November 11, 2014 edition
Eco Solution Clarifies
An article from Tempo's investigation in its November 3-9 issue sources PT Eco Solution Lombok (ESL). Tempo writes in the lead paragraph that "Thousands of hectares of prime tourism sites around West Nusa Tenggara, from the island of Lombok to neighboring Sumbawa, are occupied by foreigners. Conspiring with Indonesian notaries and authorities and masquerading as investors when they only intend to speculate, they take advantage of legal loopholes to skirt the law, which prohibits foreigners from owning land. They are even buying up protected forestland."
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More Letters articles in other editions
November 4, 2014 edition
January 1, 1970 edition
Bank Mandiri Credit Card's Powerpoints
I am a holder of Mandiri Platinum Visa credit card, said to offer double powerpoints (two points for every Rp2,500 transaction). Since my billing statement for August, the number of powerpoints entitled me has never been accurate.
From August to October, I used my credit card for total transactions worth more than Rp60 million, which entitles me to more than 8,000 additional powerpoints.
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January 1, 1970 edition
January 1, 1970 edition
On Benny Moerdani
Tempo's special report The Unknown Soldier published in its October 6-12 issue is a fine, drama-filled 'artistic' surprise. I hope it will be re-written into a screenplay and that a filmmaker will produce the movie. God willing it would be welcome in the world of moviemaking.
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January 1, 1970 edition
Indonesia, Marijuana Haven
I was once sent by my office on a business trip to the Netherlands and some other European countries. In the Netherlands, I met up with several western colleagues in a cafe. At one point during the meeting I was taken aback when they expressed their admiration for Indonesian marijuana. According to them, Indonesian marijuana is far more pleasant than the Latin American version, albeit it is pricer.
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January 1, 1970 edition