example for democracy in Indonesia. Therefore, Petition-28 activists, he said, reported Dipo to the Press Council. Not only that, senior journalists also criticized the cabinet secretary for his statement. "I deplored it. He may say he does not like this or that but must not give a verdict. The call for a boycott is a verdict and it harasses press freedom," senior journalist Fikri Jufri said at the Indonesian Journalist Association (PWI) building here on Thursday. "I wish it was just a "slip of the tongue" because I know Dipo Alam who was then a student activist of state University of Indonesia," he said. He said he had known Dipo Alam since the late Ali Sadikin as a Jakarta governor. At the time Dipo Alam was one of the student activists that protested the government's policy and supported Ali Sadikin. Senior journalist Rosihan Anwar meanwhile said he did not share Dipo Alam's view that the press is a power stakeholder. He said the orientation of the press is not power. "The press is not a power as power is identical with politics. Politics about power is ability to control government, force will, mobilize police force. The press is not like that," he said. He said the press does not have power to force its will because its job is mere gathering information and seeking access to information to spread it to the public. The press does not have an authority to impose its will on the people. Culturalist Arswendo Atmowiloto shared Rosihan saying that "the press is often called a bee without a sting." "We are ready to mediate this problem. We hope they are prepared to be mediated and have a tripartite meeting," Bambang Harimurti. He said that Dipo Alam had stated he was ready for the mediation effort but the Press Council was still to send invitations to the three media organizations. "Mediation needs agreement between the two sides. So, we would ask the media organizations first whether or not they are prepared to be mediated," Bambang said. In the meantime, Dipo Alam said he was ready for the mediation and was not willing to let the problem be prolonged. "I hope it would stop until here, I am prepared for a mediation by the Press Council," he said. He said that his side had not yet carried out the boycott threat and stressed that his statement was actually intended to criticize the media so that it would not become a means of tyranny. "There is no media organization that has been boycotted by ads. Why I should offer an apology. I just criticize them so that the media would not become tyrant," the cabinet secretary said. |
Kamis, 24 Februari 2011
POLEMICS OVER MEDIA BOYCOTT THREAT
Selasa, 22 Februari 2011
LEGISLATORS FAIL TO PASS TAX MAFIA INQUIRY MOTION
| By Andi Abdussalam |
Jakarta, Feb 22 (ANTARA) - The initiators of the tax mafia inquiry failed to win the House approval in its plenary on Tuesday after 264 lawmakers voted for while 266 others voted against the motion. The tax mafia inquiry motion has been proposed as part of the efforts of legislators to investigate alleged tax mafia cases and flows of defrauded taxes that caused an annual loss of about Rp300 trillion to the state. "Of the 530 House members who are present, 264 voted for the motion and 266 voted against it. Thus, the tax mafia inquiry motion is rejected," DPR Speaker Marzuki Alie said when closing the plenary meeting on Tuesday. The initiators submitted the tax mafia inquiry motion to the House of Representatives early this month and was signed by 111 lawmakers. It was submitted by its initiators such as legislators Bambang Soesatyo and Nudirman Munir of the Golkar Party faction, Trimedya Panjaitan of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) faction, Ahmad Yani of the United Development Party (PPP) and Lily Wahid of the National Awakening Party (PKB). Initially, the initiators of the inquiry motion were optimistic that the House would accept the proposal because it would investigate alleged tax mafia cases and defrauded taxes. According to Ahmad Yani of the PPP faction, leakage of the state revenues from the tax sector is estimated to amount to Rp300 trillion per year. This figure is quite big as it accounts for 30 percent of the state budget. "If this leakage could be stopped Indonesia would be able to carry out better development and need not borrow money from abroad," he said. Yet, it turned out that the House rejected it. Of the nine party factions in the House, five rejected with 266 votes and four voted for it with 264 votes. Earlier, the decision was made through an open voting. In the voting, a total of 145 members of the Democrat Party (PD) faction were present and all voted against the proposal. The National Mandate Party (PAN) faction members attending the voting totaled 43 and all voted against the proposal. The United Development Party (PPP) faction members who were present numbered 26 legislators, all of whom also agreed to reject the inquiry proposal. Of the 28 members of the National Awakening Party (PKB) faction, 26 rejected the inquiry. A total of 26 members of Gerindra (Great Indonesian Movement Party) faction were present and all rejected the proposal. In the meantime, a total of 106 members of the Golkar faction took part in the voting, all of whom were solid to vote for the motion. So was the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) where 84 of its members were present and voted for the move. The same acceptance also came from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) faction where 56 of its members voted for the motion. Sixteen legislators from the People's Conscience Party (Hanura) all voted for the inquiry proposal. With regard to the rejection of the inquiry committee motion, the Golkar Party Faction (FPG) chairman, Setya Novanto, apologized to the Indonesian people for his party's defeat in the voting. "F-PG thanked the Indonesian people, particularly the PDIP, Hanura and PKS which had done various attempts to support the motion. On behalf of the Golkar Party, I apologize to the Indonesian people for the fact that we were defeated in the voting," FPG Chairman Setya Novanto said after the plenary. Setya said that Golkar would soon carry out thorough evaluation on the government. His colleague, Ade Komaruddin who is also FPG secretary said when he read Golkar's political statement that the inquiry motion was submitted not for discrediting individuals. "But it is merely intended to make improvement in the national taxation system particularly in the state revenue sector," said Ade adding that reforms in the national taxation system as a source of income for the state needed to be carried out. Taxation system reforms since 1983 have not yet been able to solve the taxation problem comprehensively. "So far we are not yet able to comprehensively solve the taxation system," he said. The tax cases involving former taxman Gayus Tambunan or Bahasyim indicated the leakage in the taxation sector required the tax systems should be improved comprehensively. Yet, the attempt to set up an inquiry committee on tax mafia has been aborted at the plenary meeting of the House. According to Ichsanuddin Noorsy, an observer of the Indonesian Political and Economic Association, the House rejection of the inquiry motion was proof of the strong lobbying by big tax dodger companies, including transnational firms, in the House of Representatives. "This rejection will adversely perpetuate the exploitation of Indonesia's economy by transnational companies through tax evasion which would also maintain the tax mafia modus operandi. The statement that the inquiry would cause damage to the investment climate well explains that indeed taxes have been manipulated," Ichsanuddin Noorsy said. |
