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Indonesia & East Timor Digest

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February 14, 2004

Asia Times - February 14, 2004

Gary LaMoshi, Denpasar – The Supreme Court decision overturning the conviction of House Speaker Akbar Tanjung landed with the thud of a police baton on the future of reform in Indonesia. The ruling will have its most direct impact on the July 5 presidential election, but ripples will be felt throughout society.

Jakarta Post - February 14, 2004

Dadan Wijaksana, Jakarta – The controversial acquittal of House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung from corruption charges did not have any significant impact on domestic financial markets as both stocks and the rupiah ended firmer on Friday.

Jakarta Post - February 14, 2004

Wimar Witoelar, Jakarta – The main message conveyed by the Supreme Court's decision on Akbar Tandjung is that crime pays in today's Indonesia ... as long as you have common interests with those who hold political power. The verdict effectively legitimizes corruption as an accessory of power.

Kompas Cyber Media - February 14, 2004

Banda Aceh – The Emergency Military Commander in Aceh, Major General Endang Suwarya, has said that they are waiting to see what the government's decision will be on foreign observers in the 2004 election in Aceh.

Jakarta Post - February 14, 2004

Nani Farida, Lhokseumawe – Sawang district, Aceh province, is determined to see political parties campaigning for the upcoming general election, despite the fact that it is still classified as a "black zone" by the Indonesian Military (TNI).

February 13, 2004

Detik.com - February 13, 2004

Bagus Kurniawan, Yogyakarta – Demands can be put forward though a demonstration, they can also be sent by letter. That was what was done by demonstrators who were holding a demonstration at the central post office on Jalan Senapati in Yogyakarta on Friday February 13. They were protesting the Supreme Court's decision to release [Golkar Party chief] Akbar Tanjung.

Agence France Presse - February 13, 2004

Dili – Production has begun at an offshore gasfield which is expected to earn impoverished East Timor more than $US100 million a year, a government statement said.

The Timor Sea Office said operator ConocoPhillips confirmed a regular flow of "wet gas" from the wells of the Bayu-Undan field in the Timor Sea.

World Socialist Web Site - February 13, 2004

John Roberts – Long-running disagreements between Australia and East Timor over their maritime border and therefore control of Timor Sea oil and gas erupted again late last year, focusing on revenues from the Laminaria-Corallina fields.

Jakarta Post Editorial - February 13, 2004

The Supreme Court's ruling yesterday to acquit Akbar Tandjung of all charges of corruption, thereby overturning two earlier lower court verdicts sentencing the House of Representatives speaker to three years in prison, is certain to have serious consequences for this country for a long time to come.

Agence France Presse - February 13, 2004

Jakarta – Former Republican Senate majority leader Bob Dole wants to help Indonesia in Washington but has not been hired as a lobbyist, the foreign ministry said Friday.

"It is not correct that Bob Dole has been appointed as an Indonesian lobbyist," spokesman Marty Natalegawa told a press conference. "There is no type of blanket contract."

Jakarta Post - February 13, 2004

Sari P. Setiogi and Multa Fidrus, Jakarta/Tangerang – After millions of chickens have been killed due to bird flu and other diseases over the past several months, poultry farmers are now anticipating greater losses caused by the decline in demand for Indonesian poultry products.

Jakarta Post - February 13, 2004

Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – In the two weeks of full operation, the busway has seen an increase in passengers each day, but their total number is only a third of the 60,000 commuters that previously traveled between Blok M in South Jakarta and Kota in West Jakarta on the regular buses.

Jakarta Post - February 13, 2004

Haidir Anwar Tanjung, Pekanbaru – Thousands of protesting teachers and students clashed with police on Thursday in Kampar regency, some 60 kilometers west of Pekanbaru, leaving eight students injured.

Tempo Interactive - February 13, 2004

Medan-Solo-Surabaya-Malang – There have been more demonstrations by students over the Supreme Court's verdict in the appeal by [Golkar Party chief] Akbar Tanjung [against corruption charges].

Associated Press - February 13, 2004

Michael Casey, Jakarta – Indonesia's Supreme Court overturned a graft conviction against the parliamentary speaker on Thursday, a ruling that cleared the way for his presidential bid – and dismayed those looking for signs of anti-corruption reform.

Jakarta Post - February 13, 2004

Moch. N. Kurniawan, Jakarta – People are certainly losing confidence in the judiciary system and in the ongoing battle against corruption in the country following the Supreme Court's decision to accept House Speaker Akbar Tandjung's appeal against a three-year sentence over a graft conviction.

