The Bogus Commitment to Safeguarding Biodiversity
There is an increasingly real threat to Indonesia’s biodiversity. It cannot be overcome through empty slogans at international forums.
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There is an increasingly real threat to Indonesia’s biodiversity. It cannot be overcome through empty slogans at international forums.
KPU Chair Mochammad Afifuddin on turbulence within his institution following the dismissal of Hasyim Asy’ari, and the Constitutional Court’s decision on the regional head elections.
Various parties from the National Police Chief to the State Palace are accused of interfering in the KPK leadership candidates selection process. The candidates are divided into four clusters.
Tempo’s interview with Minister of Communication and Informatics Budi Arie Setiadi about Jokowi’s campaign before the end of his tenure.
As President Jokowi's term neared its end, instructions were given to promote the government's achievements, and billions of rupiah in contracts were offered to the media.
Jakarta governor and deputy governor candidates promise improvements in inclusive public transportation.
Supreme Court Chief Justice Muhammad Syarifuddin uses artificial intelligence to handle cases. Case brokers continue to be a threat.
Media companies are experiencing upheaval due to the rapid changes in the business landscape. The industry is moving towards a new equilibrium.
Using a variety of pretexts, the political parties replace elected legislative candidates. This is a betrayal of the people’s choice.
Hendra Sabarudin’s drug network distributed methamphetamine from Tarakan prison starting in 2017, allegedly aided by police and prison guards.
The government plans to dredge 17.6 billion cubic meters of sea sand and sediment, altering the landscape and destroying marine life.
The government designated a number of areas as zones for cleaning sediment and sea sand.
Anindya Bakrie ousts Arsjad Rasjid from the position of General Chair of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin). The Palace’s support shifted.
Anindya Bakrie ousted Arsjad Rasjid as the Chair of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin). The organization is becoming like a political party and enjoys large funds coming in from overseas.
Gubernatorial candidates are trying to win over the votes of Anies Baswedan supporters in the Jakarta regional election. Jokowi reportedly shifted his support.
Pramono Anung and Ridwan Kamil shed light on the dynamics surrounding their appointments as Jakarta gubernatorial candidates.
Police uncover baby trafficking syndicate operating in Java-Bali since 2023. Five babies were already sold.
News summary on the conflict of interest of KPK leadership candidates and 44 ministries in Prabowo’s government.
Commission III of the House of Representatives rejected all the Supreme Court judge candidates proposed by the Judicial Commission. The rejection allegedly was due to their favored candidate failed to pass.
The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) strives to counter candidates supported by the Palace. It is an early projection for the 2029 General Elections.
BRIN is designing the Peluit-40 nuclear reactor to replace diesel power plants, claiming it to be safer.
The Bocor Alus Politik podcast receives the Udin Award that we dedicate to our viewers and readers.
An exclusive Tempo interview with Anies Baswedan regarding his chances to run in the Jakarta regional head election.
Jokowi and Prabowo’s coalition are maneuvering to thwart Anies Baswedan’s candidacy in the Jakarta regional head election. Cabinet posts are being offered as inducements.
Tommy Hermawan Lo’s name emerges following the mention of Mr. T in online gambling that involves human trafficking case. He is a director at a casino management company.
Victims of human trafficking for online gambling and scamming in Cambodia claimed of being forced to work 12-hour shifts and being beaten. Recruitment is still ongoing.
The battle in the presidential election is set to continue in regional head elections. The PDI-P is determined to challenge President Joko Widodo’s candidates.
Personal protective equipment corruption suspect, Budi Sylvana, denied inflicting up to Rp300 billion of losses to the state. He revealed the roles of other officials in the case.
Muhammadiyah follows Nahdlatul Ulama’s step to accept mining concession offer from the government. Muhammadiyah General Chair Haedar Nashir explains about it.
Muhammadiyah accepts the government’s mining concession offer. Many members are against it. Busyro Muqoddas, Chair of Muhammadiyah’s Law and Human Rights Council explains.
Muhammadiyah cadres and administrators are divided in their response to the mining concession. There are whispers from the government and the entrepreneurs.