GOVT TO ACCELERATE INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
| By Andi Abdussalam |
Jakarta, Feb 22 (ANTARA) - The government will accelerate the realization of infrastructure projects worth US$90 billion as part of its efforts to integrate the country's six economic growth corridors, to offset inflation and boost finished goods exports. In essence, the government wishes to accelerate and expand economic development in which all sectors and development focuses are integrated regionally. In the future, exports will be carried out in the form of finished goods. "We do not want to only export raw materials. Each region must have a prime product. Therefore infrastructure and manufacturing development will be done based upon regional potentials," Chief Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa said on Monday. He said that the funds that have been discussed several times amounted to US$90 billion to be put in infrastructure, airports, and railway and toll road development. "That is what is meant by acceleration," the chief economic minister said. In that way, the government hopes that inflation could be offset and economic growth could be boosted. If the best scenario is implemented, the Indonesian economy could grow by 7.1 percent to 7.6 percent during the 2011 - 2014 periods. It even has the potential to reach 8 percent in accordance with expectation if infrastructure is improved. "If the participation of the private sector in the development of infrastructure could reach 50 percent of the needed investment, and the government increase increases its spending for transportation infrastructure to 20 percent, the matter (8 percent growth) could be reached," Fauzi Ichsan, senior economist of Standard Chartered Bank, said. He said that toll roads, electricity plants and ports were among the infrastructure facilities that needed to be improved. After all, the development of infrastructure in the last decade had run very slowly and depended on the government budget. "The government is not yet able to allocate the needed funds while the participation of the private sector is still beyond expectation," Fauzi said. Moreover, the lack of infrastructure is the main factor causing investors to be reluctant to make their investment in Indonesia. Fauzi listed six points that discouraged investors, namely legal uncertainty or corruption, regional autonomy, insufficient infrastructure, labor affairs, taxes and import duties. In addition, the distribution of national land transportation system remains imbalanced while the development carried out on the islands outside Java is still below their real potentials. "Compared with those of its ASEAN neighbors, Indonesia's ports are outdated and are overloaded so that they place Indonesia in a less competitive position in the face of international trade," said Fauzi. At the same time, land transportation infrastructure, such as roads, toll roads, railways and bridges are still concentrated in Java. "Java is resided by 59 percent of the population and accounts for 7 percent of the country's land areas but it only contributes about 58 percent to the country's gross domestic products (GDP)," he said. Therefore, Indonesia needs to overcome its infrastructure constraints to assure the growth of its economy based on its potentials --namely to grow by about 8 percent per annum-- and to contain inflation in line with efforts to push down prices to a level equal to those in other countries in Southeast Asia. Therefore, according to Chief Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa, the government is planning to accelerate Indonesian economic development through six economic growth corridors that would integrate economic development in Sumatra, Kalimantan, Java, Bali, Nusa Tenggara, Sulawesi, North Maluki, Papua and Maluku. "There are three pillars in the corridors namely infrastructure, connectivity and human resource development and science and technology development," Hatta Rajasa said. Regarding the implementation of the government plan, Hatta said a team would be established to monitor the implementation and problems met during the process so that they could be settled quickly and correctly. "There will be task forces assigned based on corridors in which there are also sectors," he said. Hatta said in the economic acceleration program there are eight main programs and 17 main economic activities. The eight programs include industry, agriculture, mining, energy, marines, tourism, information and telecommunication and strategic zone development. The 18 activities meanwhile cover manufacturing industry involving products such as steel commodities, food and drinks and other commodities, mining that includes nickel, copper and other commodities. In the infrastructure development, Industry Minister MS Hidayat has offered Japanese companies cooperation to develop infrastructure facilities in the country's six economic corridors. The minister offered the cooperation during a meeting with Japanese businessmen grouped in the Japanese chamber of commerce (Keidanren) at his office last week. "We plan to develop infrastructures along Jabodetabek (Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang and Bekasi), ranging from Cikarang, Karawang to Banten so that we will have complete infrastructures," he said. He said the ministry would discuss cooperation priorities with Keidanren to develop the infrastructures. "We also promoted industrial clusters that need Japanese investment in the energy field," he said. Earlier, Japanese business leaders grouped in the Keidanren led by its, Hiromasa Yonekura, have reaffirmed their commitment to helping the Indonesian government implement its infrastructure development program as part of the ASEAN-Indonesia connectivity system. In a meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who was accompanied by Hatta Rajasa last week, the Japanese business leaders expressed their commitment to the development of priority metropolitan area as one of the Indonesian development corridors. "The President presents five areas where cooperation needs to be increased namely transportation, food sector, renewable energy development including geothermal, environment and power plants," Hatta said. |
Kamis, 17 Februari 2011
STATE FIRMS TO PUSH UP CAPEX TO RP380 TRILLION
| By Andi Abdussalam |
