October 6, 2015 edition
Sidelines
There's an old pair of shoes that became famous, far beyond the thoughts of their unknown maker.
In 1886, the Dutch artist Van Gogh, who was then living in Paris, went to a flea market. He saw a pair of shoes and bought them. One rainy day he went out walking in them, and walked for a long time. He wanted to wear the shoes outbefore painting them. It is claimed he said, "Dirty shoes and roses can both be good in the same way."
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Horizons
Driving her small car to work every morning, Evie feels quite at home zigzaging through the traffic jam, "just like back in Jakarta," she said, heading towards the prestigious El Colegio de Mexico, which has been her place of work for almost two decades. But for a twist of fate, Evie would have been teaching at a university in Tokyo, Japan, in 1997. Instead, she flew to Mexico City on the other side of the world, and what was to have been a three-year posting turned out to be an indefinite stay. "I fell in love with the place," said Evie, explaining her reason for staying on.
In 1966, Evie was lecturing at the faculty of literature at the University of Indonesia, when department head Prof. Sapardi Djoko Damono, opened up the opportunity to teach Indonesian language in Tokyo and she had signed up. But then came the offer to teach for two years in Mexico, starting immediately. She was only given one night to make a decision. Evie decided to take it, rationalizing that she could still work in Japan in 1998, after her stint in Mexico.
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Interview
Richard Joost Lino, the current CEO of state-owned Pelindo II, is known for his straight talk and penchant for betting. This is evident in how he faces challenges and opposition, whether from his own employees, his colleagues or even government ministers. Recently, Lino was reported to the police by Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician, Masinton Pasaribu, who is also a former Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) official, for allegedly giving a gratuity to State-Owned Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno.
The public is unlikely to forget how Lino stood up against Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Natural Resources Rizal Ramli, also known for his sometimes injudicious language, over the damage at the port area caused by a project overseas by Rizal, as well as charges that Lino used State funds to place ads in a number of major media organizations.
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Environment
Anew study claims that with better-targeted conservation laws, there is still time to save the critically endangered Sumatran Rhinoceros. The report is based on an analysis of nearly a 6,000-square kilometer area in Sumatra, making it the most extensive study of the elusive, critically endangered mammal to date.
Globally, the population of Sumatran rhinos has plummeted, dropping from an estimated 600 individuals in 1985 to between 90-180 today, mainly due to poaching and deforestation. After being declared extinct in Malaysia last month, the only rhinos left roam in certain pockets of Sumatra, where rampant deforestation is an ongoing threat to their survival.
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Opinion
The simultaneous local and regional elections of chief executives with sole or unopposed candidates will finally be able to take place. The Constitutional Court last week allowed sole or unopposed running mates to take part, thus avoiding any delays or postponements. Hence, the December 9 regional and local elections will take place with three of the localities having sole or unopposed running mates.
The Court decreed that in those particular places, the method of election will be similar to that of a referendum. Voters will just need to vote in their approval or disapproval of the candidates. The General Elections Commission (KPU) has been given the green light to proceed in setting up the technicalities.
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Letters
An Open Letter from an Illegal Student
I come from Kalikur village, a remote place in Lembata, along the coast of Flores, East Nusa Tenggara. It is so isolated that reaching my village alone is a difficult task. I am an unofficial student at the 'illegal' university, Yayasan Aldiana Nusantara, which recently became a hot topic of discussion by the public and in the media.
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Outreach
Hana Salomina Hikoyabi is an activist from Papua, who uses her bureaucratic savvy to get things done. She was vice chair of the Papua People's Assembly during the 2006-2011 period and is currently the head of the Regional Development Planning Board for Jayapura Regency. Hana founded the tabloid Suara Perempuan Papua (Voice of Papuan Women), to publicize issues related to violence against women, the need to acknowledge people living with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), for information on access to justice and the conservation of Papua's mega-biodiversity.
The tabloid has been influential in changing perceptions on gender in Papua, and she is not giving up on the idea that women should continue aiming for 30 percent representation in the legislature. For her unrelenting advocacy to give voice to the women's plight in Papua, she was presented with the 2015 SK Trimurti Award by the Indonesian Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) at the beginning of September.
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National
The Constitutional Court last Tuesday granted part of the judicial review request regarding single candidacies in Law No. 8/2015 on gubernatorial, regent and mayoral elections. The verdict gave the green light to regions with single-pair candidates to hold regional head elections.
Judge Suhartoyo rules an election law requiring more than a single pair of contestants has the potential to threaten the public's right to vote. "The individual right to vote and be voted should not be held hostage to regulations," he said. However, the court turned down the proposal presented by Effendi Gazali and Yayan Sakti Suyandaru for voters to check a blank box in lieu of a second set of candidates.
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Law
DOZENS of people were beating Salim, savagely, as his 13-year-old child looked on. They struck the 52-year-old man repeatedly, using sticks, wooden blocks and other objects. The child, Dio Eka Saputra, was running back and forth, shouting for help. None of his neighbors came to his father's aid.
Dio began to cry. A man turned to him and snarled, "You shut up or I'll kill you!" Dio told Tempo on Sunday last week.
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Weekly Business
OIL
Pertamina Lowers jet fuel Price
Pertamina has lowered the price of avtur jet fuel by 5.23 percent. The price decrease is effective for purchases at Soekarno-Hatta Airport starting October 1, 2015. "It's an initial step for avtur price adjustments in Indonesia," said a spokesperson for the state oil and gas company, Wianda Pusponegoro, on Wednesday last week.
Pertamina Lowers jet fuel Price
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Economy
A dragonfly plane flies low and slow in the skies over Cilangkap village, Banten, last week. The Dakota Piper PA-28 aircraft is clearly visible from a signpost marked 'International Airport Area, Lebak, Banten.'
"Every day one flies over. Yesterday eight were flying at the same time," said Jalaluddin, 50, a nearby resident.
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Cover Story
One evening at the end of 1952, 17 young Indonesians reached Clark Air Base in the Philippines. In the night, they were transported to Saipan island in the middle of the South Pacific, which has served as a US military base since 1950. "On hand was Central Intelligence Agency [CIA] instructor Gilbert Layton," wrote military intelligence observer Ken Conboy in his book, Intel: Inside Indonesia's Intelligence Service.
Gilbert Layton, a reserve cavalry officer during the Second World War, was assigned by the CIA to train the Indonesians to become intelligence agents.
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Tempo Talks
Improving Connectivity, Boosting Cooperation
This year, Indonesia and India mark 75 years of diplomatic relations. However, the ties between the two nations have existed much longer, predating the establishment of the Republic of Indonesia and the Republic of India. These connections span social, cultural, religious, economic, and trade aspects. But do those close ties of the past have any bearing on the present relationship? Why is there no direct flight between the capitals of the two countries?
Indian Ambassador to Indonesia and Timor-Leste, Sandeep Chakravorty, shares his views on this matter at TEMPO TALKS.
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