Retno Marsudi dismissed the idea that the government is merely meddling foreign affairs. She emphasized that Indonesia is a trusted partner on the international stage.
Chair of IDI, Mohammad Adib Khumaidi, discusses the polemic over the plan to allow foreign doctors to practice in Indonesia. He emphasizes stringent regulations are necessary.
Communication and Informatics Minister Budi Arie explains the cyberattack on the Temporary National Data Center. He dismisses allegations of negligence.
Infinite Earth responds regarding the revocation of Rimba Raya Conservation’s ecosystem restoration permit.
There will be a wave of layoffs at Tokopedia as a result of inefficient practices. This is the result of government policy rife with conflicts of interest.
The PDI-P is preparing to replace Hasto Kristiyanto after he was questioned by the KPK in the Harun Masiku case. They are wary of the Palace’s interference.
The founders of GoTo and Tokopedia sold their shares. New investors now have control of ownership.
Tokopedia made significant cuts in its workforce following its business consolidation with TikTok. A consequence of inefficient business operation.
Muhammadiyah’s business networks cover various sectors, from education to financial services. It seeks to create a closed economic ecosystem.
Muhammadiyah withdrew trillions of rupiah from Bank Syariah Indonesia. It was the accumulation of various problems, from operational matters to appointment of commissioners.
Communication and Informatics Minister Budi Arie Setiadi talks about the polemic over the planned revision of the Broadcasting Law and the Starlink Internet service.
Narendra Modi is likely to serve his third term as the Prime Minister of India. His campaigns are based on populism and religion.
The fintech lending business is increasingly losing steam. Returns continue to decline while fund owners are opting for other investment portfolios.
Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno assures that the tourism fee will not be imposed on plane tickets.
The Constitutional Court rejected lawsuits disputing the results of the 2024 presidential election. The option of disqualifying Gibran was discussed in a meeting of the judges.
Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi explains the Gaza war and the Iran-Israel conflict with its impact on Indonesia’s economy.
Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) cannot be closed even if they do not have a license from the government. There is no protection from the Ministry of Religious Affairs if legal problems arise.
The Rabithah Alawiyah organization is in charge of recording and preserving the line of descent of the Alawiyyin in Indonesia. Seven books from Yemen serve as their guide.
Several companies are applying for permits to utilize sediment, including sea sand. Large corporations use landfills for land reclamation areas.
Indigenous people are taking legal action against the President and the DPR for delaying deliberations of a bill. It has taken second place to the interests of investors.
State banks stop distributing loans to state construction companies. Government assignment projects are burdening banks.
The government opens the option of switching energy subsidies for the free lunch program. This threatens poor households.
The government issues a regulation to develop the game industry. There will be a special funding agency.
Discussions of the Asset Recovery Draft Law is stagnating in the DPR. It is key to preventing money laundering.
TikTok Shop’s acquisition of Tokopedia changes the Indonesian business map. It is not clear how small and medium enterprises will be protected.
The prosecutor persists in filing a cassation against the acquittal of Haris Azhar and Fatia Maulidiyanti. It is a threat to the freedom of expression.
GoTo CEO Patrick Waluyo reveals the story behind the selling of Tokopedia shares to TikTok. How much profit did GoTo get?
The integration of TikTok Shop with Tokopedia will reinforce GoTo’s business. Indonesia’s e-commerce competition landscape is changing.
The presidential and vice-presidential candidates are relying entirely on gimmicks to exploit the emotions of the people. This moves the campaign away from substantive discussions.
Do the presidential candidates succeed in attracting young voters with social media gimmicks?
Budiman Sudjatmiko persuades other activists to support Prabowo Subianto. He claims he is not motivated by money.
How does the Indonesian Solidarity Party get its funding? Is the aid from conglomerate bosses like Djarum’s owner true?
Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko is writing regarding his alleged interference in electric vehicle policy over Wuling’s SNI certification.
Post-Firli Bahuri, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is still walking backward toward its grave. A radical reform is needed.