Jakarta, Feb 17 (ANTARA) - State-owned enterprises (SOEs), as one of the country's economic pillars besides private companies and cooperatives, are playing an increasingly significant role in national economic development through their upward performance and financial contributions to the state. The increasing role of state-owned companies is reflected in their performance which has been improving steadily, as well in their financial contributions to the state which in 2010 stood at Rp132.6 trillion (in the form of dividends, taxes and privatization). Besides, state-owned firms in 2010 also made indirect contributions to national development in the form of capital expenditure worth Rp197 trillion and operational expenditure valued at Rp932 trillion. Therefore, to increase their contribution to national development, their capital expenditure would be further pushed up. The government through the Ministry of State Enterprises (BUMN) is ready to push state firm to increase their capital expenditure to the level of Rp380 trillion in the next four years. Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa said the BUMNs' capital expenditure in 2011 would reach Rp380 trillion which would go to business expansion to meet the needs for an economic corridor development program. However state companies that are just conducting restructuring certainly would not be forced to increase their capital expenditure but those that have been healthy and have the potential to rise would be encouraged. Hatta Rajasa said he was optimistic there would be a leap in the growth of capital expenditure of the BUMNs in line with their increasing financial performance. "The potential to raise capital expenditure may be gained from reduction of operational costs," he said. According to State Enterprise Minister Mustafa Abubakar, right now the operational expenditure of all SOEs is bigger than their capital expenditure. "The National Economic Committee thinks if the SOEs could increase their capital expenditure more new jobs would be created," Mustafa said. In view of that he said he would conduct kind of elaboration on the budget and capital capacity of each SOE to invest. "The deputies are still recording the SOEs that are potential to increase their capital expenditure," he said. Mustafa Abubakar said that Rp380 trillion was the consolidated amount and it was hoped it would come from 60 to 70 percent of SOEs that are in good financial conditions. He said in the 2011 corporate working budget plan (RKAP) the capital expenditure of all BUMNs was expected to reach Rp210 trillion, up from Rp196.91 trillion last year. Meanwhile, their operational expenditure was expected to reach Rp1,929.87 trillion, up from Rp932.15 trillion last year. According to the minister the performance of state-owned firms has continued to increase as evident in the increase in their contribution to the state. "In general the performance of state-owned enterprises is encouraging. This is regardless of the fact that improvements still have to be made, yet state enterprises are able to serve as the motor of national economic development," the minister said in a recent reflection on state firms during a coffee morning of SOE Executive Club here recently. Mustafa told about 50 SOE directors and commissioners that the contribution of state firms to the state comprised of dividends worth Rp29.9 trillion, taxes Rp100.6 trillion and proceeds of privatization worth Rp2.1 trillion. In the meantime, the state companies? contribution to the economy as a whole can include the market capitalization of 17 state firms in December 2010 which reached Rp819 trillion, or accounting for 26 percent of the whole capitalization in the Indonesian stock exchange. SOEs also provided indirect contribution to the national development in the form of capital expenditure of 142 state firms worth Rp197 trillion , operational expenditure Rp932 trillion, partnership and environment development scheme Rp2.7 trillion, smallholder?s credit scheme (KUR) distribution Rp16.4 trillion and public service obligation (PSO)201.3 trillion. "This contribution will still increase because not all of the SOEs, particularly those listed in the capital market, have published their financial reports," the minister said. In 2010, state-owned firms? total assets were projected to reach Rp2,382 trillion, which significantly increased from Rp2,234 trillion in 2009. At the same time, their net profits were estimated at Rp100 trillion which increased from Rp88.05 trillion in 2009. "After taking into account the performance of all publicly listed state-owned firms in the fourth quarter of 2010, the total of their income would reach Rp1,037 trillion, increasing from Rp987.37 trillion in 2009," he said. As part of the efforts to increase their performance state-owned companies are also encouraged to go public. Chief Economic Minister Hata Rajasa said the government would not restrain state-owned companies from going public. "There will be no limitations for SOEs to conduct IPO," he said here on Monday. He said the government would encourage SOEs to go public because it would give a positive impact not only to the companies. "SOEs that go public will be encouraged to be healthy because they will be scrutinized by the public and their financial reports will be audited," he said. |
Minggu, 13 Februari 2011
CONSUMERS WANT TO KNOW BRANDS OF TAINTED BABY MILK
| By Andi Abdussalam |
Jakarta, Feb 14 (ANTARA) - The House of Representatives (DPR) and the National Consumer Protection Agency (BPKN) have urged the government to make public the brands of infant milk, whose samples according to tests conducted between 2003 and 2006, contained Enterobacter Sakazakii bacteria which could attack infant's brain membranes and digestive tissues. The Bogor-based Institute of Agriculture (IPB) conducted tests on the samples of infant formula milk taken between 2003 and 2006 and found that 20 percent of the samples were contaminated by sakazakii bacteria. However, the brands of the tainted milk have never been made public. This reason has led David Tobing, a resident, to sue the IPB at the Supreme Court, demanding that IPB release the brands of the spoiled milk. The Supreme Court in 2010 ruled in favor of David and issued a verdict ordering the Health Ministry, the Food and Drug Supervision Agency (BPOM) and IPB to announce the brands of the contaminated milk. Yet, the brand names of the baby milk remained unknown to the public and caused unrest among mothers whose babies consume formula milk. Therefore, the DPR urged the government to announce the names of the tainted milk. "We urged parties mentioned in the Supreme Court's verdict to immediately made public the results of the IPB research on formula infant milk which was circulated in the market within the period of 2003 and 2006 ," Ribka Tjiptaning, chairwoman of the House's Commission IX on health affairs said on Sunday. She said that it was clear in the Supreme Court's verdict that the ministry of health, BPOM and IPB were obliged to make public the milk brands. But up to now, parties mentioned in the verdict have not done so. There is an impression that the parties mentioned by the Supreme Court verdict were reluctant to obey the legal decision. "Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih adversely talked a lot about things that were safe from the danger of sakazakii bacteria and claimed her side was not informed of the brands of milk suspected to have contained the bacteria," Tjiptaning said. On the other hand, instead of announcing the brands of milk said to be contaminated, the BPOM has been busy talking about the results of its recent tests on the same products circulating in the 2008 - 2010 period, which it said had no contamination. The IPB also remains silent over the results of its study which found that the samples of infant milk it took in 2003 - 2006 were contaminated by sakazakii bacteria. Leaders of IPB also tightly keep themselves silent, even if demand for the publication of the results of its study is increasing. The demand for the publication of the IPB finding also came from the National Consumers Protection Agency (BPKN). "We have sent a letter to the relevant ministry and IPB asking them to disclose to the public the brands of the milk said to be contaminated by enterobacter