MINING
KPK To Target Mining IUPs

A revision of the 2016 budget is a matter of the utmost emergency. After the first quarter, it is crystal clear just how off-target the realized budget will be. If this weak signal persists, market confidence and, ultimately, the country's credibility will suffer.

The Panama Papers, which are creating shock waves around the world, have implicated some current government officials in Indonesia. The papers mention Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) Chairman Harry Azhar Azis as being a director of Sheng Yue International Ltd., a company registered in the British Virgin Islands. Is it true that he founded a company in that tax haven? On Tuesday last week, Harry answered the question with a single word, "No."

HASBULLAH Thabrany thinks that the government does not show sufficient commitment to provide good health care services for the people, particularly populations living in remote areas. "But we have sufficient data to know what people in any given area need the most, so in fact the government should be able to provide it," he said.

'TO hit with someone else's hand'.

Ono Surono's Right of Reply

There are still unanswered questions about the detention at the end of last month of three people allegedly about to bribe to a prosecutor. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), which caught the three men red-handed, still owes an explanation. The public should not be left uncertain as to why the person suspected of taking the bribe seems to have remained untouched.

The operation was planned by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) back in mid-March. KPK officials were placed on standby at a number of locations throughout Jakarta that day two weeks ago. Officers were told to keep an eye on several persons, all of whom were suspected of preparing for a bribe handoff.

DORIS Leuthard, Vice President of Switzerland, could not be more pleased with her state visit to Indonesia from March 31 to April 1. The trade value between the two countries has increased twofold from last year, with predictions for a further increase next year. She lauded the Indonesian government's efforts to make investing in the country easier for foreign companies.

Richard Zimmerman, Orangutan Outreach executive director, was in a panic. When I recently contacted him for this story, he had just learned that 13 orangutansincluding two babieswere trapped in a small patch of rainforest in Central Kalimantan that was about to be destroyed and converted into a palm oil plantation. "There isn't enough food for them and they have no way to escape. They will starve to death unless they are relocated to a safe area. If they stay there, they'll wander onto the neighboring plantation in search of food. The adults will be slaughtered. The babies will be captured alive and sold to animal smugglers in the illegal pet trade. We cannot allow this to happen," he said.

The Press Council has a new leader. He is Yosep Adi Prasetyo. Stanley, as he is better known, replaces Bagir Manan who held the position since 2013. Stanley was elected on March 23 by an internal council, defeating his rival candidate Sinyo Harry Sarundajang to win five out of the nine votes.

Ecce homo! What did he mean? What did the Roman Imperial Procurator, speaking in Latin, want from the people of Jerusalem crowding impatiently beneath the balcony? Was his shout directed towards Caiaphas and the other religious leaders present, who were demanding that 'this man' be sentenced to death?

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.