GOVT TO STUDY STREET CRIMES FROM EDUCATION ASPECT

By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Feb 28 (Antara) - The Indonesian government will carry out a study to find out whether there is something lacking in its education system that the number of youths committing street crimes against motorists has been increasing of late.          Since early this month, the number of crimes committed by relatively young people against motorists has been increasing. The latest case took place in Pondok Aren, South Tangerang, Banten, where a mugger was burnt to death by an angry mob after he tried to rob a couple of motorists on Tuesday.          Following the Pondok Aren incident, the issue of mugging, wherein people on motorcycles are mostly targeted, has put the spotlight on security in Jakarta and its surrounding areas this week.          The incident occurred at 1 a.m. when four individuals were allegedly on the prowl to rob motorists. The gang attacked Wahyu Hidayat (21) and his friend, Sri Astriani (19), while they were traveling on their motorcycle.          One of the robbers brandished a sword but Sri managed to snatch the weapon while Wahyu screamed for help, attracting passersby. The four robbers then tried to flee the scene but were chased. One of them, S (22), was caught and set on fire on a street.

SHOOT AT SIGHT ORDERS ISSUED TO DEAL WITH MUGGING

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Feb 28 (Antara) - Police officers have been ordered to shoot at sight muggers and extend strong assistance to victims of mugging, following the growing incidence of robberies targeting motorcycle riders in Jakarta's suburbs and satellite towns.         The Jakarta Metropolitan Police recently shot dead seven robbers, who had reportedly hijacked 93 motorists, and taken into custody 244 suspects.         "Mugging victims badly need police assistance because they are facing a difficult situation due to these incidents. The victims, among other things, also need letters from the police that are used for claiming insurance," Abdul Haris Semendawai, the chairman of the Victims and Witness Protection Institute (LPSK) said on Friday.         Robberies targeting motorcyclists have been on the rise and the muggers are now focusing their area of operations in the Jakarta suburbs or buffer towns, such as Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi. However, this crime is also taking place in other provinces in the country.

SPECULATORS CAUSE GAS PRICE RISE IN VARIOUS REGIONS

By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Feb 27 (Antara) - Amid the increasing rice prices due to alleged acts of rice mafia, the price of three-kilogram cylinders of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) is also on the rise in various regions.         The increase in prices of these two commodities are not caused by the shortage of stocks in the market but allegedly caused by distributors or retailers who have orchestrated the conditions to reap more benefits.          In reality, when state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina conducted market operations, it was found that there was no scarcity of stocks in the field.         Thus, the shortage of LPG in several regions is believed to be caused by retailers who are deliberately withholding gas stocks, noted Ahmad Bambang, the marketing director of state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina.         "Retailers want to make more profits by creating a situation that gives the impression that Pertamina has been holding back its stocks," he stated here on Thursday.          After launching market operations, Pertamina has uncovered that only 10 percent of the gas offered during the operations was sold.

GOVT LAUNCHES MARKET OPERATIONS TO STABILIZE RICE PRICE

By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Feb 25 (Antara) - The price of rice, a staple food in the country with a population of over 240 million, has been on the rise since early this month.          At the Cipinang Rice Wholesale Market in Jakarta, the rice prices have risen beyond control. On Tuesday, the price increased by an average of Rp2,200 per kg. While moderate quality rice was sold at Rp10,200 per kg, premium rice price rose from Rp10,000 per kg to Rp12,000 a kg.          At the Kebon Kembang market of Bogor, a satellite town of Jakarta in West Java, rice prices increased by about Rp1,000 to Rp2,000 per kg. The lowest priced-rice, previously sold at Rp6,500 per kg, was sold at Rp6,500 per kg on Tuesday. At the same time, good quality rice cost Rp12,500 per kg, up by about Rp1,500 to Rp2,000 per kg compared to December 2014 and January 2015 prices.          In order to help curb the upward trend of rice prices, Vice President Jusuf Kalla has called on the state logistics board (Bulog) to conduct rice market operations.          "I have told Bulog to release 400 thousand tons of rice in the market. In case this falls short, Bulog should distribute 500 thousand tons. We hope we will have a grand harvest next month. So there should be no worry about rice scarcity in the market," the Vice President said.