sakazakii bacteria," BPKN chairperson Suarhatini Hadad said. She said that actually it was not too important now to announce the contaminated brands because according to the latest test by the BPOM all brands of formula milks circulating in the market are free from the bacteria, but for the sake of clarification to the public the BPKN called on the relevant institutions to announced them. The Indonesia Consumers Institute Foundation (YLKI) concurred with the BPKN opinion, saying that clarifications made by the BPOM were actually already enough. "Clarifications by the BPOM were enough for those consuming milk now, yet for those who consumed the milk when study was conducted may need explanations. The governmet should explain the short-and-long term impacts of consuming it. If it has no impact, the people need not worry about it," YLKI chairperson Husna Zahir said. The test conducted by the BPOM on the samples of the same product taken from 2008 to 2011 did not find any contamination by sakazakii bacteria. Of the samples, 96 were taken in March 2008, 11 in 2009, 99 in 2010 and 18 samples were taken until February 2011. "It is no longer relevant to talk about brands of 2003-2006. Yet, to eliminate concern among parents whose infants consume formula milk, the government must focus on explaining the impact of the bacteria on the development of babies," said Husna. Previously, Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih has explained that cases related to infections by Enterobacter Sakazakii bacteria are rare, where the World Health Organization (WHO) only recorded 48 infants infected with the bacteria within the period of 1961 and 2003. "We have no report on the case so far in Indonesia," the minister told the press last week. She said that Sakazakii bacteria were particularly dangerous to infants aged below 28 days, born with low weights, born prematurely and those with unstable conditions. The bacteria can easily be killed in 15 seconds with hot water of about 70 degrees Celsius. Thus, if infants are to be fed with formula milk, mothers should use boil water and sterile bottles. Minister Endang Sedyaningsih said that good preparation would decrease the risk of bacteria infection in babies. "The bacteria can live in a dry product, but will die if exposed to heat of 70 degrees Celsius for 15 seconds," she said. (T.A014/A/HAJM/12:55/f001) 14-02-2011 12:57 |
Jumat, 11 Februari 2011
GOVT TO DISBAND ANARCHIC ORGANIZATIONS
| By Andi Abdussalam |
Jakarta, Feb 11 (ANTARA) - In response to this week's two violent acts which led to the death of three Ahmadis and the destruction of three churches, the government is now making an inventory to disband anarchic mass and non-governmental organizations. "We will not tolerate anarchic organizations. Those who committed violations will be acted upon based on the law in force, no matter who they are," Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi said. The disbandment of anarchic organizations can be carried out on their local branches or on their central executive boards, depending on where the violations they have committed. The district head will the duty to freeze or disband a mass organization which violated regulations in the district level, the governor would do so if the violation was committed in the provincial level and the central government would take action against those which violated regulations in the national level. According to Minister of Law and Human Rights Patrialis Akabar, anarchic mass organizations (Ormas) and non-governmental organizations (NGO) could be disbanded if they committed anarchic acts that disadvantaged the people and state. "Ormas or NGO which commit violent acts could be dissolved by apparatuses in the fields," the minister said here on Friday. He said the disbandment of a mass organization or a non-governmental organization would be done by the ministry of home affairs while their legal status by the ministry of law and human rights. Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi said his side was collecting data and evidence on mass organizations which had committed violence and disturbed public order. Those which were proved to have committed violence and disturbed security as well as public order would be acted upon based on the law in force. The sanctions to be taken ranging from lenient to the heaviest one, which is the disbandment of the organizations concerned. "I have ordered the directorate general for unity and political affairs to coordinate with police and the prosecutor's office to collect data on those which so far have been proven to have committed violations. We will make an inventory and evaluation based on their respective scale," the home affairs minister said. He said that the district head would freeze or disband a mass organizations which violated regulations in the district level, the governor would do so if the violation was committed in the provincial level and the central government would take action against those which violated the regulations in the national level. The minister said that if an organization still committed violation even if it had been frozen, then it would be disbanded. "We will not tolerate anarchic organizations. Those who committed violations will be acted upon based on the law in force, no matter who they are," the minister said. Law No. 8 / 1985 on Societal Organizations has regulated the disbandment of a mass organization which violated regulations. Based on the law, the government can freeze the central executive board of a mass organization of it carries out activities which disturb security and public order. In the meantime, the Jakarta police said they were ready to execute any decision made by the government regarding organizations that often resort to violence. "We are ready to enforce any decision now still being discussed by state officials," the Jakarta Police's public relations officer, Senior Commissioner Baharudin Djafar, said. The Jakarta police could not as yet take any action with regard to the organization considered having been anarchic as they were still waiting for a decision to be made by ministers and other officials concerned. Police do not have the authority to dissolve an organization. But the Jakarta police had developed communication informally with a number of mass organizations to recognize their identities. The discussion over the future of anarchic organizations was done following the attack on Ahmadiyah minority Islamic sect in Cikeusik, Pandeglang, Banten, on Sunday that left three people dead. Two churches meanwhile had been burned and another one vandalized during rioting in Temanggung, Central Java, on Tuesday, over dissatisfaction over a sentence to a defendant in a blasphemy case. Earlier, different quarters have called on the government to dissolve violent organizations. Deputy Chairman of the Regional Representative Council (DPD) Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Hemas urged the government disband anarchic organizations. "Law enforcers must soon implement the president's instruction to dissolve mass organizations which committed violations," Gusti Kanjeng Ratu Hemas said at the parliament building here on Thursday. She made the remarks in response the violent acts committed by groups of people who attacked followers of the Ahmadiyah Islamic sect in Bandeglang, Banten, on Sunday and churches in Temanggung, Central Java last Tuesday. The same call was