Jakarta Post - February 13, 2004

Jakarta – "At a time when the country was sinking in the crisis, the actions of the defendant truly violated one's sense of justice." Akbar abused his power, said Abdurrahman Saleh, the only justice with a dissenting opinion on the panel of five justices of the Supreme Court that finally acquitted Golkar leader Akbar Tandjung on charges of misusing Rp 40 billion in funds belonging t

Jakarta Post - February 13, 2004

Jakarta – The Supreme Court's decision to acquit Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung of corruption charges paves the way for his candidacy for the presidency and boosts the party's ambition to return to power.

Political analyst Denny JA said on Thursday that Akbar would likely win the party's presidential convention as many party leaders considered him a hero.

Jakarta Post - February 13, 2004

Jakarta – The announcement of the Supreme Court verdict on Thursday in the graft case involving House of Representatives speaker Akbar Tandjung was marred by violent protests nationwide, with at least 60 protesting students in Jakarta injured in an ugly melee with riot police.

Asia Times - February 13, 2004

Gary LaMoshi, Denpasar – A group of 35 Indonesian economists launched a campaign against privatization of state-owned companies on Tuesday in Jakarta. The group calls itself Indonesia Bangkit (Indonesia Awakens), but the group seems to have slept through the sad history of state businesses and banks during the past six years.

Straits Times - February 13, 2004

Derwin Pereira, Jakarta – In the end, it was not to be.

Rivals of Golkar leader Akbar Tandjung had long hoped that a guilty verdict against him would have barred the party chief from entering the presidential race.

Jakarta Post - February 13, 2004

Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – Employers and workers joined forces on Thursday to oppose the bill on national social security (SJSN) which they said would cause legal uncertainty and confusion among the public.

February 12, 2004

Jakarta Post - February 12, 2004

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, Jakarta – Lawmakers' hopes of endorsing the presidency bill during their term dimmed after the government rejected on Wednesday the draft unless it is overhauled.

Claiming that almost 70 percent of the draft contents are outdated and contradict the amended 1945 Constitution, the government said the bill should be dropped.

Tempo Interactive - February 12, 2004

Jakarta – Chaos erupted at a demonstration by the Greater Jakarta and Greater Bandung Student Executive Councils while they were waiting for the Supreme Court's verdict in the case of [Golkar Party chief] Akbar Tanjung in front of the Supreme Court building at 3.40pm.

Tempo Interactive - February 12, 2004

Jakarta – According to the action coordinator from the University of Indonesia Student Executive Council, Ahmad Nur Hidayat, 15 of his friends were injured in a clash with police.

Tempo Interactive - February 12, 2004

Surabaya – Around 100 students held a demonstration in front of the Grahadi State building in Surabaya, East Java, on Thursday February 12. They were demanding that the Supreme Court reject the appeal by [Golkar Party chief] Akbar Tanjung in the corruption case involving 40 billion rupiah of Bulog (State Logistics Agency) non-budgetary funds.

Reuters - February 12, 2004

Kuala Lumpur – Malaysian ports are turning a blind eye to the passage of illegally logged timber, fuelling a trade that is wrecking Indonesian forests, environmental campaign groups said on Thursday.

Detik.com - February 12, 2004

Fedhly Averouss Bey, Jakarta – A clash with police has resulted in 10 students being wounded. The victims were seen to be bleeding. Meanwhile around 30 students were arrested by police.

Reuters - February 12, 2004

Tomi Soetjipto and Olivia Rondonuwo, Jakarta – Indonesia's Supreme Court quashed parliament speaker Akbar Tandjung's graft conviction on Thursday, clearing the way for him to seek the presidency later this year.

Jakarta Post - February 12, 2004

Kurniawan Hari and A. Junaidi, Jakarta – Criticism greeted the official support from the country's second largest Muslim organization Muhammadiyah for Amien Rais' presidential bid on Wednesday, with a political observer expressing fear that the move would jeopardize the moderate orientation of the organization.

Jakarta Post - February 12, 2004

Jakarta – The police recorded 15 cases of election violations in Jakarta, Tangerang, Bekasi and Depok, most of which were early campaigning. The latest figures showed an addition of seven cases within the last two weeks.

Jakarta Post - February 12, 2004

Moch. N. Kurniawan and Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, Jakarta – The General Elections Commission (KPU) assured the public on Wednesday that despite technical and logistical problems, the upcoming general election would run smoothly and on schedule.

