Bangka's Tin Generals
The Indonesian Navy's seizure of the Bina Marine 75 tugboat as it towed a barge loaded with illegal tin exports caused Trade Minister Muhammad Lutfi to make an unscheduled trip to Batam, Riau Islands. Sitting in Sriwijaya Air economy class, Lutfi was accompanied by the director-general of international trade, Bachrul Chairi; the president commissioner of the Indonesia Commodity and Derivatives Exchange (ICDX), Fenny Widjaja; the head of the Commodity Futures Trading Supervisory Agency and a representative of the directorate-general of customs.
It was late March, and Lutfi had only been minister for two months. Upon arrival in Batam, he was met by the commander of the Western Fleet, Vice Admiral Arief Rudianto, and the commander of the Navy Staff and Command School, Rear-Admiral Desi Albert Mamahit. Lutfi and the group were taken directly to the Palm Springs Golf & Beach Resort. Coordinating Minister of Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto, Commander-in-Chief of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) General Moeldoko, Navy Chief of Staff Laksamana Marsetio and National Police Chief General Sutarman were already waiting for them at the resort.
July 15, 2014
The Indonesian Navy's seizure of the Bina Marine 75 tugboat as it towed a barge loaded with illegal tin exports caused Trade Minister Muhammad Lutfi to make an unscheduled trip to Batam, Riau Islands. Sitting in Sriwijaya Air economy class, Lutfi was accompanied by the director-general of international trade, Bachrul Chairi; the president commissioner of the Indonesia Commodity and Derivatives Exchange (ICDX), Fenny Widjaja; the head of the Commod
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