also raised by legal and political observer Nicolaus Pira Bunga of the University of Nusa Cendana, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara. Nicolaus said that Police Chief Timur Pradopo should immediately disband should mass organizations which obviously acted under the name of a religion to attack followers of other religion. "President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has sent a clear sign for the disbandment of such organizations, but police were less responsive so that violence like that in Banten and Central Java," Nocolaus said. He said that mass organizations or community groups who resorted to violence must be thoroughly investigated and dissolved. However, human right activists did not support the disbandment of such an organization, saying the dissolve of an organization was not a solution to solve violence. "The suggestion of President Yudhoyono for the dissolution of anarchic organizations is not unusual because the matter has become the people's aspiration since long ago," M Ridha Saleh, commissioner of the National Human Rights Commission (Komans Ham) said. He said that the government should think carefully before disbanding an organization because it was not a good solution. It should find a correct solution to solve the essence of violence. So far, violence in Indonesia has happened not incidentally, it always has a background. "The government has to find and solve this," he said. |
Selasa, 08 Februari 2011
PEOPLE CONDEMN ATTACK ON CHURCHES
| By Andi Abdussalam |
Jakarta, Feb 8 (ANTARA) - Various quarters have condemned Tuesday's attack on houses of worship in the Central Java city of Temanggung where three churches were destroyed and nine people were injured (four seriously) by a group of people who were dissatisfied with the prosecution's sentencing demand for a defendant in a religious blasphemy case. Condemnations among others came from youths, religious leaders, state officials and the president who asked that the perpetrators should be brought to justice immediately because their anarchic acts could fuel wide spread violence. "Religious issues are sensitive. The faiths of both the minority and the majority should be respected," Cabinet Secretary Dipo Alam said in an short text message to ANTARA. General chairman of GP Ansor, the youth wing of the country's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), Nusron Wahid condemned the attack. "Houses of prayers are scared places for followers of a religion. It is our obligation to protect houses of worship from disturbance, no matter from whom or from where it comes," Nusron Wahid said on Tuesday. Groups of people took to the street and torched two churches and vandalized another one in Temanggung on Tuesday because they were dissatisfied with the five-year jail term demanded by prosecutors for Antonius Richmond Bawengan, the defendant in a religious blasphemy case in the local district court. Antonius has been detained since last October when he was arrested for distributing books and pamphlets containing materials insulting Muslims. Nusron said the riot was a barbaric act and intolerable, legally and morally, in a country where religion and morality play a significant role in the people's life. "There is no single religion which tolerates anarchic acts even if they are committed in the name of religion," Nusron said. He said that the state should not be helpless in protecting its citizens, let alone if it only faces a group of people who committed anarchic acts on the pretext of implementing a religious order. "This should serve as a serious correction for the state and its apparatuses. On Sunday followers of the Ahmadiyah were killed but were ignored. Now churches were set ablaze. So, where is the state protection against citizens' civil rights, properties and after all houses of worship?," he questioned. On Sunday, three followers of the Ahmadiah Islamic sect were killed when they were attacked by thousands of local residents in Pandeglang district, Banten province. Religious leaders also condemned the attack on houses of prayers in Central Java's Temanggung city. Priest Rawis MTh of the Betel Indonesia Church in Manado, North Sulawesi urged the government to thoroughly investigate the destruction churches in Central Java because the perpetrators of the incident disturbed religious harmony. "Anger should not always be aimed at houses of worship because such an act is an intolerable form of deed," Rawis said. He said that the Indonesian people should respect the plurality of religions existing in Indonesia. "Religious plurality is a form of religious diversity that should be respected and preserved, not disturbed," Rawis said. Therefore, Chairman of the executive board of NU, Said Aqil Siroj, called on the government to be more serious in protecting citizens from violence which of late often took place such as that in Pandeglang which claimed the lives of three Ahmadiyah followers. "The state is obliged to protect every citizen. It should take firm action against perpetrators in accordance with the law in force," Siroj said. He said that security officers were very slow in anticipating violent cases within society. "I regret police for not been able to act fast, even if they are smart, have the facility and intelligence networks," he said. Secretary General of the Ministry of Religious Affairs Bahrul Hayat also deplored the attack on the churches in Temanggung, saying it could have wide implications. "We deplored the incident. No one would like such an unlawful deed to happen," he said. He said that blasphemy of religions and their symbols with certain motives would have implications and wide reactions to religious followers. "We call on the people to realize that religions and their symbols are sensitive matters. It would draw strong reactions if there is a party who tries to insult or offend them," he said. In the meantime, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has also denounced the anarchic acts, according to Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto. He said that the president has ordered the Central Java Police chief to investigate the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice. "The president also instructed that those involved in the anarchic acts be processed based on the law soon," he said. The president also instructed security officers and regional government officials to increase their detection efforts, take preventive measures and firm actions against the perpetrators of the anarchic acts. "The incident should thoroughly be investigated and those behind it should be acted upon firmly," the chief security minister said. In the meantime, the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) deployed officers to help maintain peace after clashes in Temanggung. "There are about 700 military officers who are deployed to help maintain peace in Temanggung," National Police Spokesman Senior Commissioner Boy Rafli Amar said. He said that in order to provide preventive efforts the TNI was involved in safeguarding the Central Java city of Temanggung. The police spokesman said that the incident was linked to sensitive religious issues (SARA) so that everybody was expected to play a role (in preventing the spread of the violence). "We know the potential of a SARA conflict where this issue is extremely sensitive so that it is necessary to call on the people to maintain peace and preserve conducive conditions," he said. |