The presidential candidates’ campaign teams are an illustration of the type of government they would form if elected. Businesspeople have a central role.
The Corruption Eradication Commission is no longer independent ever since it became part of the executive body. The fruit of the revised KPK Law.
In Indonesia, presidential candidate debates are planned as bogus performances. There is no in-depth discussion of the issues.
Yet again, a member of the Supreme Audit Agency is involved in corruption. The system for selecting these state auditors is very poor.
Judicial Commission Chairman Amzulian Rifai explains the boundaries of his authority in dealing with judges, and the Judicial Commission Bill.
Sandiaga Uno and Garibaldi Thohir’s company is in conflict with local miners. The amount of compensation is considered inadequate.
Having no democratic legitimacy, Gibran Rakabuming Raka must withdraw his candidacy for the vice-presidency.
Tempo's special interview with MKMK Chairman Jimly Asshiddiqie regarding the dismissal of Anwar Usman as Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court.
The program to put coal-fired power plants (PLTU) into early retirement is hampered by funding problems. As grants are stuck, the state budget must be disbursed.
Nepotism is the close relative of corruption and dictatorship. The Indonesian Independence Proclamation places nepotism as a threat to independence.
Constitutional Court Chief Justice Anwar Usman is reportedly maneuvering to lower the minimum age limit for presidential and vice-presidential candidates, paving the way for Gibran.
The Constitutional Court reportedly already made a decision in favor of a lawsuit regarding the minimum age requirement for presidential and vice-presidential candidates. The issue is rife with conflicts of interest.
Carbon trading is simply a way to mitigate climate change. The main aims are the energy transition and environmental protection.
The Indonesian Stock Exchange established four carbon trading mechanisms. There were 27 transactions in three schemes in the initial sale.
Presidential candidates’ supporters are creating unfavorable atmosphere in the build-up to the 2024 general elections with them more inclined to speak about rivals’ weaknesses than promoting their champions’ profiles.
The 2024 presidential candidates are competing to garner support from retired generals. This perpetuates the militaristic nature of Indonesian politics.
The plan from the OJK to introduce carbon units as securities could lead to problems. Carbon trading no longer means a reduction in emissions.
The three soldiers who allegedly killed a civilian should be tried in a criminal court. The Military Courts Law needs to be revised.
The OJK regulates carbon exchanges as a securities trading platform. How will the OJK prevent greenwashing in the carbon exchange?
The news in our media is problematic. Why is that?
Voluntary carbon trading has stopped since 2021, due to upside down policies.
Individuals and companies are already implementing carbon trading in the voluntary market. But no price standard has been set.
News summary, from the dismissal on Budiman Sudjatmiko to Food Estate.
Former Director-General of Mineral and Coal, Ridwan Djamaluddin, is named as suspect in the Mandiodo Block nickel corruption case.
Why did the prominent figures from Papua fail to bring the Papuans to support the Republic of Indonesia?
The government faces difficulties accommodating kidney donors and recipients. The need for kidney donors is high, but the supply is very limited.
The police exposes Indonesian kidney trafficking network in Cambodia. The victims are enticed through social media.
The government removed the conditions for electric motorcycle subsidy recipients. It will be made available to everyone.
The National Genome Center set up in 2018 is gone. Does it change into the Biomedical and Genome Science Initiative of the Health Ministry?
A lower credit rating makes the United States government to charge higher interest rates. It naturally spreads to other countries’ securities, including Indonesia.
The support for Prabowo Subianto from Budiman Sudjatmiko and other 1998 activists is a form of political pragmatism. A disavowal of justice for the victims.
Adipratnia Satwika Asmady was behind the launch of Satria-1 satellite. She controlled the satellite’s designing and assembly until it soared into the sky.
Central Sulawesi designates six indigenous community forests as strategic areas in its Spatial Planning Design. This is a first for Indonesia.
Interview with Christos Christou, International President, Doctors Without Borders (MSF)
“Only 30 percent of the children with TBC in Indonesia were diagnosed.”
Two pangolin scale smuggler groups were arrested in three different cities. A recidivist was involved.
