| By Andi Abdussalam |
Jakarta, April 30 (ANTARA) - The Jakarta Regional Police are ready to maintain security in the capital city during the observance of International Labor Day or May Day on Sunday when thousands of workers and activists are expected to hold rallies to voice their demands for better welfare. "We have prepared maximal security measures to anticipate possible terror acts by those who would infiltrate the rallies during the celebration of May Day on Sunday," Jakarta Police Chief Inspector General Sutarman said on Saturday. The Jakarta Police chief however believed that terrorists would not commit violence which would only sacrifice people of the lower income bracket. Therefore, police would also keep alert to the possibility of irresponsible elements or groups infiltrating the rallies which will voice the workers demand for social insurance and their protest against the so-called outsourcing system in manpower employment. For this purpose, the Jakarta Police will impose the alert I security status in Jakarta on May Day and in the face of the ASEAN summit by mobilizing about 14,000 police personnel. However, only a proportionate number of police officers would be deployed based on security developments in the fields. Police will also be assisted by military (TNI) personnel, public order officers and other groups of volunteer elements in society. Important spots and vital objects that would be guarded included the presidential palace, the building of the House of Representatives (DPR), the Hotel Indonesia roundabout and the Manpower Ministry building. Earlier, the head of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police's Operations Bureau, Commissioner Sujarno said about 6,000 officers were to be deployed to maintain public order and security in Jakarta. "We are to assign 6,000 officers and they will take up positions in several areas of the national capital ," he said. He said that officers would also be on guard at locations where Labor Day crowds are to form such as the National Monument (Monas) and the Proclamation Statue," Sujarno added. The Jakarta Metropolitan Police would also work together with West Java and Banten police to anticipate the movement of masses into or out of Jakarta on Labor Day. "Last year, about 10.000 people demonstrated to observe May Day. They were spread in some areas in Jakarta," he said. The Jakarta police spokesman said he did not know how many people exactly were expected to hit the streets in Jakarta on Labor Day on Sunday. "We also work with several labor organizations, one of them is the National Labor Association (SPN)," he said. Sujarno also said some workers' organizations would mark Labor Day not with street rallies but with more practical activities such as planting seedlings, donating blood and playing futsal. Demonstrators on Sunday are expected to voice their demands and urge the government/the House of Representatives (DPR) to pass into law the long-waited Social Insurance Management Agency Bill (RUU BPJS). "We call on the government to endorse the bill this year so that the Social Insurance Management Agency can also be established this year," President of the Confederation of the Indonesian Prosperous Labor Union (KSBSI), Mudhofir said. Workers need the enactment of the RUU BPJS as a legal instrument to implement five insurance programs stipulated in Law No. 40 / 2004. The five social insurance programs contained in the law are national health insurance, old age insurance, occupational accident insurance, life insurance and pensioner insurance. The endorsement of the bill has been awaited by workers and poor people for a long time. Mudhofir said the establishment of BPJS was recommended and stipulated in Law No. 40 / 2004 on national social assurance system (SJSN). According to Jamaludin, secretary general of East Java's Social Insurance Action Committee (KAJS), who would mobilize about 20 thousand workers in East Java on Sunday, labor unions' call for the enactment of the law cannot be bargained. "Our calls for the passing into law of the RUU BPJS cannot be bargained because without this law it will be impossible for the government to carry out the five insurance programs stipulated in Law No. 40 / 2004," he said. He said that while the endorsement of RUU BPSJ was urgent, the deadline for its enactment in five years on October 19, 2009 at the latest had been passed. Even it had entered the seventh year. "The failure of Yudhoyono's government to enact into law of the RUU BPSU which was drafted during the era of former president Megawati Soekarnoputri, is a betrayal of the Constitution and the people's trust," he said. In response to the plan of workers to stage rallies and voice their demands, the government said it was ready to accommodate their aspirations. "All aspirations coming up during the May Day observance would be heard. We will try to understand the theme and substance of their demands," Manpower Minister Muhaimin Iskandar said in Kudus, Central Java, on Friday. The minister said that the government was ready to accept inputs and suggestions raised during the May Day to be taken as materials of considerations to formulate steps that would benefit all. "It can all be formulated in a joint agreement, including the social insurance matter," the manpower minister said.***3*** |
Sabtu, 30 April 2011
POLICE READY TO MAINTAIN SECURITY ON MAY DAY
CHINESE PM'S VISIT FOSTERS BILATERAL TIES
| By Andi Abdussalam |
Jakarta, April 30 (ANTARA) - The two-day visit of Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao to Indonesia on April 29-30, 2011 will further foster Jakarta-Beijing bilateral ties as both sides discussed various sectors of cooperation, including trade, economy, investment and infrastructural projects. "Today, we held a bilateral meeting which proceeded in a good and productive manner and produced a number of commitments to increase cooperation in the days ahead. We discussed a lot of issues," President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said after a meeting with his counterpart Wen Jiabao on Friday. Indonesia and China have agreed to increase the volume of their economic cooperation to up to US$80 billion through a series of programs in various sectors until 2015. "Thanks to the two countries' efforts the target could be set at US$80 billion until 2015," visiting Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao said meanwhile. At the meeting, the two leaders expected to expand the volume of their economic cooperation to reach US$50 billion in the not so distant future. Two-way trade between Indonesia and China stood at US$1.18 billion by 1990. It increased sharply to US$31.5 billion by 2008, according Xinhua which quoted Chinese Ambassador to Indonesia Zhang Qiyue. Data at the Indonesian Trade Ministry showed that Indonesia's non-oil commodity exports to China in 2010 stood US$14.1 billion, or an increase by 58 percent if compared with that in 2009. Its non-oil imports at in the same priod were recorded at US$19.7 billion, or an increase by 46 percent from that in the previous year. Indonesia's trade surplus with China declined by US3.6 billion from 2008 to US$0.9 dollars in 2010. It was caused by the drop of Indonesia's oil and gas exports to China from US$3.8 billion in 2008 to only US$0.7 billion in 2010. In order to further boost their economic cooperation, Indonesia also offered China investment opportunities in its six economic corridor development projects. The six economic corridors that will be developed in the next 15 years included various sectors. "Indonesia will increase and expand its economy in the next 15 years through development of six economic corridors