Kamis, 03 Februari 2011
TAX MAFIA INQUIRY MOTION GAINING MORE SUPPORTERS
| By Andi Abdussalam |
Jakarta, Feb 3 (ANTARA) - Initiators are optimistic that the House of Representatives (DPR) will pass a House inquiry committee motion they are proposing to investigate alleged tax mafia and flows of defrauded taxes that caused an annual loss of about Rp300 trillion to the state. "Five factions of the DPR have thrown their support behind the tax inquiry motion so that we are optimistic that the proposal to form an inquiry committee would be endorsed by the DPR in the plenary," Syarifuddin Sudding of the People's Conscience Party (Hanura) who is also one of the initiators said. The initiators on Wednesday submitted the tax mafia inquiry motion signed by 111 lawmakers to the House of Representatives and received by Deputy House Speaker Priyo Budi Santoso. It was submitted by its initiators such as legislators Bambang Soesatyo and Nudirman Munir of the Golkar Party faction, Trimedya Panjaitan of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) faction, Ahmad Yani of the United Development Party (PPP) and Lily Wahid of the National Awakening Party (PKB). It was the second time the proposal for the establishment of the tax mafia inquiry committee motion was submitted to the House. On Monday, January 24 last month, the initiators submitted the proposal which was signed by 30 legislators of the nine House factions to the House leadership. However, when the House leadership was about to hold a meeting to take a decision on the proposal, seven signatories from the ruling Democrat Party (PD) withdrew their support. Therefore, the House leadership returned the proposal to its initiators to increase the number of its supporters or risk being dropped. After all, two others followed their colleagues to withdraw support, namely one from the Democrat Party and two from the PKB. Now that the number of its supporters has risen to 111, the proposal was submitted again and its initiators expressed optimism to win House approval. "After verification we found that a number of 111 legislators from eight House factions have put their signatures and supported the proposal," Syarifuddin Sudding said. He said that the 111 lawmakers excluded the 10 House members who have withdrawn their support, namely eight from the Democrat Party and two from the PKB. "Today there are 111 lawmakers who have supported the proposal from various factions and we have submitted it to the House leadership," Sudding said. The largest number of supporters came from the Golkar Party faction (FPG) namely 78 lawmakers. The second largest came from the PDIP faction (14), PKS (9), PPP (2), National Mandate Party (PAN) and PKB respectively one, Hanura (8) and the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) two members. Sudding said that FPG had informed that all of its members would support the motion, and so would the PDIP faction. He said five of the nine factions in the House had expressed support to the motion. The five factions are FPG with total members of 106, PDIP faction (94), Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) faction (57), Gerindra faction (26) and Hanura faction(17). "We are optimistic the House will pass the motion as it has won the support of five factions in the House," he added. He said that if five factions fully support the proposal it meant that the move would get support from 310 House members. There is still additional support from individuals who do not involve their factions. Sudding said that the tax mafia inquiry motion was submitted to the House with an enclosed document on the audit results of the State Audit Board (BPK) on six tax-payer firms believed to have defrauded taxes. "We are thankful to the Working Committee on Taxation of the House Commission XI who has asked the BPK to conduct an investigative auditing on tax payers," Sudding said. Trimedya Panjaitan of the PDIP faction said the aim of legislators in proposing the inquiry motion was to investigate areas where taxes had been leaked. The inquiry committee would trace which firms had defrauded taxes and the flows of the leaked taxes. Efforts would be made how to mend the leakage so that the state revenues from the tax sector would increase. Lily Wahid of the PKB faction said the inquiry was expected to disclose tax mafia which so far could not be uncovered by law enforcers. It is hoped that the tax mafia case would transparently be made public. "Initiators want the inquiry committee to have no political interest but an interest how the state revenues could be increased," she said. She said that if the state revenues from the tax sector were not leaked, Indonesia could be prosperous and needed no external debts. According to Ahmad Yani of the PPP faction, leakage of the state revenues from the tax sector is estimated to amount to Rp300 trillion per year. This figure is quite big as it accounts for 30 percent of the state budget. "If this leakage could be stopped Indonesia would be able to carry out better development and need not borrow money from abroad," he said. |
Rabu, 02 Februari 2011
RI TIDYING UP DESTINATIONS FOR MORE WORLD CRUISES
| By Andi Abdussalam |
Jakarta, Feb 2 (ANTARA) - With over 17,500 islands and water areas of 70 percent, Indonesia -- which owns the world's longest stretch of beaches reaching 81,000 km -- is building at least 66 maritime ecotourism destinations to attract tourists on board cruise ships. The development of the world cruise destinations is part of the country's efforts to advance its maritime tourism and boost foreign tourist arrivals which have been showing an upward trend of late. "Now is the time for us to become a world cruise tourism destination because we have a big potential in this sector," Director General for Marketing Affairs of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism Sapta Nirwandar said. The Indonesian government, during the celebration of New Year's Eve last December, officially announced its optimistic target of attracting 7.7 million foreign tourists into the country in 2011, up about 10 percent from 7,000,571 arrivals in 2010. In order to help the country achieve its tourism targets, the government is developing various tourism-related sectors, including its maritime ecotourism. As regards, Indonesia affirms its readiness to become a world cruise destination as part of the development of its maritime tourism. The director general said his office was working hard to develop the potential while declaring that Indonesia was ready to serve cruise ships from various countries. "We hope that in a not-too-distant time at least two cruise ships will visit the country every day. Besides making calls at Padang Bai, Benoa (Bali), Jakarta, Lembar (Lombok-West Nusa Tenggara-NTB), Makassar (South Sulawesi), Komodo (East Nusa Tenggara-NTT) and Semarang (Central Java), the world cruise ships are also expected to call at other 66 destinations such as the Tanjung Puting (Central Kalimantan) which has of late attracted many world cruises," Sapta Nirwandar said. Sapta said his office has seriously developed cruise tourism in Indonesia in the last eight years together with other maritime tourism stakeholders. "This endeavor has begun to show results. Now, the number of world cruises' calls has increased to 90 a year, from only 20 calls in 2002," the director general said. After all, the number of destinations visited by cruise