Prabowo shows some changes in his economic approach. The market is unconvinced yet.
The government is only depending on providing subsidies and incentives to stimulate the electric vehicle industry. Development of EV ecosystem is ignored.
General Andika Perkasa is calling for a non-military approach to resolve conflicts in Papua. It is considered not effective unless troops are withdrawn.
The Constitutional Court ruled that the Job Creation Law is unconstitutional but ‘constitutional’. The ruling is riddled with compromises and intervention.
President Jokowi proposed General Andika Perkasa as the new TNI commander despite the fact he will only serve 13 months. There is a strong aroma of politics.
The communication and informatics ministry has announced the result of the multiplexing (mux) organizers’ selection process. However, a number of private television broadcasters protested it. Communication and Informatics Minister Johnny Gerard Plate spoke to Tempo’s Khairul Anam.
The Balongan refinery exploded when the refurbishment project had just started. It became a new problem for Pertamina amidst other difficulties in running the refinery mega project.
Jokowi’s administration is prioritizing prevention rather than prosecution of corruption. This will only nurture collusion.
Masela Block’s development is entering a new chapter. Amid preparations for Rp280 trillion project’s front-end engineering design, the contractor received a visit from businessman Tomy Winata, who offered his port in Tual to serve as a logistics base. With regional government officials giving their support, it is believed that accepting the tycoon’s proposal would only cause costs to swell.
The storm at the heart of Asuransi Jiwasraya shows latent problems with all state-owned companies: poor financial management and imprudent investments.
THE House of Representatives (DPR) Budget Committee and the finance ministry approved a subdistrict budget allocation at a meeting held.
The KPK suspects that Sofyan Basir played a major role in selecting the consortium for the Riau-1 PLTU project, which has been marred by a bribery case. It is suspected that a number of meetings were held at the home of that PLN CEO in order to discuss the project. Former DPR Speaker Setya Novanto and Idrus Marham have also become entangled in the case.
The government is now more eager than ever to develop and promote its tourism village program. Among the 74,954 villages spread across Indonesia, 1,902 villages gifted with cultural riches and arresting natural landscapes offer tremendous potentials for tourism. Among them is the remote Merabu village in East Kalimantan, endowed with karst hills and prehistoric handprints hidden in caves. There is also the Bahitom village in Central Kalimantan, where villagers are now working to develop an organic farming program for food self-sufficiency and agrotourism. Over the past several years, residents of both villages have been striving to improve local economies through tourism. Tempo English reports.
Nearly half of all Indonesians do not have proper sanitation.
Gatot Nurmantyo has been courting Islamic groups since the 212 mass protest. Some say, perhaps to boost his popularity.
The DPRD has again begun an enthusiastic discussion on the regional budget. New projects were included and the budget allocation for old projects was increased by Rp3 trillion.
Data recording for the e-KTP has been chaotic. Problems from corruption to unreliable data network have caused many to feel unsure whether or not they will receive their life long e-KTP card.
Since being inaugurated into office in October 2014, President Joko Widodo has gone full speed ahead. He announced the beginning of a number of infrastructure projects all around the country. His aim was to overcome the lack of development. This mainly applied to the electricity sector, marine toll routes, and the Trans-Papua roadway. Compared to neighboring countries, the shortage of primary infrastructure is alarming. However, if not fiscally prudent, these massive projects could eat away at the budget. Some of the work requires towering costs.
While many Indonesians are aware of the relentless efforts to preserve Indonesian wildlife, only a handful are interested in protecting neglected domestic animals. According to Garda Satwa Indonesia, there are 12 million strays living in Jakarta alone and the number is even higher in areas with very few rescue organizations and animal shelters. To make matters worse, animal abuse is also a common occurrence. Pontianak Stray Cats Care (Poscar) works together with Pontianak locals to raise awareness on animal welfare, and has rescued hundreds of stray cats in the West Kalimantan capital. Meanwhile, Welia Iyah, a young kiosk owner from Amuntai, South Kalimantan, runs a small cat shelter single-handedly in her house. To commemorate World Animal Day on October 4, Tempo English reports.