in the country and invites China to cooperate in the development of infrastructure, electricity plants, clean energy sources and manufacturing," President Yudhoyono said. "He (Prime Minister Jiabao) welcomed it and in the near future I would send a senior minister in the economic field to explain the master plan so that investment would run smoothly," the president added. The two as well as their respective delegations during bilateral talks agreed Indonesia would invite Chinese companies to participate in the development of infrastructure such as roads and electricity plants based on mutual partnership and mutual benefit. For this purposes, China has pledged US$8 billion in commercial funds for Indonesia to support infrastructure and industrial development. According to Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, the funds would be given along with soft loans worth US$1 billion to increase Indonesia's exports to China. "China will provide US$1 billion in soft loans and US$8 billion in commercial funding for Indonesia to support its infrastructure and industrial development," Jiabao said. He underlined the importance of trade cooperation between the two countries and said that the two countries had huge market potentials for development. "Economic and trade cooperation between the two countries will be the focus of discussions between me and President Yudhoyono," he said. Jiabao who in the visit carried a business delegation to sign ten business agreements with private parties worth US$10 billion, said Indonesia and China must cooperate to combine strategies that could develop the two countries' superiority for the benefit of the two countries. In order to expand both countries' economic cooperation, noted businessman Sukamdani Sahid Gitosardjono, who is also chairman of the Indonesia-China Cultural, Social and Economic Cooperation Institute, and a noted figure in the restoration of Indonesia-China relations in the 1980s, expected that Chinese investors would relocate their industries to Indonesia to tap economic potentials for the benefit of both sides. "Chinese industries which have the potentials to be relocated to Indonesia included the automotive sector, electronics, crude palm oil (CPO) and coal processing industries, pulp/paper and cacao processing industry," he said here on Saturday. He said that the relocation of Chinese industries to Indonesia was expected to meet China's domestic need for goods with added values from Indonesia, while at the same time it would also serve as a place for Chinese companies to produce export commodities to other potential markets. Sukamdani said since the imposition of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area in January 2010, there had been a downward trend in Indonesia's export market share in China from 52 percent in 2009 to 41 percent in 2010. "This needs a common attention from both Indonesian and Chinese business players as well as from Jakarta and Beijing," Sukamdani said. According to Mustafa Kamal, chairman of the Prosperous Justice Party Faction (FPKS) in the House of Representatives (DPR), the trade balance between Indonesia and China continued to show negative trend in favor of China since the implementation of the ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA). "The result of a joint commission meeting between Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu and her Chinese counterpart Chen Deming, has not yet been followed up, it even tended to be ignored," Kamal said expressing his disappointment. He said that in the meeting in 2010, both reached a 7-point agreement which in principle was in connection with the strategy on how to create ACFTA that could benefit the two sides and make their trade in a good balance. To overcome disadvantages in both countries relations, Indonesia and China have agreed to hold periodic meetings at the prime minister's level to discuss the problem. "Both sides agreed to hold periodic meetings to discuss strategic issues at the deputy prime ministerial level. We will make use of the mechanism to increase coordination, foster common interest and plan economic cooperation," Prime Minister Jiabao said. ***5*** |
Rabu, 27 April 2011
STATE LOSES RP311 TLN TO KALIMANTAN RESOURCE EXPLOITATION
| BY Andi Abdussalam |
Jakarta, April 28 (ANTARA) - Long ago, the four Indonesian provinces in Kalimantan island whose total land was about 550,000 sq km, were covered with vast forests and rich in mineral resources, a bounty of God which tickled the mind of businesses to tap. No wonder, provinces in Kalimantan have since the era of former president Soeharto become the target of various mining firms and timber tycoons who ran both legal and illegal businesses to exploit the resources, including mining deposit and forests, which are known as the 'lung' of the world. However, the glory of Kalimantan's forests is now only a story of the past as they have been damaged by logging activities, slash and burn practices, forest fires, mining activities and land openings for plantations. A total of 1,236 mining firms and 537 oil palm plantation companies are believed to have operating illegally in Central, East and West Kalaimtan provinces since in the past 10 to 15 years. As a result, the illegal operations of the companies have caused estimated losses of about Rp311.4 trillion to the state, according to Raffles Panjaitan, director for forest investigation and protection of the Ministry of Forestry. Raffles Panjaitan said that of the total, Rp158.5 trillion losses were suffered in Central Kalimantan, Rp31.5 trillion in East Kalimantan and Rp121.4 trillion in West Kalimantan. He said that several of the companies are large-scale firms as they hold land concessions on thousands of hectares of land. Reports filed by district heads/mayors and governors indicated that these firms had violated their licenses in their operations. According to Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hassan a team of the forestry ministry and the Judicial Mafia Elimination Task Force have examined the findings based on the reports filed by the district heads/mayors and governor of Central Kalimantan province. Based on the reports, the minister said, there are 282 plantation companies which are operating without a license on lands covering 3,934,963 hectares, while the number of illegal mining companies reaches 629 units which operate on a land of 3,570, 518.20 hectares. The joint team, namely the ministry of forestry team and the Judicial Mafia Eradication Task Force, carefully studied the reports. The joint team, the minister said, had examined nine companies opening up land for mining exploitation in a forest protected area, namely PT BBP, PT AKT, PT BST, PT DSR, PT SKEJ, PT HM, PT KPS, PT RC AND PT KSK. Apart from that there are 54 plantation firms which have no licenses from the ministry of forestry with a total land exploitation area of 623,001 hectares. Of these areas, 5,000 hecrares are found in North Barito district, 20,000 hectares in South Barito district, 10,500 hectares in East Barito district. They are also found in Kapuas district (150,410 hectares), Gunung Mas district (83,770 hectares), Katingan district (71,900 hectares), East Kota Waringin district (107,276 hectares) Seruyan district (40,445 hectares), West Kota Waringin district (38,700 hectares) and Lamandau district (86,000 hectares). Other firms operating illegally are PT MASK (20,000 h), PT MSS (19,500 h), PT SP (15,000 h), PT RASR (20,000 h), PT KAL (20,000 h), PT DAM (20,000 h), PT ATA (15,000 h), PT TPA (15,000 h), PT MSAL (15,000 h), PT KKK (17,000 h), PT KDP (17,500 h) and PT GRMK (16,200 h). Forestry Minister Zulkifli said his