INDONESIA DEVELOPS INFRASTRUCTURE TO PREPARE FOR AEC

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Feb 24 (Antara) -- A free flow of goods, people and services will characterize the launch of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' Economic Community (AEC) at the end of this year.          Infrastructure facilities such as roads, airports and seaports will be some of the key factors that will play important roles in the ASEAN free trade. Therefore, Indonesia is developing its infrastructure, particularly in regions that will face the AEC.          So far, enterprises have complained about the lack of adequate infrastructure to carry out businesses in the regions. The availability of good infrastructure will facilitate a smooth flow of goods and services across the country, boost economic activities and increase economic growth.          According to Suhariyanto, the deputy chief of the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), the government's economic growth target of 5.7 percent for 2015 will depend on infrastructure development.          "As we have overcome the subsidy burden, we have funds to develop our infrastructure. So the target of 5.7 percent will largely depend on the use of funds to develop infrastructure," Suhariyanto said recently.

EXECUTION OF FOREIGN DRUG CONVICTS WILL AFFECT TIES TEMPORARILY

By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Feb 21 (Antara) -- The execution of drug convicts given the death penalty in Indonesia is a matter of law enforcement, similar to the execution of terrorists, which is required to fight crimes that threaten the lives of people.          In keeping with this belief, Indonesia has to be consistent and firm with regard to upholding its legal principles without bowing down to political or diplomatic pressures.          However, as the convicts on death row include foreign nationals as well, Indonesia is facing resistance from their home countries. Therefore, the execution of these convicts could result in strained relations with the countries.          In spite of this possibility, analysts believe the strain in relations will only last temporarily. In this case, the problem could affect the political sphere and sovereignty of the country.         The Indonesian government's plan to execute 11 death row convicts, which include foreigners, two of whom are Australian nationals Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, has drawn resistance overseas, particularly from Australia

GOVT WITHDRAWS ANESTHETIC DRUG AFTER TWO PATIENTS' DEATH IN SILOAM

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Feb 20 (Antara) - The death last week of two patients after being administered Bunavest Spinal in Siloam Hospital in Tangerang, Banten, prompted the government to order the withdrawal of the anesthetic drug from all pharmaceutical industry traders.          "We ordered the recall of four kinds of anesthetics from all pharmaceutical industry traders across the country," Health Minister Nila F Moeloek said on Friday.          The Food and Drug Monitoring Agency BPOM has also suspended since Tuesday the distribution permit of Buvanest Spinal, the anesthetic produced by Kalbe Farma following the death of the two patients.          According to corporate communications general manager of Siloam, Heppi Nurfianto, the two patients were injected with Buvanest Spinal before undergoing a caesarian section and urology surgeries on Feb. 11.  They were taken to the ICU for treatment but died the next day.          "We are awaiting results of the investigation first. We have made sure that we had done [the surgery] based on procedures," Heppi was quoted by the Jakarta Globe as saying on Wednesday.          Health Minister Nila F Moeloek said her ministry was still investigating the death of the two patients.

ANTIGRAFT BODY MUST BE REINFORCED AFTER LEADERS' DISCHARGE

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Feb 19 (Antara)  - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) plays an important role in fighting graft in Indonesia, which is ranked 107th on the list of corrupt countries based on the Transparency International rating in December 2014.          Since its establishment in 2003, the KPK has been successful in making changes in the fight against corruption in Indonesia. It has sent numerous corrupt people, including former minister, governor, regent and many others, to jails.          It is only reasonable if corrupt people are afraid of the anti-graft body and try to criminalize it and weaken its function. Many of its leaders such as Antasari Azhar, Bibit Samad Riyanto, Chandra Martha Hamzah, and now Abraham Samad and Bambang Widjojanto, have to face court.

GUNAWAN'S POLICE CHIEF CANDIDACY DROPPED

By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, Feb 18 (Antara) -- The intense conflict between the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the National Police (Polri) seems to have been resolved by President Joko Widodo.          Using his prerogative, the President finally decided on Wednesday to drop the nomination of Commissioner General Budi Gunawan for the post of the national police chief and replaced him with Commissioner General Badrodin Haiti.          In January, President Jokowi had named Budi Gunawan as the sole candidate for the post of the police chief and proposed him to the House of Representatives (DPR) for its approval. However, several days later, the KPK named him as a suspect in a case of corruption, alleging that he had received bribes through suspicious transactions when he headed the Police Headquarters' Career Planning Bureau in the 2003-2006 period.          Following this, the president decided to postpone installing Gunawan, despite the DPR having approved his nomination.