The FBI was able to question Johannes Marliem before his death. He admitted to bribing Indonesian officials, including Setya Novanto, to win the bidding on an electronic ID card project.
Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo's administration continues to intensify infrastructure development, including the completion of a megaproject inherited from former President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Infrastructure development under Jokowi's administration, as follows:
Police Academy Governor Anas Yusuf is said to be involved in a dispute between Low Kok Thyeor Dr. Nickand Suryo Tan during his tenure as East Kalimantan regional police chief, a duty he was released from a year ago.
To police investigators, Nick said he gave Rp6.05 billion to Suryo Tan, who claimed he would give it to Anas Yusuf to help ease the process of buying Lentera Inti Prima's coal concession. On the second Friday of December, Anas spoke to Tempo's Rofiuddin on the charges.
The acting Jakarta governor canceled 13 project auctions submitted before the budget was approved. An effort to appease political parties?
GAMAL Nasir has more than 30 years of experience working with the government's agricultural department. A graduate in agricultural economics from Padjajaran University, he believes that Indonesia produces many valuable commodities that can do well in the international market, and cocoa is one with the most potential among them.
Today, Indonesia is the world's third biggest producer of cocoa beans after Ghana and the Ivory Coast, producing more than 700,000 tons last year. Yet, Gamal feels that Indonesia can do better. Some 1.7 million hectares of cocoa plantations are spread throughout the archipelago, planted and managed by 1.6 million farmers. "This commodity has so much potential, we can probably be the second largest, or even the number one producer of cocoa beans in the world," he claimed.
A COMEDY. This seems to be the proper way to describe the recent Golkar Party chairman election.
Setya Novanto, a former party treasurer and disgraced speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR), won the election somewhat anticlimactically. His closest challenger was Ade Komarudin, the current DPR speaker.
Women's participation in politics in Indonesia is still low. The number of female legislators in the House of Representatives (DPR) for the 2014-2019 term is only 97, or 17.32 percent of the total number of parliamentarian seats. This is what is making Indonesia's legislature and policymaking not pro-women and children.
Heru Prasetyo Kasidi, the deputy minister in charge of gender issues at the women's empowerment and child protection ministry, called for an increase of women in the legislature. He said the government was attempting to raise the participation of women in politics through a variety of training programs. "Ideally, women should have a more equal role to men in the public sector, including in politics and development," said Heru.
Leonika Sari Njoto Boedioetomo is a bright and cheerful young woman. She is also smart.At a young age, Leonika is rated one of Asia's young influential leaders by ForbesAsia magazine. She is regarded as an inspiration for creating the Reblood app.
Reblood is a site or application that connects interested would-be donors with various blood drives in Surabaya. It provides a slew of information on the events themselves, while at the same time getting users to fill in relevant personal information, especially about their individual blood types.
President Joko Widodo welcomed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to the Presidential Palace on Monday to discuss cooperation in water management, renewable energy and education.
"We just had a friendly and productive bilateral meeting. There were a number of matters discussed, including cooperation in several areas," said Jokowi after the meeting.
Until today, it is fair to say that the government has never given any opportunity nor political recognition to fisherwomen. The bill on the protection and empowerment of fishermen, fish farming and salt mining currently drafted by the House of Representatives (DPR) is an opportunity to accomodate such a need. R. Narmoko Prasmadji said he would try to ensure that the bill contain clauses favoring fisherwomen's empowerment. "There should be legal and economic protection for fisherwomen," said Narmoko. Tempo English contributor Pujani Nadine Kamarwan interviewed him at his office in Jakarta two weeks ago. Excerpts:
TO promote organic farming these past three years, Putro Santoso Kurniawan has been managing the 100-member Association of Indonesian Farmers' Cooperatives in Bogor, West Java. Through these cooperatives, farmers can sell their produce directly to consumers. "This is our way of ensuring that the prices of organic products remain accessible to the farmers," said 40-year-old Putro, a graduate of the Bogor Institute of Agriculture. He claims the limited production at the moment and the long supply chain have made organic products expensive to consumers. "This process benefits the distributors," said Putro, but discourages buyers. As a result, farmers become discouraged and in the end, many choose to go back to using chemical-based fertilizers.