side did disclose the full names of the companies for the interest of further investigation. "We do not disclose their full names because they are still at the level of investigation as there are indications of violations that should be followed up," the minister said. He said that in East Kalimantan, the number of problematic plantation companies reached 86 units with lands covering 720,829.62 hectares while that of mining is recorded at 223 units with a land of 774,519.45 hectares. In West Kalimantan, problematic plantation companies number 169 units with a total areas covering 2,145,846.23 hectares and mining firms are recorded at 384 units which an combined area of 3,602,263.30 hectares. The names of companies involved in East and West Kalimantan are not yet disclosed because they are still under investigation of the forestry ministry's working group in cooperation with the Judicial Mafia Eradication Task Force. To follow up the cases, the minister has formed a joint team which involved the ministry of forestry, the Criminal Investigation Agency of the Junior Attorney General for General Crimes, Junior Attorney General for Special Crimes, the Ministry of Environment, the Higher Prosecutor Office and Regional Police. The joint team is formed to conduct examinations and investigations on violations in the exploitation of forest areas in the three provinces. The minister said that investigation would take three months. "I ask the team not to stop until it finishes its task," Zulkifli said. The ministry of forestry also asked the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to conduct examinations and investigations on alleged abuse of authorities, corruption and collusion by apparatuses in the regions regarding the issuance of licenses for the problematic companies. "We have priorities to the six districts," he said mentioning the initials of the districts as B and S in Central Kalimantan, K and K in East Kalimantan, and M and M in West Kalimantan. In the meantime, Achmad Santoso of the judicial mafia task force said the working group of the forestry ministry and the judicial mafia task force would recommend four points. The recommendation will include matters on provincial master plan, land border, formation of a organization, the strengthening of the capacity of the Forest Management Unit (KPH), integrated licensing and transparency of licenses on forest areas.***3*** |
CALLS FOR DISSOLUTION OF NII INCREASING
| By Andi Abdussalam |
Jakarta, April 27 (ANTARA) - Amid fears of increasing extremism, radicalism and bomb terrors, calls for dissolution of NII, a movement organization which has fought since the 1950s for the establishment of an Islamic State of Indonesia under a caliphate government, are now being aired by various quarters. The calls for elimination of this organization among others came from former vice president Jusuf Kalla, Din Syamsuddin, chairman of Muhammadiyah (the Indonesian second largest Muslim organization), legislators and other noted Muslim clerics. The NII movement was founded in Java by Kartosuwiryo who had fought for an Islamic state since the 1950s. Since its movement ran counter to the Pancasila state ideology, NII was opposed by the government but its founder Kartosuwiryo waged a guerrilla warfare until he was captured and executed by the government in 1962. Being considered a dangerous movement, NII was suppressed and eradicated by the government during the era of Soeharto. Now, the NII ideology is allegedly being disseminated again, leading to the emergence of radicalism in the country. According to Haysim Muzadi, former chief of one of Indonesia's largest Islamic organizations, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), radicalism had now reached a dangerous level requiring serious handling by the government. "It is not only threatening public security but also Islam and the state," Hasyim Muzadi said. It is more dangerous because they are driven by transnational political movements in other countries through hardline ideological channels. Muzadi said the movement had recruited a lot of people from the innocent who were then made into militants to young intellectuals whose religious views had been distorted. The religious views of young intellectuals were distorted after they received brainwashing, among others by the NII. Therefore, according to former vice president Jusuf Kalla, the government must immediately tackle the cases of brainwashing by the Indonesian Islamic State (NII) movement because the activity was dangerous. "The government must act firmly against the activity. Anyone involved must be arrested so that it will not cause further unrest among the community," he said after a seminar here on Wednesday. He said under the context of Unitary State of Indonesia radical movement like that was very dangerous for the continuity of statehood and nationhood. Besides arresting the perpetrators other concrete actions the government could take are seeking ways on how the government and the community fight ideas of those conducting brainwashing. The same voice was also aired by Din Syamsuddin, chairman of the Muhammadiyah Muslim organization. He said that the government should be able to completely solve the problem of the NII movement so that it would not thrive and harm the state interest. "Virtually, the NII Movement is an old movement but the government since its birth did not settle it completely," he said. He said that the NII movement had affected younger generations and that the fact should awaken the government to eliminate it or even liquidate it. "Muhammadiyah firmly supports the Unitary State of Indonesia (NKRI) based on the Pancasila ideology. Therefore, Muslim generations should not be influenced with thoughts that would form a country with an other ideology," he said A House Commission III member from the Islamic-based United Development Party (PPP), Ahmad Yani, meanwhile said one of the effective ways to combat brainwashing activity was through Islamic-based political parties. He believed the extreme movement had happened because certain groups had been dissatisfied by the implementation of Islamic shariah in the country. "Islam-based political parties through discussion forums could straighten their views about Islamic teachings," he said. Calls for elimination of the NII movement also came from H Syarif Hidayat and Miftah Faridi of the Salman Mosque Foundation of the Bandung-based Institute of Technology (ITB). After all, some have accused that the Salman mosque of ITB had been used as a base for NII cadre recruitment. In their written statement on Wednesday, Syarif Hidayat and Miftah Faridi said Salman Mosque was not a base for NII cadre recruitment. The Salman Mosque foundation, they said, always kept guard, popularized and disseminated information on the danger of NII to various media organizations and propagation media. For this, the Salam Mosque Foundation urged the government to dissolve NII and declare it as illegal organization in Indonesia. It also called on the government to take legal actions against any side who were involved in the NII activities. The foundation always cooperated with the relevant sides like ITB, Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) and police to prevent, deter and handle criminal actions with regard to the NII actions. Currently, police are monitoring several places in Jakarta where clandestine NII movement members usually gather. "We have already located concentrations of NII members and their number is only less than one hundred," Jakarta Metropolitan Police operations chief Senior Commissioner Sujarno said.***3*** |
Selasa, 26 April 2011
RADICALISM IS NOW THRIVING?