Kompas - February 12, 2004

Jakarta – Although the struggle was not fully completed, the reform movement which was put into motion by student activists in 1998 was not in vain. Although it is still sporadic in character, a [new popular] resistance against the misuse of power has emerged. The people have begun to be more radical in struggling for their interests than the student movement itself.

Xinhua News - February 12, 2004

Jakarta – The Indonesian military (TNI) is keen to improve ties with the US military without being disturbed by political issues, the top military commander said here Thursday.

Jakarta Post - February 12, 2004

Jakarta – Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto held talks with visiting United States Pacific Commander Adm. Thomas B. Fargo at the TNI Headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta, on Wednesday.

Timor Post Editorial - February 12, 2004

Australia – East Timor's neighboring nation, which East Timor has known since the Second World War, the Australian political position during the Indonesian invasion is still in East Timor's memory, finally Australia's most recent clear position in leading InterFET to quickly enter East Timor, in order to have a successful international force in East Timor.

Antara - February 12, 2004

Jakarta – The Indoenisan government on Thursday decided to allow foreigners to observe the conduct of general elections in troubled Aceh province under supervision of the local authorities.

The decision was taken at a cabinet session led by President Megawati Soekarnoputri here.

Jakarta Post - February 12, 2004

Tiarma Siboro and Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, Jakarta – The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) urged on Wednesday the two warring parties in Aceh to allow humanitarian workers to move around freely when carrying out their duties there.

Asia Times - February 12, 2004

Thalif Deen, New York – The United Nations plans to withdraw its 3,500 peacekeepers from East Timor in May, despite calls from the government in Dili and civil-society groups that the body's work in the world's newest country is not finished.

Jakarta Post - February 12, 2004

Haidir Anwar Tanjung, Pekanbaru – Thousands of teachers and students in Kampar regency, some 60 kilometers west of the Riau capital of Pekanbaru, took to the streets again on Wednesday, forcing schools in the regency to close for a second day.

February 11, 2004

Wall Street Journal - February 11, 2004

Just possibly, a former general in Indonesia's military could become the next president of the country. But if former armed-forces chief Wiranto is elected leader of this key country in the war on terrorism, and decides to pay a visit to Washington – which would not only be likely, but inevitable – it could create a diplomatic embarrassment for the US.

The Guardian (London) - February 11, 2004

Richard Norton-Taylor – Human rights campaigners have accused the government of relaxing demands on Indonesia over the use of British military equipment in the country.

February 10, 2004

Jakarta Post - February 10, 2004

Urip Hudiono, Jakarta – As if the contrast between high-rise buildings and riverbank slums were not enough to indicate the social gap among Jakartans, different kinds of movie theater across the capital provide more than just favorite flicks.

Jakarta Post - February 10, 2004

Agus Maryono, Purwokerto – Seventeen students of the Jendral Soedirman University (Unsoed) continued with their hunger strike on Monday. They are protesting an additional fee imposed on them by the university last year.

The strike started on Thursday last week, with 19 students fasting. Two have already stopped due to the deterioration of their health.

Jakarta Post - February 10, 2004

Tiarma Siboro and A. Junaidi – Rampant corruption, including price markups, at the Ministry of Religious Affairs involved many officials, businesspeople, politicians and foreigners, a respected Muslim leader alleged on Monday.

Jakarta Post - February 10, 2004

Depok – Some 500 students from the University of Indonesia staged a rally on Monday to protest the university's plan to increase tuition.

The students said that although the increase was not yet official, a report in circulation stated that the rector's office had proposed a 300 percent hike to the university's board of trustees.

Jakarta Post - February 10, 2004

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, Jakarta – The Attorney General's Office (AGO) has gathered a new medical team to examine former president Soeharto's health to determine whether or not it could resume investigations into his alleged corruption.

Jakarta Post - February 10, 2004

Suherdjoko, Semarang – Work on the much-disputed Muria nuclear power plant (PLTN) in Jepara regency, Central Java, will start soon, a senior government official said in Semarang on Monday.

Jakarta Post - February 10, 2004

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, Jakarta – Confronted with increasing population growth figures, President Megawati Soekarnoputri appealed to religious leaders on Monday to take part in promoting the family planning program.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the National Family Planning Coordinating Agency (BKKBN) meeting, Megawati said that the movement needed to be revitalized.

Jakata Post - February 10, 2004

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, and Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta – Cabinet ministers will have to leave office if they decide to contest the presidential election, a draft government regulation says in response to controversy on the issue.