Two weeks ago, Putro spoke with Tempo English by telephone on a number of ways and strategies of spreading the concept of organic farming and how to make it succeed. Excerpts:
Founded in 1948, Interbat is one of the country's top five pharmaceutical companies. It manufactures more than 270 pharmaceutical products, some of which are exported to Africa and other countries in Asia. Two months ago, Tempo came upon a document that triggered suspicions of Interbat paying doctors and hospitals in several regions to sell its drugs.
Interbat's CEO Noto Sukamto refused Tempo's request for an interview and instead referred us to the company's lawyer, Pieter Talaway. Talaway rejected all the allegations, claiming that Interbat was the victim of slander by some of the company's disgruntled employees. "There's plenty of unpleasant talk," he said at his Surabaya office two weeks ago.
A sudden rainshower during early fall in Berlin prompted writers and literary figures from various countries to seek shelter under the author's tent. They stood close to each other in protection of the cold wind that blew across the tent, drinking and refilling their wine.
Last September, the Internationales Literaturfestival Berlin featured many names normally found in book racks, such as Elif Shafak, Kazuo Ishiguro, Roddy Doyle, Michael Cunningham, Wole Soyinka and Martin Amis, as well as Ha Jin, a literary figure from China, now living in exile in the United States. All day long, he was surrounded by journalists.
ON the first day that Anies Baswedan began his job as minister for culture and elementary and secondary education a year ago, he knew there would be piles of work ahead of him. Among the many issues that needed to be sorted out was the scarcity of teachers in Indonesia's remote areas. Yet, statistically, there should have been enough teachers to go around. The student-teacher ratio is around 16 to 1. "That's an excess, while in South Korea, the ratio is 30 to 1. Ideally it should be 25 to 1," said Anies, admitting that the problem in Indonesia was one of unequal distribution. In some places such as Papua, the ratio dropped significantly to 75 students for every teacher. So, in May this year, the education ministry initiated the Guru Garis Depan (Frontline Teachers ) program to address the shortage of teachers in the outer parts of the country. So far, 798 teachers have been sent out to teach at 28 regencies. Next year, the number is expected to increase to 3,500. Anies discussed the Frontline Teachers initiative with Tempo English reporters Sadika Hamid, Syari Fani and Amanda Siddharta. Excerpts:
OWNERS of warung makan (small eateries) are hopeful they can remain open during the month of Ramadhan, because Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin in his Twitter account recently tweeted that such establishments should not be forced to close shop just to honor those who fast. He stated that those who are not obliged to fast must also be respected.
Predictably, his statement caused a public uproar. Some tweeps saluted Lukman's view, but many others disagreed with his view. Equally predictable was the media, which refused to entirely support the stance of the United Development Party (PPP) politician. A mere tweet, Lukman wryly commented, twisted by some people, had led to a counter-productive debate.
Transportation Minister Ignatius Jonan said that AirAsia flight QZ8501 that crashed enroute from Surabaya to Singapore on Sunday, December 28, was flying illegally. The air transport director general only approved the budget carrier to fly on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. So why did the plane fly that Sunday morning? Who gave the approval? According to the Transportation Minister regulation, an aircraft can fly only after obtaining a flight approval from the directorate general of air transport.
The commotion over AirAsia's flight approval reinforces the result of an audit by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in May 2014, which showed that Indonesia's aviation industry is full of elements that do not conform to international standards. A number of officials and former officials in the Transportation Ministry even admitted that bribery and kickbacks are rampant in this sector, make worse the already disorganized problem over slots and flight approvals.
In an annual press statement last week, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said that in the coming five years Indonesia's foreign policy would be based on maintaining sovereignty, improving services to protect its citizens and intensifying economic diplomacy.
"Our diplomacy will protect the territorial sovereignty of the Republic of Indonesia," Retno said, adding that Indonesia would take better care of its migrant workers overseas. "Indonesia's foreign policy must provide protection and a sense of security for Indonesian citizens and legal entities abroad."