| By Andi Abdussalam |
Jakarta, April 26 (ANTARA) - Fears of growing religious radicalism are once again coming up to the surface in recent days following a suicide-bomb explosion in Cirebon and several parcel bomb cases in Jakarta. While security officers have arrested and are questioning at least 20 suspects, religious figures expressed concerns that religious radicalism had reached an alarming level. Unfavorable social and economic conditions gave a chance to radical groups or hardliners to exert influence and instill doctrines to younger generations. Din Syamsuddin, general chairman of the Indonesian second largest Muslim organization Muhammadiyah, said that radical teaching has developed among younger generations not only because of wrong perception on religion but also of external religious factors such as social, economic and political factors. Din Syamsuddin's opinion was shared by DR Musni Umar, a sociologist of Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN). He said that many graduates of religious institutions failed to find jobs at institutions other then the Ministry of Religious Affairs. This social economic condition gives a chance to radical groups to embrace them. "So far, no one has provided guidance, developed and used them so that radical groups have a chance to instill their jihad and radical doctrines," Musni Umar said. Sociologist Arie Sujito of the Gajah Mada University in Yogyakarta said meanwhile that students and younger generations could be trapped into radical movements as a result of their asocial attitude whereby their rationality and critical awareness did not work. "Younger generations became the target of radical groups because they are considered to be in the process and phase of finding and forming identities where militant doctrine and attitude could easily be instilled," Arie said. The dysfunctions of rational thoughts and critical awareness in the mind of younger generations caused the doctrines which negate realities could be implanted easily, including sectarian doctrines. This could be worsened if students became isolated from critical social community in their campus. "They became asocial and tended to be trapped in the hedonistic circle outside the habitat of productive students," he said. These conditions provide a chance for hardliners to recruit terror cadres, who sowed threats of terror in various corners of the country. The increase in the number of bomb terrors and hardliners of late creates fears and concern among the public. "It is not only threatening public security but also Islam and the state," Hasyim Muzadi, the former chief of one of Indonesia's largest Islamic organizations, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), said. The noted Islamic figure voiced concern over the fact that radicalism in certain religious movements had now reached a dangerous level requiring serious handling by the government. He said de-radicalization efforts were urgently needed and must be seriously carried out while the victims of indoctrination by radical movements had to be rehabilitated. A curriculum for the rehabilitation and training programs had to be made ready especially the one that teaches on state-religion relationship and Pancasila as well as therapy programs for the brainwashing victims. "Priority must be given to victims of radical doctrines while the campaigners and designers must first be legally processed," he said. If the program is proven successful it could then be implemented in other Islamic boarding schools. According to Dr Musni Umar, the Ministry of Religious Affairs must serve as the front guard in offsetting religious radicalism. "The ministry of religious affairs should serve as a team leader in the front guard to develop the people's horizons, tolerance and peace loving attitude," he said on Tuesday. He said that the ministry of religious affairs which controlled networks up to the subdistrict level throughout the country could offset rising radicalism through religious campaigns. In order to carry out such a function the ministry of religious affairs must be equipped with a regulation so that it could perform two jobs, namely as an agent to serve the government and as an agent to provide enlightenment to the people. "If the ministry of religious affairs carries out these two functions plus an integrated effort with the relevant institutions to empower the people's social economy, radicalism would hopefully be overcome," he said. No matter what means will be used, Hasyim Muzadi called on the government to carry out comprehensive handling of radicalism. "The government should not only deal with its political interest enemies but also with the enemies of the state," he said. More importantly, any seeds of terror should be fought and rooted out, such as the NII (Indonesia Islamic State) Movement. According to Din Syamsuddin, the government should solve the problem of the NII so that it would not thrive and harm the state interest. "Virtually, the NII Movement is an old movement but the government since its presence did not settle it completely," he said. He said that the NII Movement which has affected younger generations should awaken the government on the need to eliminate it or liquidate it. "After all, Islamic organizations in Indonesia felt themselves that they had to do something to protect Muslims from being influenced with its teaching," the Muhammadiyah chairman said. "Even, they will use religion as a means of justification. Therefore, the way out the government should use is to fight its main roots," he said.***3*** |
Senin, 25 April 2011
WEST SUMBAWA GOVT PRESSING FOR NEWMONT STAKE
| By Andi Abdussalam |
Jakarta, April 25 (ANTARA) - The West Sumbawa district government is pressing ahead with its demand to be given the right to buy the seven percent divestment stake in PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara (NNT), which operates the Batu Hijau mine in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) province. The head of West Sumbawa district is even threatening to temporarily stop the operations of the country's second-largest copper and gold mine company if the central government realizes its plan to buy the seven percent stake. Last week, civil servants, students and other components of the local people took to the streets to demand the seven percent divestment share, which the central government has decided to buy. The Indonesian government, through the Government Investment Center (PIP) has written to PT NNT about its decision to buy the seven percent stake in PT NNT. "I am not convinced that the central government will realize its plan to acquire the seven percent NNT divestment stake because the finance minister is required in the first place to make a calculation of its advantages and disadvantages as otherwise it would face problems," West Sumbawa District Head Zulkifli Muhadly said on Sunday. The problems the central government can face include rejection by the House of Representatives (DPR)'s Commission VII on energy affairs and Commission XI on financial affairs and resistance by the local governments, both district and provincial As regards, Deputy Chairman of DPR's Commission XI Harry Azhar Azis, has also criticized the government's move to acquire the company's shares before it was thoroughly deliberated with the House. According to Harry Azhar Azis, Finance Minister Agus Martowardoyo had agreed to deliberate it with the House but it turned out to move ahead even before the deliberation was held with DPR. West Sumbawa district Head Zulkifli Muhadly even threatened to temporarily halt NNT operations if the government realized its plan." It is too risky for the finance minister to realize the plan. That's why I don't believe the central government will do it. So, let wait and see," he said. He said that he would follow the local people's aspirations and do what they wanted it to do. "I want to do what the people want me to do. So far, the locals are willing to stop the firm's operation if the government realizes its plan. As the district head, I will stop it if they ask me to do if the central government does realize its plan," he said. However, if the people of West Sumbawa did not want the temporary closure the district head promised to stay silent. "I will keep quite, though I am not sure they do not want the closure," he said. Zulkifli said the reason for the temporary closure of the mining company because the problem would not create conducive climate where the people's aspirations were not followed. "If not conducive, the operations should be halted. If the locals blockade the access or entrance into NNT, the reason to stop the operation for the time being is enough," he said. The district head said that the people of West Sumbawa wanted the stake as a form of appreciation of the firm for the local people after its 10 years of operation in the district. "If the seven percent are given to us it