HAZE REMAINS PROBLEM FOR ASEAN LEADERS TO SOLVE

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 10 (Antara) - While some parts of Kalimantan were shrouded by haze as a result of forest fires, leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Brunei Darussalam on Wednesday agreed on a haze monitoring system.          Haze has posed a headache to the members of the regional association due to the annual transboundary smog problems over the last 10 years.          As an ASEAN member, which has vast forest areas, Indonesia has been blamed for exporting smoke to its neighbours as a result of forest fires, both due to natural causes and by slash-and-burn practices by nomadic farmers or by large companies opening oil palm plantations.          According to the Ministry of Forestry, about 90 percent of the forest fires are caused by humans or negligence, while the remaining 10 percent occur due to natural causes such as strikes by lightning.          In the last ten years, Indonesia has about 144 million hectares of forest cover but it has declined significantly today. About 77.8 million hectares are designed as production forests, yet some 48 million hectares of the production forests are being neglected.          According to shnews.co online media, Kalimantan, home to one of the country's largest areas of forests, had 300,525 square kilometres (sq km) of forests in 2000; now it has lost some 14,212 sq km.

RI AIMS TO BOOST FOREIGN BUYERS' ATTENDANCE AT TRADE EXPO

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 9 (Antara) - Indonesia is eager to attract at least 10,000 foreign buyers and conclude at least US$2 billion in trade transactions during the Trade Expo Indonesia 2013 (TEI), which will be held in Jakarta from October 16 to 20.          "We have registered more than seven thousand foreign buyers. The expo will begin on October 16, which will still give us time to try and boost the number of buyers to between 9,000 and 10,000," Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan stated last week.          Indonesia has also been stepping up the trade expo's promotions abroad to attract more buyers and achieve its targeted trade transactions.          One such effort to promote the Indonesia Trade Expo 2013 was launched last week by the Indonesian Consulate Office in Tawau, Malaysia.          The Indonesian consulate office in Tawau had invited some 50 Malaysian businessmen from Tawau for a TEI 2013 luncheon, Muhammad Soleh, Indonesia's Consul in Tawau revealed.          He added that the luncheon was organized to provide information about Indonesia's plan to host the 28th TEI in October 2013. Soleh further pointed out that the get-together was organized by the Indonesian consulate in Tawau, with the aim of enrolling some of the luncheon's participants for attending TEI 2013 and trying to exceed the enrolments beyond 17, which was the attendance last year.

APEC FURTHER CEMENTS RI-RUSSIA TIES

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 8 (Antara) - The first session of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit began on Monday after the arrival at noon of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who was the final leader to arrive in Bali.          But there was a special surprise for Putin during the first day of the summit  on Monday, as it coincided with his 61st birthday and APEC leaders congratulated him and sang happy birthday songs for him.          As a special appreciation, host President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono played the guitar to accompany a happy birthday song.          In his opening address at the session, President Yudhoyono welcomed President Putin to the APEC Summit.          The Indonesian President then met the Russian President on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit. The two leaders and their delegations met at Sofitel Hotel at 5 p.m. local time.          President Putin expressed his thanks to Yudhoyono for the surprise he received for his birthday during their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the APEC summit.          "I would like to express my greatest thanks for the congratulation extended to me over my birthday, which is a big and unexpected surprise," the Russian President said. The bilateral meeting was held for about 15 minutes after President Yudhoyono opened the first session.

LEADERS' BILATERAL TALKS MARK FIRST DAY OF APEC SUMMIT

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 7 (Antara) - The two-day Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit was opened by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Monday, as the first day was marked by bilateral meetings among APEC economic leaders.          In his opening address, President Yudhoyono stressed the importance of APEC's role in the development of the region's economy amid today's uncertain economic conditions.          "APEC is increasingly playing an important role in the economic recovery of the Asia-Pacific region. The Asia-Pacific economy will maintain global economic growth," added the president.          Prior to the opening of the summit, President Yudhoyono, who was accompanied by First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, officially greeted the leaders of the 21 APEC member economies on Monday at 8:20 a.m. local time.          Leaders present during Yudhoyono's greeting included Australia's Tony Abbott; Brunei Darussalam's Hasanal Bolkiah; the President of Chile, Sebastian Pinera; the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, C.Y. Leung; Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak; Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe;, the President of Peru, Ollanta Humala; the President of Mexico, Enrique Pena Nieto; the Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper; the President of China, Xi Jinping; New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key; and the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Peter Charles Paire O'Neill.