ships has also increased from only three in the past several years to 66 destinations now. Therefore, the marketing directorate general will continue its efforts to develop the country's cruise tourism and to improve the image and competitiveness of Indonesia as a world cruise destination. For this purpose, the directorate general will use the Indonesian tourist resort island of Bali as a turn-around port while preparing others so that Indonesia would be able to serve large-scale cruises with big number of passengers. It will also increase the quality of its services, synchronize and harmonize regulations, including polices in facilitating the visits of world cruise ships. Sapta said that priority would be given to the Benoa port of Bali to be developed as an international standard turn-around port which could accommodate world cruise ships and serve as a starting point for the development of maritime tourism into the eastern regions of Indonesia. So far, Bali has been the major foreign tourist destination province and is expected to serve as a catalyst for Indonesia's tourism. During 11 months of the January - November 2010 period, the tourist resort islands was visited by 2,345,885 foreign tourists, or an increase of 8.48 percent compared with those arriving in the corresponding period in 2009 which stood at 2,162,576 visitors. "The arrivals in 2010 exceeded the target set by the Bali regional government at between 2.2 million and 2.3 million arrivals," Bali's statistics chief officer Gede Suarsa said. In order to help develop Indonesia's maritime ecotourism, particularly in island areas, the government is also active in promoting the potentials and cooperating with other countries. For example, Indonesia has offered cooperation in this field to Maldives. Minister for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) Fadel Muhammad said the island country which is located in the Indian Ocean was asked to cooperate with Indonesia because it had developed advanced island maritime tourism. Maldives is visited by about one million foreign tourists a year. If the pattern of Maldives' maritime tourism could be emulated, it is expected that Indonesian islands which account for thousands of islands would attract and multiply foreign tourist arrivals in Indonesia. "About one million foreign tourists visit Maldives every year. Ahead, we will emulate them," the minister said explaining his visit to Maldives last week. He said Maldives was able to optimize the development of its isles into maritime tourism sites as sources of income for its people. Maldives leased its islands to investors who developed them into tourist resorts with an investment value of each island reaching US$150 million and 200 million. The rate of hotel rooms there is between 600 and 1,000 per day. This drastically drives fishermen's income up from about 600-800 to about 10,000 dollars. "Therefore, we will invite investors both domestic and abroad, to cultivate small islands as tourism sites," the minister said. In the meantime, Director General for Small Islands and Coastal Areas Sudirman Saad said his side had signed a cooperation agreement with the Maldives' tourism minister for the development of maritime tourism. He said Indonesia had clusters of islands which had the potentials to be developed into maritime tourism resorts, such as the Anambas islands in Riau province, Rajaampat in Papua and Wakatobi in Central Sulawesi. "The islands which are good for development are those near Singapore because Indonesia can take advantage of infrastructure in that country," Sudiman Saad said. |
GOVT WARNED OF POSSIBLE IMPACT OF EGYPTIAN CRISIS
| By Andi Abdussalam |
Jakarta, Feb 2 (ANTARA) - Though no impacts of the Egyptian political crisis have been felt on the country's economy, businessmen warned the government of possible adverse effects on investment and trade. Chairman of the Association of Indonesia Businessmen (Apindo) Sofyan Wanandi has reminded the government and businesses of the importance of anticipating the impact of the political tension in Egypt on economy and trade. "Now the impact may not yet be felt, but certainly later it will because of the uncertainties that would affect oil and gas prices. So we must immediately take anticipatory measures," he said. The Egyptian crisis --where popular revolt demanded for the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak and prompted many countries to evacuate their citizens, including Indonesia-- has received mixed reactions in the country. Some state officials said it could cause adverse effects on the country's economy while others still doubted whether or not it would have impact, despite the fact that there has been price turmoil in the market. "We see that the turmoil in commodity markets is only temporary because it is caused by the crisis in Egypt and in my mind it would not affect economies in Asian countries," Bambang PS Brodjonegoro, head of the fiscal policy affairs of the Finance Ministry, said here on Wednesday. Actually, the Egyptian conflict has caused negative sentiments to the Asian stocks as well as to the country's composite stock index. This has affected the exchange rate of the Indonesian rupiah currency. "The negative sentiment has put pressures on the Asian stocks which would finally affect the rupiah exchange," market analyst of Batavia Prosperindo Billy Budiman said on Monday. However, except for European countries which at present are entering the winter season, Bambang said, the Egyptian upheaval would have significant impacts on the Asian economies. Bambang said the government had made various assumptions in the state budget based on a one-year period so that it would not be reactive to the Egyptian turmoil. "The assumptions in the state budget are based on an annual basis. (Prices) are high now because it is still in the January - February winter season. Hopefully it will begin to go down in the April - May dry season period," he said. He said that the crude price assumption of US$80 per barrel was set on the annual basis so that it would be too early to carry out price analysis and price changes. "It is too early if we are now reacting to alter the assumptions owing to the fact that the present situation is still a result of the January period. We have to look a little bit far ahead," he said. At present, crude prices have begun to increase in the world market. However, Indonesian Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu couldn't comment much on the possible impact of the Egyptian crisis on Indonesian trade, despite the fact that crude price had reached US$100 per barrel. "We'll wait and see what is going to happen in Egypt. The problem now is the oil price that has reached more than US$100 per barrel," the trade minister said. According to Chief Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa, the government will watch oil price increases. "Of course we have to pay attention to oil price increases. I don't think there is a country willing for the price to increase when the world is facing economic difficulties," Hatta Rajasa said. He said that if the oil prices were too high it would affect and slow down the manufacturing sector, thus at the end it would affect the country's economy. "Even oil producing countries are also aware of it," the chief economic minister said. At least the government at present has not yet seen the impact of political tension in Egypt on its trade with that