WHEN the tsunami struck in 2004, Abdullah Zaini, 74, was foreign minister of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), based in Sweden. The devastating tsunami prompted GAM to finally sit down with the Indonesian government in Helsinki, Finland to negotiate a peace treaty. GAM agreed to end the conflict in an agreement signed on August 15, 2005.
The GAM fighters put away their weapons and set up a political party, which won the 2009 general and local elections in Aceh. Abdullah's career changed when he won the Aceh governorship in 2012. From fighting in the jungles, his job was to govern a province recovering from the double disaster of a tsunami and the 25-year armed conflict.
For the second time this year, and against his doctor's advice, senior economist Gustav F. Papanek from Boston University returned to Indonesia. With a new government in place, this 87-year-old former advisor to the 'Berkeley Mafia'influential economists of the New Order erafelt the need to address a very urgent problem: The declining income of the poor, which as he noted "is immoral and also politically undesirable; therefore, it is important to take substantial steps to increase their income. The only way you can do that is by providing industrial jobs."
Although he was unable to meet President Joko Widodo, he managed to meet Sofyan Djalil, Economic Coordinating Minister; General Moeldoko, Armed Forces Chief; and ChatibBasri, former Finance Minister, and gave talks in three universities and Bank Mandiri as well as numerous interviews with the media. In a packed schedule, averaging two presentations a day, he found ways to push his ideas.
J. Trust Co. Ltd, a Japanese investment company, expressed its commitment to become a long-term investor in Indonesia's banking sector. The commitment was made after the company was designated as the prospective winner by the Deposit Insurance Agency (LPS) in the tender to acquire Bank Mutiara.
"We fully intend to become a long-term player in Indonesia's banking sector," a J Trust investor relations official told Tempo.
There has been discordant voices following the launch of the UNAIDS Gap Report on July 16, which details the prevalence of this deadly disease, and how governments attempt to prevent its spread. It was not particularly well received by Indonesian Health Minister, Nafsiah Mboi. "In the press release (about the report), they (UNAIDS) said that we are left behind. I ask, just how have we been left behind?" she told Tempo, at a press conference about Indonesia's HIV/AIDS program, 20 days after the report was launched
UNAIDS Country Director for Indonesia, Cho Kah Sin, agrees that the report could well lead to misinterpretations. "The GAP report is not meant to invalidate what countries are doing," explained Cho, who took office in Jakarta two years ago. He is impressed at the close cooperation between different community groups and the central as well as local governments in preventing the spread of the disease. "Other countries can learn from Indonesia," said Cho, who is Malaysian.
ASSORTED cakes lay on the table for guests at the home of Mahfud Md at Sambilegi, a district of Yogyakarata, during Lebaran week. The host, looking relaxed and clad in the traditional Muslim attire befitting the festivities, entered the living room and sat down on a sofa.
That evening, the former Constitutional Court chief justice and recently the campaign manager of the Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa ticket, had just returned from paying his respects to Herry Zudianto, a fellow Gerindra campaign manager for Yogyakarta. At the home of Herry, a former Yogyakarta mayor, Mahfud was greeted by the crew of TV One, who proceeded to conduct an interview over the ongoing dispute on the results of the recently completed presidential election.
A NUMBER of surveys recently estimated that the electability of Prabowo Subianto-Hatta Rajasa was closing in on their opponents, Joko Widodo-Jusuf Kalla. This can be shown in the increasing confidence among followers of the candidates who are supported by a coalition comprising Gerindra, Golkar, the Justice and Prosperity Party (PKS), United Development Party (PPP), National Mandate Party (PAN) and the Crescent Star Party (PBB).
"That just means we must work harder," said Prabowo, 63, on his rising popularity, following the dialog with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, two weeks ago. His brother Hashim Djojohadikusumo is no less optimistic. "When we are on an upward trend, that means we can overtake them. There's only three more weeks to go, after all," he said.
