March 8, 2016 edition
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Sidelines
Paranoia
Sidelines
In a house in a dank alley in Paris on March 24, 1897, a 67-year-old man is writing. We do not know who he is. As the Narrator begins his story in Umberto Eco's novel The Prague Cemetery, no one has yet 'been named'.
Even the man himself does not remember who he is. Two days earlier, when he awoke, he knew he was 'Captain Simonini'. But then he discovers other facts: he is Abb Dalla Piccola, "or rather, the person everyone knows as Abb Dalla Piccola."
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Interview
The visit of the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar of Cairo, Egypt, Sheikh Ahmad Muhammad Ahmad Ath-Thayyeb, to Indonesia was to reaffirm the message of peace, as taught in Islam. During the week-long visit in mid-February, Ath-Thayyeb met with various figures, including President Joko Widodo and members of the Indonesia Council of Ulama (MUI) and visited the Gontor Darussalam Modern Islamic Boarding School in Ponorogo, East Java.
Ath-Thayyeb, who is also the rector of Al-Azhar University, is known as a moderate religious scholar. He often propagates peaceful Islamic teachings and is against violence claiming to be based on religious teachings. In Egypt, this 70-year-old man is against the Muslim Brotherhood (Al-Ikhwan al-Muslimin). In fact, he declared that Al-Azhar has never been open to that fundamentalist group.
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On The Record
In Jakarta recently to speak at the annual Panglaykim Lecture Series organized by the Centre for Strategic International Studies (CSIS), Dr. Richard Horton said health must be seen from a holistic perspective: one issue interconnected to another. If we fail to see health problems from that perspective, any preventive or curative measures would fail to achieve the maximum effect.
Horton is honorary professor at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine at the University College in London, a council member of both the UK Academy of Medical Sciences and the University of Birmingham and he is currently co-chair of the WHO Independent Expert Review Group on Accountability for Women's and Children's Health. He took time to speak to share his views with Yuli Ismartono.
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Environment
Teaming up with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), a coalition of NGOs recently released an index ranking mining-sector reform efforts in 12 trouble-spot provinces.
The index is part of a 2014 KPK-led initiative called Korsup Minerba (Supervision of Coordination of Mineral and Coal Governance), which seeks to compel local governments to take remedial actions following a 2009 energy ministry study which noted a full 40 percent of Indonesia's 10,922 locally issued mining permits (IUP) were 'non-clean-and-clear', or illegal in some fashion.
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Travel
I must have rushed through the port of Banyuwangi a hundred times over the past 45 years. The first time was in 1971 when I waded through surf to board a rusty LCU from World War II to cross the Bali Strait to Gilimanuk, at the time just a one-ferry port. The old amphibious landing craft lurched to a stop on the sandy beach beside the single pier. In the shadows, a bemo (three-wheeled motorized vehicle) driver waved and I climbed in for the lonely, all-night drive to Denpasar.
Sometimes I'd stay a few days to take note of how this underrated, curious city has grown and changed over the years. Depending on your perspective, Banyuwangi sits either at the beginning or the end of Java, it is the most easterly major town and the last stop on the railway network that meanders across the island. The administrative capital of Banyuwangi regency, it has a population of around 110,000.
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Law
Soldiers in Jakarta raided the Kostrad (Army Strategic Reserves Command) housing compound in Tanah Kusir two weeks ago, moving in on men of their own. "We received intelligence that a drug ring was operating there," said Kostrad Information chief Lt. Col. Heru on Thursday last week. The afternoon raid involved Kostrad Intel Assault Battalion and the Army Military Police. The At-Taqwa Mosque, located about 300 meters away from the five targeted houses, served as the mission command center.
Those targeted in the raid included Second Sgt. Zakaria, Chief Sgt. Karyawan, Sgt. Maj. Ersing and Sgt. Maj. Suryadi, as well as a civilian named Yayat. Karyawan, Ersing, Suryadi and Yayat are next-door neighbors, while Zakaria lives across the street.At 2:00pm sharp, the command moved in. The troops met no resistance. "I was at home and didn't hear a thing," said Khatmi, Yayat's closest neighbor. Soon afterward, Zakaria and the others were taken to Kostrad adjunct general headquarters. According to Heru, the soldiers were to be handed over to military police and the lone civilian to either the police or the National Narcotics Agency (BNN).
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Opinion
Often, President Joko Widodo's cabinet appears more like a comedy act than a government, particularly when its ministers squabble in public. The recent increase in public differences of opinion over a number of issues gives the impression that the bonds between ministers are weak, and this in turn could lead to the reluctant conclusion that they are a manifestation of weak leadership.
The most controversial figure in the cabinet is Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Resources Rizal Ramli. Since his appointment last August to replace Indroyono Soesilo, he has repeatedly been involved in arguments with other cabinet members. Only a day after he was sworn in, he found himself in a war of words with State-Owned Enterprises Minister Rini Soemarno over Garuda's purchase of wide-bodied jets. He then sparred on the mass media withastonishinglyVice President Jusuf Kalla.
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Indicator
ON February 21, the government announced a new policy on the use of plastic bags in retail stores: Customers shopping in supermarkets will now be charged Rp200 for every plastic bag they use to carry goods home.
The new law is a concrete step made to minimize the volume of plastic litter on land and in sea. Indonesia is today second only to China in terms of plastic marine pollution.
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Outreach
National
Imam Nahrawi, the youth and sports minister, said the move would be dependent on nine conditions. "(These conditions) have to be met to the best of (the PSSI's) ability," he said.
The sports commission has criticized Nahrawi and requested a review of the nine points. The commission has also set an April deadline to lift the PSSI suspension.
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Economy
Low tax uptake from the fisheries sector has prompted Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti to launch another bold initiative. The action includes a review of vessel weights and an increase in fishery-production tax rates for bigger ships. The move is meant to make fishing firms' contribution to state coffers proportional to their incomes.
As a result of the policy, several companies have lodged protests with the House of Representatives (DPR). Susi, however, remains unfazed. At the ministerial housing complex in Widya Chandra, South Jakarta, last week, Susi said she would not hesitate to crack down on shady business practices and the players behind them.
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Cover Story
Hari Tri Wasono's ploy to enter Kiai Idris Marzuki's house worked. Wearing a collarless long-sleeved shirt, slacks and a black fez cap, Hari posed as a boarding school student in order to meet with Idris Marzuki, leader of the Lirboyo Islamic Boarding School in Kediri, East Java.
Early in September 2012, this was Hari's last-ditch effort to meet with Idris. "The administrators of the boarding school always turned down requests for interviews because the topic was too sensitive," said Hari, Tempo correspondent in Kediri.
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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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