country. "Let us for the time being wait and see. We cannot as yet be able to see what would happen with regard to trade and investment. For the time being we cannot as yet see its impact. We hope the problem there could be immediately settled well," trade minister Mari Pangestu said. Yet, the ongoing political crisis in Egypt is expected not to reach the Suez Canal as it would have a great impact on commercial traffic through the waterway. "I hope the crisis in Egypt does not reach the Suez Canal because it would definitely affect Indonesia's trade, especially with European countries," Robert J Bintaryo, a spokesman of the Trade Ministry said meanwhile. Therefore, the Egyptian crisis must be anticipated. According to the chairman of the permanent committee of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) for the Middle East and the Organization of Islamic Conference, Fachry Thaib, the impact of the conflict must be anticipated. "Although the impact on us will be small because the volume of our trade with them is very small, it will be dangerous if it spreads to other countries," he said. Fachry said right now he had heard no confirmed reports about the declining activities in trade with Egypt or the loss Indonesian businessmen had suffered because of the conflict. He said the conflict in Egypt would possibly have a real effect on exports of several commodities such as crude palm oil, paper and electronics. (T.A014/A/HAJM/19:45/H-YH) |
Selasa, 01 Februari 2011
RI CITIZENS EVACUATED FROM TENSION-PLAGUED EGYPT
| By Andi Abdussalam |
Jakarta, Jan 31 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government has finally decided to evacuate its citizens and deploy commercial and military airplanes to fly home over 6,000 Indonesians from Egypt which is now being plagued by political tension. The decision to evacuate Indonesian citizens from Egypt was made in a cabinet meeting on Monday following the worsening of political tension and social unrest in Egypt where demonstrators demanded that President Hosni Mubarak step down. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during a cabinet meeting on Monday ordered the evacuation of Indonesian citizens and the formation of an evacuation task force. The task force consisted of personnel from Health Ministry and Transportation Ministry and is led by former foreign minister Hassan Wirajuda who is also a member of the Presidential Advisory Board. President Yudhoyono said the evacuation would be carried out using commercial and other planes possible for use for it. The planes will depart from the country. "If necessary they will start leaving to Cairo tonight," he said. According to Hassan Wirajuda, the team that will be assigned to evacuate Indonesian citizens in Egypt is leaving for that country on Monday night. "We will send an advance team tonight," Wirajuda said at the Presidential Office. He said that the team was expected to leave for Egypt at 3.0 a.m Tuesday at the latest. The advance team would arrange everything needed in the first phase of evacuation where priorities would be given to evacuating about 1,200 women and children. He said that the government had made three airplanes available for the first phase of the evacuation. The three planes will come from Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air and Sriwijaya Air. They will also be used to transport various kinds of logistic supplies to meet the daily need of the Indonesians still staying in Egypt. In the meantime, the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) is preparing a heavy transport plane C-130 Hercules to help evacuate Indonesian citizens who are trapped in the Egyptian political unrest. Air Force Spokesman Air Commodore Bambang Samoedro said here on Monday that his side had not yet decided how many Hercules planes would be deployed. "The number of planes will largely depend on the situation and condition in Egypt," he said. As regards, the Air Force will send its Deputy Chief Vice Marshal Soekirno, Military Police Commandant Air Commodore Soedipo and Flight Col. Yuyu Sutisna as an advance team to Egypt. "They will be leaving tonight," Bambang Samoedro said on Monday. The government has named Nasr City as the meeting point before evacuation is carried out. This city is near the place where Indonesians are gathering. Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said that the planes were now ready to fly to Egypt to carry out air evacuation. However, the Indonesian government still needed to coordinate with the Egyptian government to obtain license for the planes to land in that country. Marty said that the Indonesian government's decision to evacuate its citizens was based on consideration that the situation in Egypt was turning more and more dangerous. He said that effort to ensure security in Egypt were now in the hands of the military, no longer of the police. Even, a police station near the Indonesian embassy has reportedly been destroyed by demonstrators. The foreign ministry's latest data indicated that Indonesian citizens staying in Egypt numbered 6,149, consisting of 4,297 students and 1,002 employees and their family members. They are now building communications in 20 command posts. Earlier, Deputy Foreign Minister Triyono Wibowo said the government is greatly concerned about the fate of over 6,000 Indonesians in Egypt where the situation is still very tense. "We hope the situation in Egypt could be well under control, while actually we did not wish to middle in the situation in that country, and we are therefore deeply concerned about the fate of our 6,045 people there," he said on Sunday. On the sidelines of a discussion on regional border at the University of Narotama (Unnar) in East Java, he said the government's attention to its citizens in Egypt is seeing that Indonesians are free from suffering. "Some of our people in Egypt are students, workers, and many have other professions, but since the last couple of days (Jan 28) our government has issued an official notification in the website of the Indonesian mission in Egypt," he said. The notification hoped Indonesians need to remain calm and stay home and avoid points of restlessness, and at any time may contact Indonesian representative mission there if they knew something bad had happened. "Up till now none of our people had been hurt, especially that in addition to the 6,045 Indonesians officially listed at Indonesian representative offices, some had yet to be registered," he said. On Sunday, Indonesian Ambassador to Egypt A.M. Sachir said his side had asked the Egyptian military authorities to protect Indonesian citizens following the current tension in that country. "We have asked the military which is taking over the handling of security affairs to protect Indonesian citizens," the ambassador said. He said that up to now all Indonesian citizens in Egypt were secured although demonstrations were still taking place in a number of regions there. The ambassador said there are about 5,000 Indonesian citizens in Egypt, about 4,000 of whom are students who mostly stay in big cities such as Cairo. "Resettlement centers where Indonesian citizens are staying are far away from locations of demonstrations, which are mostly organized in big cities and strategic areas," the ambassador said. Yet, the Indonesian embassy in Cairo has provided directions for Indonesian citizens asking them to stay alert over the developing situation in Egypt. |