GOVT TO TURN NATUNA INTO FISH PRODUCTION CENTER

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Feb 8 (Antara) - The Indonesian government is resolved to turn Natuna  --an island in Riau Islands Province which is rich in oil deposit and keeps the world's largest gas reserves-- into an integrated fish production and processing center.          Located some 1,250 km north of Jakarta, Natuna is so far known as an island which has a potential of US$628.7 billion worth of gas reserves amounting to 222 trillion cubic feet that could be exploited in 30 years.          Its position in the northern part of the country's waters, which are rich in fishery resources but prone to illegal fishing, makes the government to think of developing the fish processing and production center in the area.          Indonesia's maritime potential consists of water areas which account for two-third of the country's land with a coastline of 95,181 km or the second longest in the world.          Its fisheries export is the fifth largest among the ASEAN countries with a non-tax national income of Rp227 billion in 2013.          Indonesia has the widest sea territory in Asia and the second longest coasts in the world.          Indonesian waters are the habitat of varieties of fish of high commercial value such as tuna. Around 30 percent of the world's tuna fish production comes from Indonesia.          "However, the sea natural wealth had not made Indonesia prosper as a maritime country," Marine and Fishery Minister Susi Pudjiastuti said.          "Indonesia should have become an advanced country because of its sea natural resources," she said.          The government hopes the development of the fish processing center in the Natuna area would help maximally utilize the country's fishery resources and prevent fish poaching by foreign vessels.          The Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) plans to develop a fishery center worth around Rp200-Rp300 billion around Natuna as part of efforts to accelerate maritime growth in the district.          "Natuna will be developed into an integrated fish processing center," Minister Susi Pujiastuti said in Batam on Saturday.

INDONESIA, MALAYSIA TO FOSTER CLOSER TIES

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Feb 7 (Antara) -- Indonesian President Joko Widodo left Kuala Lumpur for Brunei Darussalam on Saturday, after a two-day state visit to Malaysia that is believed to have strengthened relations between the two neighboring countries.          According to Siti Muti'ah Setiawati, a lecturer of international relations at Gadjah Mada University (UGM), the president's visit to Malaysia will improve bilateral relations between the two nations.          Besides deliberating over economic cooperation, they also discussed issues related to common borders and migrant workers, which Indonesia has sent a large number of to Malaysia, so far.          In the economic field, they also discussed cooperation in investment, trade, banking, infrastructure, electricity, tourism and the automotive industry.          During his two-day visit, President Joko Widodo, better known as Jokowi, discussed bilateral issues with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, including maritime border cooperation, improving trade and investment, managing fishermen, sending migrant workers to Malaysia, and educating the children of Indonesian migrant workers in Sabah and Sarawak.

GOVERNMENT BOOSTING BIOFUEL DEVELOPMENT

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Feb 5 (Antara) - The government is boosting the development of biofuels in a bid to substitute conventional fuels as the country's fossil fuel reserves are steadily depleting.          The subsidies, which were earlier given to fossil fuels, are now being redirected by the government to develop biodiesel and bioethanol in order to achieve the goals outlined in its biofuel program.      In implementing this program, the government has put in place a 10-percent biofuel mix of diesel fuel oil called B10. If successful, the biofuel mix will be increased gradually to 20 percent (B20) in 2016, for instance, when the biofuel mix is expected to reach 8 million kiloliters.          With the biofuel mix program, the government, in its national energy program, has set itself a target of 30 percent biofuel consumption by 2015.          Thus, some of the subsidies given to fuel oils, so far, will be diverted to financing the development of biofuels where the government has proposed to the House of Representatives (DPR) to increase the subsidies for biodiesel and bioethanol.

LOWER CLASS PEOPLE DESERVE FREE TAX ON LAND, BUILDING

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Feb 4 (Antara) - The government is considering scrapping land and building taxes (PBB) it collects from owners every year, but some are of the view that it should not generalize all tax payers in imposing the policy.          PBB is one of the main sources of original income (PAD) for regional and city governments. The abolition of PBB collection will significantly reduce their PAD.          Therefore, the government should not generalize PBB payers. It could eliminate its PBB collection from people who are grouped in the lower classes, but it must remain to be imposed on affluent PBB payers.          "If the abolition of the PBB is imposed on the poor, we in the regions will all agree to it," Ahyar Abduh, the Mataram mayor of West Nusa Tanggara Province, said on Saturday.          He said his side supported the government's plan to scrap the PBB but the policy should not be imposed on rich people because they are able to pay it.          The Mataram mayor made the comment in response to the plan of the agrarian and spatial planning minister to scrap the land and building taxes on dwelling houses.          Agrarian and Spatial Planning Minister Ferry Mursyidan Baldan said recently he was considering scrapping land and building tax, which burdens the public.  "This is my opinion. Later people will only pay land and building tax once when they seek land certificate," the minister said last week.