Early this month, the Society Concerned with Food Security in Indonesia, held its annual meeting, attended by 93 non-governmental organizations and associations. Top on their agenda was the need to protest the government's lack of concern for the welfare of farmers. Those subsisting below the poverty line usually produce below average harvests, both in terms of quality and quantity, mostly driven by their limited access to knowledge and information on how to improve farming methods. A few farming communities have now taken the initiative to learn and spread the word about improvised methods of cultivation, leaving behind their old, obsolete ways. Tempo English reports on innovative farmers from South Sulawesi.
An NGO in West Kupang uses micro-loans to help recovered leprosy patients get back on their feet.
Truth should be established through debates. That was the principle Agus Salim believed in. Through his writings published in newspapers, Salim raised the public's ideas and aspirations and voiced his criticisms of the colonial government. A typically generalist thinker, a polyglot, Salim was a prolific writer on a wide range of subjects on political, cultural, historical, and mostly, religious issues of the 1917 to 1953 contemporary period.
Yap Thiam Hien was involuntarily dragged into politics, although he had no ambition for power. To Yap, politics was like seeking justice, opposing discrimination and enforcing human rights. Taking the uncompromising political high road made him different from the mainstream politicians. During the Old Order regime, Yap was sidelined, and under the New Order, he was imprisoned.
A Draft Law on Tobacco was included in the legislative program of the DPR. It was proposed by the cigarette industry.
Irregularities abound in the distribution of 'Rice for the Poor' program.
Indonesia will scrap its soybean import tax in the face of demonstrations by tofu and soybean cake producers protesting against spiraling soybean prices.
It is never mentioned who the companies/miners that overlap with Vale are. Is this article strong enough without providing an example/evidence, and hearing their side of the story?
The Ministry of Agriculture has pronounced four new avian flu master seed vaccines from Indonesia to be effective next year. The policy effectively shuts down the use of well-proven local and imported vaccines. Importers and breeders are worried.
The process of questioning corrupt officials should not require the president’s approval. An amendment is needed to remove the article concerned.
The increase in the basic electricity rates has led entrepreneurs to lodge protests. Upper and lower tariff limitations for industrial customers will also be applied
Nominees for the new management of Pertamina were submitted to the President for approval.
A man sent by a member of the legislature brought 14 disaster fund proposals to the office of Aburizal Bakrie. Suspicions of brokering have been ignored.
PLNs electricity production costs are greater than those from overseas. The governments largest scenario is no less than 20 percent.
The JSE share index has rapidly outdistanced all other stock exchanges in Asia apart from the Philippines—triggered by improvements in the telecommunications and banking sectors.
Minister Rini Soewandi has stopped her insistence on counter-trade for the Tanjung Jati B power project. Any collusion behind the decision?
There are those for and those against Exxon's contract being extended. Kwik Kian Gie believes that oil exploitation at Cepu must be handled by Indonesia alone in order to ensure higher profits.
Several candidate Supreme Court justices recommended to the DPR by the Supreme Court have already failed their fit-and-proper tests. Should this decision be in the hands of the DPR?
ISMAIL Hasan Metareum sat on a wheelchair. Pale and weak, the thin-faced and bespectacled man was nursing a broken leg, the result of a fall at the mosque. But that did not affect the spirit and attention of this 74-year-old born in Pidie, Aceh when discussing the never-ending problem of his birthplace. Moreover, since the idea of a Bureau (desk) on Aceh was discussed by Vice President Hamzah Haz mid-January, Metareum seems unconcerned about his leg's condition. His wheelchair notwithstanding, he still travels around, lobbying to finalize the idea of an Aceh Bureau.
Attempts to try Akbar Tandjung in the DPR failed. Mega opts for a compromise, instead.
The central government plans to repeal a number of regional regulations connected with tax and levies. Regions are protesting because they're caught in the middle.
The proposed solution to Indonesia's political crisis: President Abdurrahman Wahid hands over his authority as head of the government to his vice president. Will this concession ultimately be accepted by either?
Amid the problems of the Rp41 trillion deficit and unpaid overseas debts, hope of economic growth emerges.
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