would constitute an appreciation by NNT for the local people after operating more than 10 years," said Zulkifli. He said that the people had not yet benefited from the presence of the company in the past 11 years. He said that its presence even brought social economic impact where people experienced high inflation rate which was the highest among regions in Indonesia. "The inflation impact has decreased the local people's purchasing power, not to mentioned the spread of HIV/AIDS disease," he said. In the meantime, the provincial government also needs to receive compensation if the central government acquire the seven percent stake. "The provincial government must receive compensation if it is the central government who purchases the seven percent divestment stake. The regional government also wants the seven percent shares," Deputy Chairman of the NTB Legislative Assembly (DPRD) Suryadi Jaya Purnama said on Monday. Suryadi who comes from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) said that he had also asked other political parties to help fight for the interest of the regional government in the acquisition of the seven percent divestment state worth US$271.6 million. The seven percent purchase is the last phase of the divestment process of Newmont Nusa Tanggara in accordance with Article 24 of the work contract in 1986, according to Hadiyanto, the director general for state asset affairs of the Finance Ministry. Newmont as a foreign firm has passed several phases of divestment process since 1996. Based on the law, the company is required to gradually sell a total of 31 percent of its stake to the government or local parties. Up to 2009, 24 percent of the divestment process had been carried out, leaving another seven percent in the last phase for 2010. The 24 percent divestment of Newmont's shares from 1996 to 2009 period was held in 2009. ***5*** |
Rabu, 20 April 2011
FISHERY RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT NEEDS ENTREPRENEURSHIP
| By Andi Abdussalam |
Jakarta, April 20 (ANTARA) - The government needs to produce graduates who have entrepreneurship skill so that its target to multiply the country's fishery production and to increase it by about 300 percent in the coming five years from the current level of about 10 million tons per annum would be achieved. To achieve the goal, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) is cooperating with the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) and the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) to build a first fishery institute in Indonesia. "The KKP in cooperation with the ITB and IPB will build a fishery institute with the assistance of South Korea," Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad said Wednesday. Besides the plan to build a fishery institute, the ITB was also encouraged to produce its own graduates with maritime entrepreneurship. "I hope that ITB would pioneer the production of graduates who have maritime entrepreneurship in order to help develop and utilize the country's maritime resources," the minister. He said that the construction of the fishery institute would start in 2012. All funds that would be used to build the first fishery institute in Indonesia would come from South Korea. "The assistance worth Rp350 billion would fully be provided by South Korea," the minister said. It would be located in Subang district, West Java. The location for the development of the fishery institute is being arranged. "We are now arranging the location for the construction of the fishery institute," Fadel Muhmmad said. In his public lecture at the ITB, the minister said he had met with ITB Rector Prof Akhmaloka and discussed the idea to produce maritime entrepreneurship. In order to achieve the goal, three programs have to be done. "We have asked the rector to prepare three programs to support the maritime entrepreneurship," the minister said. The first program is to produce the country's fish culture concept. The second program is the salt management with maritime technique, and the third one is to produce S2 graduates majoring in fisheries who are ready to be fielded. The three programs for producing entrepreneurship in the maritime sector were expected to start this year. "We are planning to start it this year," the minister said adding that to carry out this program his ministry has prepared a budget of Rp460 billion. ITB Rector Akhmaloka hailed the minister's idea to produce graduates with maritime entrepreneurship development skill. "If 30 percent of ITB graduates have the maritime entrepreneurship skill, the vast maritime potentials of Indonesia could be further developed," he said. After all, in an effort to increase the country's fish production, the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry is also focusing on the development of Minapolitan areas (fishery-based development cities) in 41 Indonesian regions this year. In line with Minapolitan program and maritime fishery development, the maritime affairs and fisheries minister had set a target for fish production in 2011 at 12.26 million tons. This figure constituted an increase of 13 percent of the 2009 production which was 10.85 million tons. "In 2011, the ministry is focusing on formation of Minapolitan areas consisting of nine fishing based sites, 24 aquaculture sites, and eight central salt sites," Fadel Muhammad said during the ministry's 2011 outlook meeting sometime ago. The fish production target set for 2010 was achieved, both from catching and aqua-culturing activities. "Fish production from catching and culturing operations amounted to 10.83 million tons in 2010, surpassing the target of 10.76 million tons for the year," he said. According to KKP Sokesman Yulistyo Mudho, the country's per capita fish consumption in 2010 was recorded at 30.47 kg per annum, an increase from 29.08 kg in 2009. "We hope production increase would be followed by increase in per capita fish consumption," he said. Yet, the People's Coalition for Fishery Justice (KIARA) has criticized the government pro-export policy which it said had caused high fish imports to meet domestic fish consumption. KIARA Secretary General Riza Damanik told a press conference on Wednesday that the export orientation of the national fishery policy had depleted fish raw materials that force domestic fish consumers and companies to depend on fish imports. He said the request for the issuance of fish import licenses to import three million tons or about 60 percent of national fish catches over the past two months was proof of the increase fish imports. A big import volume would of course have negative impact or could destroy national economy, particularly the economy of traditional fishermen, and that the ministry of trade and ministry of maritime affairs and fisheries did not need to take counter-productive steps in this case. Optimizing and using existing fish resources and canceling raw fish exports in the coming ten years could help improve the fishery business in the country. The KIARA secretary general said that the first step that could be taken was to set and maintain the needed national fish quota, including considering the increase in the fish consumption at home in the coming five years. With this way the domestic need for fish at home would guaranteed.***5*** |
Selasa, 19 April 2011
UNESCO TO INCLUDE SAMAN DANCE IN WORLD'S HERITAGE LIST
| By Andi Abdussalam |
Jakarta, April 19 (ANTARA) - The people of Aceh province may celebrate with pride when the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) officially includes the Saman dance, one of their cultural heritages, in its 'Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity' next November. The inclusion of the Saman dance of Aceh in UNESCO's list will increase the number of Indonesian cultural heritages which have earlier been recognized by the world body such as the 'wayang' puppet show, 'keris' dagger, 'batik' clothes and 'angklung' bamboo music instrument. According to Diankirawaty's weblog, Saman dance is a traditional dance that does not utilize any music instrument. The dancers themselves will sing and clap their hands together to create harmony in movement and sound. It teaches us that, among all differences, corporation and unity can create the finest result especially to encounter any conflict and ego of human beings. The uniqueness and the high spirituality aspect it has, cause the dance to deserve appreciation, preservation and recognition. Thus, the UNESCO is expected to recognize it by including it into its intangible cultural heritage list. "Saman dance will be announced as a world intangible cultural heritage by the UNESCO in Bali on November 19, 2011," Head of Tourism and Cultural Resources of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, I Gde Pitana said on Monday. He said that the recognition by the UNESCO of Saman dance would increase the number of Indonesian cultural heritages