Alvin Darlanika Soedarjo, Jakarta – A British volcanologist is disputing a government-sponsored conference's conclusion that the Sidoarjo mud disaster was caused by tectonic forces.
Indonesia & East Timor Digest
Displaying 69951-70000 of 94390 Documents
February 23, 2007
Jakarta – Radical Islamic cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir failed to meet President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Thursday to file a petition calling for the implementation of sharia.
On a visit to London this week, Peneas Lokbere, a young West Papuan who survived the Abepura killings in 2000, said that many of the survivors are still suffering from the after effects of that incident, physically or psychologically.
Alvin Darlanika Soedarjo, Jakarta – A forum of intellectuals, community representatives and politicians asked the central government Thursday to postpone the planned revision of the 2001 Papuan Special Autonomy law, despite acknowledging that special autonomy has yet to be fully implemented in Papua.
Jakarta – A coalition of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) is drafting an alternative regulation on compensation and restitution for the victims of human rights abuse and crime, at the same time as the government is drafting its own.
The Commission of Truth and Friendship (CTF), set up by Indonesia and Timor Leste, has finally begun to show its face with its inaugural public hearings.
There is apprehension all around as we follow testimonies regarding the violence before and after the 1999 referendum which led to Timor Leste's independence.
Paul Mulvey, Sydney – Three decades on, Shirley Shackleton still wakes in fright, sitting bolt upright in bed as she relives the moment she sensed her husband had been killed. It's a recurring, but now rare, nightmare.
February 22, 2007
Paul Mulvey, Sydney – A mystery Australian intelligence officer from the 1970s could prove whether the federal government knew five Australian journalists were executed by Indonesian forces in East Timor in 1975. But, despite extensive inquiries and searches, nobody knows where he is.
Emma Alberici Mark Colvin: The Coronial Inquest into the death of Brian Peters in Balibo, East Timor today heard startling evidence from a former senior federal government official.
Paul Mulvey, Sydney – The Whitlam and Fraser governments have been accused of lying over the deaths of five Australian-based journalists in East Timor in 1975.
Michelle Nichols, United Nations – The UN Security Council voted on Thursday to keep peacekeepers in East Timor for another 12 months as the Asia-Pacific's newest nation struggles to overcome an east-west divide and gang violence.
Radzie, Banda Aceh – The Preparatory Committee for the Acehnese People's Party (Komite Persiapan Partai Rakyat Aceh, KP-PRA) will hold its first congress between February 27 and March 2. Following the congress, the party will be declared as the first local political party in Aceh.
Apriadi Gunawan, Medan – Environmental activists Wednesday accused powerful military and police officials in North Sumatra and Aceh of keeping endangered orangutans as pets.
Panca Nugraha, Mataram – Dozens of environmental protesters rallied in Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, on Wednesday against the issuance of a permit to expand mining company Newmont's operations, an accusation which the company denied.
The protesters, members of the Community of Environment Messenger group, gathered at the office of West Nusa Tenggara Governor H.L. Serinata.
The East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN) said today that the joint Indonesia-East Timor Commission of Truth and Friendship (CTF) can not further either goal its name suggests.
M. Taufiqurrahman, Jakarta – An international human rights watchdog has accused the Indonesian government of detaining Papuan activists for their political views.
February 21, 2007
Alvin Darlanika Soedarjo, Jakarta – A plan to plug the Lapindo exploratory gas well at the heart of the East Java mudflow might be ineffective and dangerous, an expert said Tuesday.
Peter Boyle, Jakarta – Dita Sari is arguably the most well-known progressive activist in Indonesia today. A former trade union leader and political prisoner under the Suharto regime, she is now the chairperson of the People's Democratic Party (PRD), which is the leading force in the new, broader National Liberation Party of Unity (Papernas).
Jakarta – The National Commission for Child Protection urged the House of Representatives on Tuesday to pressure the government to restrict the sale of single cigarettes, in a bid to protect children from tobacco.
Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – Rectors of 61 universities told the government Tuesday to tackle poverty and unemployment, as they were key problems that could threaten the security and stability of the country.
Syarif Hidayatullah, Jakarta – Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso is still a popular target of protests by victims of recent floods. Carrying children on their hips, on Wednesday February 21 hundreds of housewives rallied to call on the Number 1 person in Jakarta to resign.
Ed Davies, Jakarta – Indonesia is continuing to arrest and hand down heavy prison sentences to activists in Papua for peacefully supporting independence in the remote eastern area, Human Rights Watch said on Wednesday.
Nethy Dharma Somba, Manokwari – Papua Governor Barnabas Suebu and West Papua Governor Abraham (Bram) O. Atururi signed an agreement here Tuesday to settle their differences, the first cooperative move by the two leaders since they were installed six months ago.
Commercialized courts and limited access to legal aid have caused poor people to face inequality before the law, say observers.
Brett Morris – On Monday, a commission set up by Indonesia and East Timor began its first hearing to further reconciliation between the two countries over the violence that occurred during 1999 when East Timor voted in a referendum to declare independence from Indonesia.
Paul Mulvey – The widow of one of the Balibo Five has renewed calls for former prime minister Gough Whitlam to appear as a witness at the inquest into the death of one of the journalists killed in East Timor in 1975.