MK EXPECTED TO NOT SETTLE ELECTIONS DISPUTES

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 6 (Antara) - The Constitutional Court (MK) has been called on to stop handling election disputes following the arrest of its chief Akil Mochtar over an alleged bribe related to a dispute on regional head election.          The right to settle election disputes given to the Constitutional Court (MK) has dragged the country's highest judicial body into practical politics that is prone to intrigues and power abuses.          Deputy House Speaker Pramono Anung Wibowo suggested that the Constitutional Court should return to its authority based on the 1945 Constitution, namely controlling the law from deviating from the Constitution.      According to Pramono, the MK as a state institution which supervises the implementation of the Constitution has actually performed better but on the other hand its right to settle regional head election disputes has dragged it into practical politics.          He said that the authority of the MK was increased with the issuance of Law No. 8 / 2011 on Elections that gave it the right to settle regional head election disputes.          "Thus, the opening gate begins here. Once it involves in practical politics, its senior justice, even if he has grown grey hair and should have no longer lust, could finally be enticed," the Deputy House Speaker said.          Pramono made the remarks in response to the arrest of the MK chairman over an alleged corruption case.

RI EAGER TO BECOME REGIONAL POWER THROUGH APEC

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 5 (Antara) - What benefit can Indonesia reap in hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Nusa Dua, Bali, after Indonesia spent some Rp365 billion from the state budget to host the international event?     How far can APEC extend its role in supporting the country's economic and trade growth, when many countries are reinforcing their own domestic economies as a result of the on-going economic meltdowns?     "We want to leave traditional markets far behind, as there are many weaknesses there. We want to expand international cooperation. More open trade will benefit Indonesia," Arto Suryodipuro, director for Intra Asia-Pacific and Africa Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told reporters on Thursday, as quoted by ekonomibisnis.suarasurabaya.net online media.          He said that today is no longer an era for Indonesia to continuously depend upon traditional products and traditional markets, but the country had to expand its market destinations with different products.          In developing its product diversification, Indonesia has to expand its economic cooperation and set its targeted markets. After all, about 56 percent of trade and business deals in the world are conducted in the Asia Pacific region, which hosts 40 percent of the world population.

ARREST OF CHIEF JUSTICE RAISES DEMAND FOR DEATH PENALTY

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Oct 5 (Antara) - Increasing cases of corruption committed by public officials is resulting in calls for enacting the death penalty following the conviction of corrupt officials.          The public has been frustrated amid efforts to cleanse the country of graft, yet corruption continues to take place.          The arrest of Chief Justice Akil Mochtar of the Constitutional Court (MK) by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Wednesday was just one in a series of arrests made of high ranking officials.          "The arrest of Akil Mochtar by the KPK added more proof to the fact that corruption has penetrated all state institutions," Emerson F Yuntho, a leader of Indonesian Corruption Watch (IWC), said.      He added that the arrest of the Constitutional Court chairman is a disaster for the country's Constitution.          A similar concern was also expressed by officials of Indonesian Police Watch (IPW), saying the public has been frustrated by the MK leader being mired in a graft case.          The Corruption Eradication Commission on Wednesday arrested Chairman of the Constitutional Court Akil Mochtar on charges of receiving bribes from a lawmaker and a businessman, in connection with a dispute related to the election of the head of the Gunung Mas district in Central Kalimantan.          He was caught allegedly accepting US$260 thousand from a Golkar party lawmaker, identified as CHN, and a businessman, CN. KPK spokesman Johan Budi said the KPK could only acknowledge that a total value of Rp2.7 billion in dollar and rupiah currencies had been confiscated following the KPK's search of Akil Mochtar's official residence.