which had been recognized by the world body like the wayang puppet, keris dagger, batik clothes and the angklung bamboo music. In order to win the recognition, Indonesia has to work hard and undergo a long verification process. "Ahead, we are targeting more Indonesian cultural heritages that would be recognized by the UNESCO," I Gde Pitana said. He said that to win recognition as a world heritage for Saman dance his office had worked hard since several years ago, the result of which would be announced and included in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity next November. He said that his office has noticed 890 world heritages, of which 689 were cultural heritages, 176 nature heritage and 25 others were mixture heritage of the two. Of the recognized world heritages, 11 belonged to Indonesia, of which four were nature preserves like parks, three cultural preserves like temples and four were intangible cultural heritage. Indonesia is rich in cultural heritages, yet only 11 have been recognized by the UNESCO. Ahead, Pitana hopes that more Indonesian heritages would be listed by the UNESCO, following the recognition of the Aceh Saman dance. The plan of UNESCO to include Saman dance into its list of world intangible heritage of humanity is hailed by the people of Aceh, an Indonesian province in the western tip of Sumatra. "The recognition is something to be pride of by the people of Aceh as it proves the good quality of Saman dance. For this, the government deserves a thumb-up," Imam Juwaini, director of the Asleum Ethnicity Group of Aceh, said. Imam said that the Saman dance that would be included in the UNESCO's list was still a general sense in term of name as in Aceh there were different kinds of Saman dances. Saman dances were basically divided into two kinds, namely the Rateb Duek dance and the Rateb Dong one. The Rateb Duek dance is popular and derived from the hinterland areas while the Rateb Dong one came from Aceh's coastal areas. But in principle, these two types of dances are in one unity. "The people of Aceh have many kinds of saman dances such as the Gayo dance, the Seudati dance in the coastal areas, the Rante Meusekat in Meulaboh, West Aceh, and others such those of Nagan Raya district," Imam said. Therefore, Imam expressed hope that the government would explain which of the Saman dances that would be included in the UNESCO's list of world intangible heritage of humanity. This is important for preventing unilateral or overlapping claims among the people of Aceh. So far, the Saman dance performed in Jakarta and overseas is actually not a genuine Saman dance but 'Rampoe' one, which means that all types of Saman dances in Aceh are adopted and blended in the Rampoe dance. "It should not happen that the dance included in the world heritage only carries a theme and contains no spirit or essence of Saman dance. This would disadvantage the Acehnese who own Saman dances," he said.***6*** |
Senin, 18 April 2011
GOVT'S PLAN TO ACQUIRE NEWMONT STAKE DRAWS PROTEST
| By Andi Abdussalam |
Jakarta, April 18 (ANTARA) - The government's decision to acquire a seven percent stake in PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara (NNT) which operates the Batu Hijau mine, Indonesia's second-largest copper and gold mine in West Nusa Tenggara, is being opposed by the local people and the House of Representatives (DPR). Thousands of West Sumbawa district civil servants and other locals took to the streets on Monday and blocked roads the mining location in protest against the central government's plan to buy the seven percent share in the firm. They demanded that the seven percent stake be offered to the government of West Sumbawa distict, West Nusa Tenggara province. According to Harry Azhar Azis, Finance Minister Agus Martowrdoyo had violated an agreement with the House to hold further deliberations on the purchase of the NNT shares. He said that the finance minister and his commission had agreed to discuss the government's plan to buy NNT'S share after the completion of the House recess period early in May. "If the government has decided to purchase the shares of NNT, it means that the minister has violated the agreement with the House," Harry said. The Indonesian government, through the Government Investment Center (PIP) has bought seven percent of PT NNT's shares as part of the implementation of Article 24 of a work contract signed in 1986. The seven percent purchase is the last phase of the divestment process of Newmont Nusa Tanggara in accordance with Article 24 of the work contract in 1986, according to Hadiyanto, the director general for state asset affairs of the Finance Ministry. Newmont as a foreign firm has passed several phases of divestment process since 1996. The law in Indonesia requires foreign companies in the mining sector to transfer 51 percent of their shares to the government or local companies after five years of commercial operation. So. NNT has the obligation to divest 51 percent of its stake. But since PT Pukuafu Indah, a local company has owned 20 percent stake in it, the company is only required to gradually sell a total of 31 percent of its stake to the government or local parties. However, both the government and NNT were later involved in a dispute on how to implement the divestment scheme. The international arbitration court ruled in favor of the Indonesian government, where NNT had to divest three percent shares for 2006 and seven percent stake for each year from 2007 through 2010. Up to 2009, 24 percent of the divestment process had been carried out, leaving another seven percent in the last phase for 2010. The 24 percent divestment of Newmont's shares from 1996 to 2009 period was held in 2009. The share purchase was made by the regional government through PT Multi Daerah Bersaing, a joint venture between PT Daerah Maju Bersaing (belonging to West Nusa Tenggara provincial administration and Sumbawa Barat district government) and Sumbawa district administration. Hadiyanto said, PIP and Newmont were now in the process of finalizing the terms and conditions for the execution of the seven percent stake purchase. However, Commission XI of the House, Harry said, will question the finance minister's decision. Harry who is a cadre of the Golkar Party faction said that the government should not have made a unilateral decision as it was related to the use of state money. "The use of state money must be approved by the House. The question is that whether the funds that would be used to acquire NNT's shares had been included in the state budget," he said. If the purchase of the shares had no allocation in the state budget while the minister went ahead with his decision, it meant that the minister had violated the law on state budget. In the meantime, rallies held around Newmont Nusa Tenggar mining site, West Sumbawa district, on Monday did not disturb the firm's operation. NNT Public Relations Manager Kasan Mulyono said security officers ensured security so that Newmont remained in normal activities. The mass rallies were held by thousands of civil servants, students and local people who demanded that the seven percent stake should be offered to the local government of West Sumbawa district. Protesters happened to clash with security officers when they approached the mining complex but security officers were able to drive them back. A number of demonstrators were rushed to the nearest community health-care centers as a result of wounds. West Sumbawa government called on NNT not to worsen the condition with statements that hurt the regional government and its people. "The regional government hopes that its cooperation and partnership with the company should not be tarnished with accusations and statements which further worsened the relations," He said that the local people and the regional government had taken part in building the good investment climate so that it would become more conducive for the operation of PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara. "The people's rallies should not be seen as an act of terrors and anarchism that hampered investment," he said. General Manager for Operations of NNT David Lilley earlier on Sunday expressed through a press statement his disappointment on the West Sumbawa district head whom he accused of having a plan to pressurize civil servants so that they would block the Batu Hijau mining location and to halt the operation of the firm. "The district head's task is to enforce the law, ensure public order and support the economic development, not to carry out blockade that would halt the operations of NNT," David Lilley said.***5*** |
Rabu, 13 April 2011
GOVT TO ACT FAST OVER HOSTAGE TAKING
| By Andi Abdussalam |
Jakarta, April 13 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government will act soon in releasing the 22 Indonesian sailors held hostage by Somali pirates aboard MV Sinar Kudus in the Somali waters since March 16, 2011.