Mark Forbes, Denpasar – Tales of blood and tears are flowing from a Commission of Truth and Friendship hearing into the atrocities committed in East Timor about the time of the 1999 independence vote.
Dili – UN police have arrested 148 people suspected of involvement in a resurgence of street violence in the East Timorese capital, the UN envoy to the troubled country said today.
"In the past three days, the police have arrested 148 people, all related to the security situation in Dili," Atul Khare said.
February 20, 2007
Dili – Parliament agreed to ratify an agreement with Australia over the management of oil and gas resources in the Greater Sunrise field in the Timor Sea.
"I am glad because after one year, the parliament finally has approved this agreement," Prime Minister Jose Ramos-Horta told reporters after the vote, with 48 in favor, five against and three abstentions.
Stephen Fitzpatrick, Bali – A plain-clothes Indonesian soldier gave the order to attack an East Timor churchyard where thousands of civilians were sheltering in 1999, resulting in more than two dozen deaths, a survivor of the atrocity claimed yesterday.
Mark Forbes Denpasar – Australia was overzealous and "gung-ho" towards East Timor, the former Indonesian foreign minister, Ali Alatas, has said at an inquiry aimed at healing the wounds left by the bloody aftermath of Timorese independence.
Jakarta – Devastating floods in the Indonesian capital earlier this month have caused nearly one billion dollars worth of damage and losses.
Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – Legislators have described as unethical a minister's move to counter an ongoing investigation by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
They said the commission should continue with its investigation into the graft case at the Justice and Human Rights Ministry, in which State Secretary Yusril Mahendra is implicated.
Jakarta – Legislators in the House of Representatives said Monday the National Police had performed well under the leadership of Gen. Sutanto, but not well enough.
The mudslinging between the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and State Secretary Yusril Ihza Mahendra poses yet another test for the government's graft fight.
At the same time, the anti-corruption body is facing a moment of truth to prove that its work is genuine and free from political motives.
Andi Haswidi, Jakarta – To help make state companies more efficient and competitive, the government plans to reduce the number of nationalized firms to 69 over three years from the current figure of 139.
The plan will be implemented through various mechanisms, including merger and privatization.
February 19, 2007
Adisti Sukma Sawitri, Jakarta – Lenny had been waiting almost two hours Sunday for the truck delivering low-cost rice to arrive at the Pasar Minggu traditional market in South Jakarta.
Jakarta – Activists said Sunday that district and Islamic religious courts, particularly in Jakarta, had violated the child protection law in their handling of custody decisions.
Church leaders in Papua say as many as 5,300 people have been displaced because of fighting between Free Papua Movement Rebels and Indonesian military. The leaders say the people are starving and in need of medical attention. But local authorities are accusing Papua's clergy of lying.
Presenter/Interviewer: Katie Hamann
Karen Michelmore and Olivia Rondonuwu, Bali – Indonesia could not have anticipated the scale of violence that followed East Timor's historic 1999 vote for independence, Indonesia's former foreign minister insisted today.
Reporter: Geoff Thompson
Mark Colvin: Indonesia's former Foreign Minister, Ali Alatas, has identified a letter from John Howard as the factor that pushed former President Habibie to support a referendum on East Timor's independence.
February 17, 2007
Hamish McDonald – When nominations close at the end of this month for East Timor's April 9 presidential election, expect to see the start of a process aimed at shaking up the foundations of the new nation's politics.
Jakarta – Indonesia faces a growing AIDS problem – particularly among drug users and prostitutes – while a recent survey shows two percent of the Papua population infected with HIV, the World Health Organisation said on Saturday.
Jakarta – Outstanding loans to small and medium enterprises amount to Rp 426 trillion (about US$47.33 billion), or more than 50 percent of the total loans extended by the banking industry,
Adianto P. Simamora, Jakarta – Residents of Menteng, Central Jakarta, reported Governor Sutiyoso to the city police Friday over the ongoing redevelopment of the historic Persija soccer stadium.
The residents alleged the renovation had violated environmental and heritage laws and caused construction damage to the surrounding park.
Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – New York-based Human Rights Watch on Friday urged the Indonesian government to take over all military-owned businesses in a bid to make the country's armed forces more professional and to minimize rights abuses.
Jakarta – A coalition consisting of 56 non-governmental organizations is seeking support from religious organizations to revoke the government allowance for regional councillors, which they have said legalizes corruption.
Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – Activists have said that they are skeptical of the House of Representatives' commitment to bringing to justice retired and active Army generals implicated in human rights abuses.
The House is set to submit a report on three shooting incidents in 1998 and 1999 to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono next Tuesday.
ID Nugroho and Yemris Fointuna, Jakarta – The draft revised Criminal Code currently being deliberated at the House of Representatives contains articles that limit freedom of expression and target the media, say observers and lawmakers.
Slamet Susanto and Oyos Saroso H.N., Yogyakarta/Bandarlampung – Authorities have responded to rising rice prices by releasing stocks of the subsidized commodity to the market, but Yogyakarta Governor Sultan Hamengkubuwono X expressed concern Friday the effort has failed because of hoarders and speculators.