"The government is obliged to ensure the immediate release of our citizens. Therefore, various options and policies have been chosen to do so," Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said on Tuesday.Somali pirates, who hijacked the MV Sinar Kudus off the coast of East Africa on its voyage to Holland, demanded a US$2.6 million ransom for the release of the ship and crew, but then they raised the ransom demand to US$3.5 million and then again to US$9 million. The shipment itself is valued at US$1.4 trillion. Since the Sinar Kudus owned by PT Samudera Indonesia was hijacked and its crew members were taken hostage by the Somali pirates, the government has prepared a number of steps including continued contact with the ship's owner. The hijacked "Sinar Kudus" ship is now located half a mile from Somali's coastline. |
Selasa, 12 April 2011
LAWMAKER RESIGNS OVER PORN VIDEO
| By Andi Abdussalam |
Jakarta, April 12 (ANTARA) - The resignation from Parliament of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) lawmaker Arifinto for watching a pornographic video during a plenary session last week, was praised by many quarters. Three days after he was caught watching a pornographic video on his tablet computer during a House of Representatives (DPR) plenary session on Friday last week, Arifinto told the press on Monday he was resigning from the House for the sake of his party's honor. Arifinto who was under fire for having watched the viedo, resigned amid a threat of punishment called for by former PKS chairman Tifatul Sembiring. "With all of my conscience, without any pressure from anyone, for the sake of myself and on behalf of my party, I will soon file my resignation as a member of the DPR to my party," Arifinto said. A series of photographs taken by a media photographer shows Arifinto selecting a pornographic film from a folder in his tablet, rather than opening an e-mail link as he had claimed, during the House plenary session. His resignation immediately drew responses supporting the steps he was taking. Arifinto resigned in the face of criticism by former PKS president and now communications and information minister Tifatul Sembiring. The minister proposed that PKS would take a firm action against Arifinto. "I am proposing that PKS should take a firm action against him. This is a serious matter that smeared the image not only of PKS but also of the House," Tifatul Sembiring said. He said that the legal council of the executive board of PKS was deliberating the case of Arifinto. "PKS is now discussing the case. The Legal Council of the party will take action against him," the former PKS president said. Sembiring also called on the Ethics Council of the House to take a firm action against the legislator, if he was proven to have made a mistake. "This is not only the problem of PKS but also of the House. This happened when the DPR is under the spotlight of the people for its plan to build a new building," he said. He said that his ministry would conduct a digital forensic examination. "The ministry of communications and information will cooperate with the legal enforcers to conduct a digital forensic examination and to know whether Arifinto had deliberately downloaded the porn video into his tablet computer or the video had been sent to him. If it turned out that he only received it, it meant that he was only a victim," the minister said. Yet, Arifinto's resignation has been appreciated by many quarters, including the faction of his party in the House of Representatives. Chairman of the PKS faction in the House, Mustafa Kamal appreciated Arifinto's resignation, saying that his step had built a new culture in the Indonesian political sphere, namely the culture of readiness to voluntarily resign as a sign of public responsibility. Kamal said that it showed his high respect to the House as a high state institution and to PKS which he also had found since the beginning. "On my personal behalf and as the chairman of the PKS faction in the House, I hope that all cadres and sympathizers of PKS would accept Arifinto's decision and would not be drawn to further into the problem," Kamal said. In the meantime, Social Affairs Minister Salim Sefaf Al Jufrie who is also a PKS cadre said that Arifinto's resignation should serve as an example for party members in accounting for their deeds. "I think this is a good example, because people would considere PKS as a professional party. We have to maintain this. No matter what his reason is, I think, it is a gentleman attitude that should serve as an example for the people where resignation would no longer become something special if someone makes a mistake. I think this is a good attitude," the minister said. Other legislator, Ade Komarudin of the Golkar Party said that he agreed with the resignation of the PKS lawmaker. "I support his resignation," Komaruddin, who is also secretary of the Golkar Party faction in the House said. "We have to respect the principle of innocence in judging every case," Ade Komaruddin said. He said that the House's Council of Ethics should act immediately to process the case so that it would not tarnish the image of the House as a whole. "If no permanent decision has been taken, of course he would only be in a non active status," he said. His colleague, Idrus Marham, who is Golkar's secretary general, appreciated Arifinto's step to resign, saying it was good for him to resign. The resignation of the lawmaker has received appreciations by several quarters, including the executive director of the Center for Indonesian Reform (CIR), Sapto Waluyo. He said Arifinto's resignation deserved appreciation. "That is a form of self punishment and corrective action by a PKS lawmaker. Many lawmakers who have made bigger mistakes, even have become a corruption suspect, still maintain their positions in the House of Representatives. This is proof for PKS that it is maintaining its minimal moral principles," Sapto said. He said that the step taken by Arifinto would revive some of the public trust on PKS and other political parties that had now become under erosion. "PKS is now under a test as a new national force, whether it is able to consistently maintain its slogan as a clean, professional and caring political party. If PKS is aware of it in carrying out a corrective action systematically, the PKS influence as an agent of change will rise," he said.***3*** |
Minggu, 10 April 2011
TRAFFIC JAM AT MERAK PORT
| By Andi Abdussalam |
Jakarta, April 10 (ANTARA) - Merak port in the western tip of Java and Bakauheni harbor in the eastern point of Sumatra, two ports so far serving as a main economic lane for the two important Indonesian islands, have of late experienced traffic flow problems. Trucks transporting commodities needed by consumers in the two main islands of the country were forced to stay in queues for days or even weeks before they could be ferried to their destinations. The main cause of the traffic jams is the decrease in the number of ferries operating to serve heavy flows of cargoes and passengers that would cross the 36-km Sunda Strait. Of the 33 ferries usually plying the route, 11 are now put at dock-yard for maintenance or repair. "There were usually 33 ferry ships operating but now only 22 ships because 11 of them are under repair. This has caused traffic jams at Merak port," Transportation Minister Freddy Numberi said on Sunday. Currently however a total of 17 ferries at Merak port in Cilegon city, Banten, are not in operation because they are undergoing maintenance processes or have been sent to dock-yards for repairs. "There are 17 ferries usually serving the Merak-Bakauheni ports which are not in operation. Today, there are only 22 ferries are serving passengers at the two ports," Hery Widarto, a supervisor of TP ASDP for Merak. The government is now considering building a bridge that would connect the Java island with Sumatra in its efforts to solve the transportation problems between Java and Sumatra in the long run, but for solution to the problem in the short term, the government is still trying to find the best way. Among the solutions that are being thought by the government included building additional piers, separating piers between those for faster ships and those for slower ones. The urgent step to be taken is to evaluate docking schedules for ships going for repair of maintenance. For this, Minister Freddy Numberi asked the Inland Waterway Service (PT ASDP) to evaluate its ship-docking arrangements at Merak port. "It should evaluate its docking arrangement and fix accurate schedules. The other efforts that could be made include separating special piers for faster ships," the minister said. He said that his office continued to do its best to overcome the traffic jams that had hampered the flow of trucks at the ferry port of late. Therefore, Numberi said, he has asked PT ASDP and its private partners to evaluate the schedules of ships which would be sent to the dock-yard. The schedules should be arranged properly so that it would not cause overlapping and take too long at the dock-yard. Besides, the other effort that could be made is separating or grouping faster ferries and direct them to certain piers, not to piers where slower ships would also berth at. "Faster ships could be put in a group to be directed to special piers, for example to pier 5 or pier 4," Numberi said He said the government would therefore increase the number of piers at ports so that each of the ferry ports would have six piers. The construction of the piers is a follow up effort to overcome the traffic jams at the two ports which connect Java with Sumatra. The minister said the construction of piers in Merak would cost Rp120 billion while those in Bakauheni would take some Rp450-Rp550 billion. In the meantime, Banten Governor Ratu Atut Chosiyah, whose administrative areas included Marak, has asked PT ASDP to help overcome the traffic jams at Merak port. "The queues of trucks willing to be ferried from Merak port in Banten (Java) to Bakauheni port in Lampung (Sumatra) of late are caused by the small number of ships operating," she said. The governor said that besides the small number of ferries, the traffic jam at Merak port had also been caused by bad weather. "Bad weather factor has caused long queues of trucks," she said. The governor said that the best solution to the problem was the construction of the Sunda Strait bridge (JSS) project. "We hope that the JSS project would be started soon. The presidential regulation on that matter is expected to be issued this month," she said. The JSS whose construction is expected to start in 2014 and would constitute the world's second longest bridge (36 km) after the Shanghai bridge in China, will cost some Rp150 trillion. But the JSS project is a solution for the problem in the long run, so that the ports of Merak and Bakauheni must be revitalized soon. Ratu Atut said that revitalization of the ports of Merak and Bakauheni in Lampung should also be carried out. Former mayor of Cilegon, Tb Aat Syafaat, regretted the performance of the transportation ministry which until now was still unable to overcome traffic flow problems at Merak port. "I once submitted a proposal to the ministry of transportation but it seemed that my concept has got no response," he said. When he was still Cilegon city mayor, he proposed the construction of additional piers and increase the number of ships. "Ferries existing now are old ships. They need to be replaced," he said. Most of the 33 ships under ASDP firm at Merak port are already old, or over 25 years, some others even almost reaching 40 years old. It included the Jatra I and Jatra II ferries which were produced in 1980. The others are Jatra III (produced in 1985), BSP I,1973, BSP II,1971, BSP III,1973, Bahuga Pratama, 1992, Bahuga Jaya,1987, Menggala, 1973, Mufidah,1979, Duta Banten, 1973, Jagantara, 1979, Nusa Dharma, 1986, Nusa Bahagia,1979, Victorius, 1990, Laut Teduh I, 1990, Musthika Kencana,1975, HM Baruna,1992, Tribuana, 1997 and Rajabasa I, 1990. Besides that other old ferries are SMS Kartanegara,1984, Windu Karsa Dwita,1997, Windu Karsa Pratama,1993, Titian Nusantara,1995, Panorama Nusantara,1987, Royal Nusantara,1985, Prima Nusantara,1975, Mitra Nusantara,1997, Titian Murni,1985, Nusa Agung,1992, Nusa Jaya,1987, Nusa Mulia, 1992 and Nusa Setia, 1994. ***5*** |
Sabtu, 09 April 2011
CREEPING HAIRY CREATURES 'INVADE' EAST JAVA
Experts said the caterpillars would in due course of time change into cocoons and eventually into butterflies but they also warned that the attacks could recur.
The caterpillar invasion at first happened in Probolinggo district but it later spread to other districts in East Java such as Pasuruan, Jombang, Banyuwangi, Bojonegoro, even to certain districts in Central and West Java.
"It reportedly has spread to other regions," Agriculture Minister Suswono said on Saturday. The minister however called on the people not to panic because the intensity of the pest which attacked the leaves and stems of plants was declining.
The people are called on to remain cautious and coordinate with field officials from the agriculture office when they found potential caterpillar attacks. The regional government of East Java has made every efforts to anticipate the worst impact of the caterpillar attacks.
The caterpillar attacks in East Java's Probolinggo district spread to eight sub-districts and two district in Probolinggo city. The worst attack happened in Sumber Kedawung and Pondok Wuluh villages.
According to Prof. Aunu Rauf, a pest expert at the Bogor-based Institute of Agriculture (IPB), the outbreak of caterpillars was a result of the weather anomalies which killed caterpillar predators. "The prolonged rainy season caused predator Braconid and Apanteles unable to stay alive," he said.
Pest analyst of the Jember Uniersity (Unej) Hari Purnomo said meanwhile that the presence of virus and bacteria were two pathogens which could control the outbreak of caterpillars. "In other countries, NPV (nuclear polyhadrosis virus) and bacteria (Bacillus thuringiensis) are able to oppress the presence of caterpillars because both of them were pathogens which are able to eliminate them," he said.
He said environmental damage and weather anomalies had partly paralyzed predators, parasites and pathogens thus allowing caterpillars to break out and attacked people's plantations. However not all of the predators had disappeared, particularly parasites.
The species of caterpillars which spread in East Java was that of the moth (lymantriidae) family or butterflies which are active during the night time, Hari said.
According to Prof Aunu, the caterpillars which attacked people's plants last week head turned or morphed into cocoons. "The caterpillars have morphed into cocoons or even some have become butterflies. But one should be aware that caterpillars have a life cycle of 1.5 months so that their second attack should be anticipated," Aunu said.
Hari Purnomo said about 50 percent of caterpillar cocoons in the mango plantations of villagers in Probolinggo had died due to attack by parasites, pathogens and predators.
"We found that cocoons in a number of plantation plots which were not sprayed with pesticides have been attacked by parasites up to 50 percent so that the cocoons turned blackish and died," he said.
Yet, Prof. Aunu warned the people of possible second invasion of the pest. "Their development has to be controlled and it could emerge again as the caterpillar has a life cycle of 1.5 months. People must be ready to spray, sweep and burn them because otherwise it would spread. If it remains unchecked it would incur a great loss to the local mango farmers," Aunu said.
After all, reports on the outbreak of the pests said that caterpillar attacks have also reached Central and West Java. Caterpillars have begun to invade mango plants in two villages in Kudus district, Central Java.
Field official of the Agriculture Service of Kudus, Aris Priambudi said caterpillars had attacked the village of Hadiwarno of the Mejobo sub-district and Jati Kulon of Jati subdistrict in Kudus.
"At present, the population of caterpillars that attack people?s mango plants could reached tens of thousands. It could even increase in the coming several days," Aris said.
He said that mango trees become their main homes in the two villages but when they have become massive it is not impossible for them to move to other types of plants.
In West Java, caterpillars have entered two districts, namely Subang and Bekasi districts. According to Oo Sutisna, chairman of West Java's Fisherman and Farmers Association (KTNA), the regional government should take immediate anticipatory steps as two districts have been affected by the pest. "We ask the regional government to take anticipatory steps to stop the spread of the pest," he said.
He said that his organization had reported that caterpillars had attacked the subdistrict of Paseh in Subang and a village in Bekasi. "Based on the report of our friends in KTNA, caterpillars have entered Subang and Bekasi," he said.
Yet, the massive attack of caterpillars in Java has not yet caused significant losses. The Ministry of Agriculture said up to now it has as yet to receive any report on significant damage caused by the caterpillar 'invasion' of several areas in Java.
Agriculture Minister Suswono said the outbreak of the caterpillar pest, especial in Probolinggo, only caused damage to about 1.2 percent of the mango plantation there.
"Up to now, no one has reported to have suffered from losses. The attacked plants were not killed and they were not in a flowering condition. The pest outbreak could not yet be categorized as wreaking havoc on the plants," the minister said.
(T.A014/A/HAJM/21:15/.... ) April 9, 2011