Palembang (South Sumatra) – Dozens of Palembang students protested on Tuesday against the central government's plan to raise fuel prices in the near future.
During the rally held in downtown Palembang, the students carried banners and posters demanding that the government cancel the plan on the grounds that the fuel hike would inflict undue suffering on the public.
Gunawan Mashar, Jakarta – For the umpteenth time, on Wednesday February 23 students from the South Sulawesi provincial capital of Makassar have again hijacked fuel tankers. This time, after hijacking two kerosene tankers they drove them round and round the city.
The Bush administration is trying to convince the American Congress to restore some US military assistance to Indonesia. But, it must also win over a number of US Senators who are fiercely opposed to the idea because of Indonesia's human rights record. The advantages for Indonesia in the restoration of assistance are obvious.
Rescuers sifting through the debris of a garbage landslide in Indonesia say that any of the more than 100 missing who have not suffocated or been crushed to death have probably died of heat exposure.
Jakarta – The customs agency, airport security and the Soekarno-Hatta Animal Quarantine office often work in cahoots with smugglers to bring protected animals out of the country, a source at the Soekarno-Hatta Animal Quarantine office says.
[West Papua and Indonesia since Suharto – Independence, Autonomy or Chaos? By Professor Peter King. University of NSW Press, 2004. 240 pages, $40 (pb).]
Jakarta – An inter-ministerial work group is now investigating the existence of military businesses.
"How many businesses that will be handled will depend on the findings of the work group," Indonesian Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono told reporters after opening a workshop on Security Strength Professionalism at the Arya Duta Hotel in Jakarta on Tuesday (22/02).
Rendi A. Witular and Eva C. Komandjaja, Jakarta – Military and police personnel along with officials from the ministries of forestry and immigration are all involved in the lucrative business of illegal logging in Papua, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has proclaimed.
Rendi A. Witular, Jakarta – State oil and gas company PT Pertamina expects a decline in profit and revenue this year due to declining oil production and higher expenses for its public service obligations (PSOs).
Bill Guerin, Jakarta – As Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhyono and several of his ministers were wooing investors in Singapore last week, the Indonesian affiliate of French oil giant Total SA, the world's second-biggest gas producer, was making a third appearance in court to stave off a demand by two Indonesian contractors for seizure of its assets.
Yuli Tri Suwarni, Bandung – Two days of heavy rain forced over 50,000 residents in south Bandung to flee to safety on Monday as their houses were inundated by floodwaters up to three meters high.
Indonesian prosecutors accused Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Bashir of failing to prevent militants allegedly under his leadership from carrying out terror attacks, including the Bali bombings.
Jakarta – Indonesia's top intellectual and a longtime contender for the Nobel Literature prize believes that the influx of foreigners and aid money into tsunami-devastated Aceh could bring significant change to the war-torn province.
Tony Hotland, Jakarta – International experts on truth and reconciliation commissions have expressed concerns about Indonesia's recently passed law on the establishment of such a commission, saying that it contained loopholes that have distinct disadvantages for victims.
Jakarta – President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono denied on Monday reports that the government would again combine the Indonesia Military (TNI) and the National Police in an effort to boost the coordination of the two institutions.
A survey by Transparency International Indonesia (TII) has ranked Jakarta as the nation's most corrupt city. The tax and customs offices have also come under fire of late, for the gross level of corruption within them. The Jakarta Post asked residents for their comments on the issue.
Bambang Nurbianto, Jakarta – Just like government officials, corruption watchdogs showed no surprise on Friday at the results of a survey placing Jakarta as the most corrupt city in the country, but for quite different reasons.
John Mcbeth (Straits Times, Asia News Network), Singapore – The recent oil strike by Australian-owned Santos off the coast of East Java and major untapped oil and gas deposits in ExxonMobil's disputed Cepu field will not be enough to head off what appears to be a pending Indonesian decision to end its 43-year membership of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
The president is the supreme commander of the Indonesian armed forces. The 1945 Constitution – both in its amended and original forms – clearly stipulates such. Even top military brass would not argue with the president's official distinction as commander in chief.
Imanuddin Razak, Jakarta – The Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Gen. Endriartono Sutarto's term in office has been extended twice. He has also tendered his resignation for the second time earlier this month.
Eva C. Komandjaja, Jakarta – The National Police have shrugged off a report that declares it to be the second most corrupt institution in the country, saying the accusation was without foundation.
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, Jakarta – Indonesia imported about 300,000 barrels per day (bpd) of processed fuel last year to meet domestic demand for the oil-based commodity, according to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.
"I don't care," has apparently become a catchphrase among government officials, following President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's example.
Responding to a survey showing his declining popularity, the President said earlier this month: "I don't care about my popularity." The President's words have given others in his circle an idea or two.
"This is a smuggler... ha... ha... He is a mafia [member]... ha... ha...," an unidentified man told undercover investigators.
He pointed his finger at a Singaporean in a yellow checked shirt, who was counting stash of cash on his desk. The Singaporean smiled and said, "The problem is that somebody asks me to smuggle. The problem is the buyer. No buyer, no smuggling."
Ivy Susanti, Jakarta – The Indonesian government has welcomed the US government's gesture to restore full military training ties with Indonesia, which was downgraded 13 years ago.
Yogyakarta – The replacement of three Indonesian armed forces (TNI) chiefs of staff which took place yesterday (18/2) is believed by a political observer from the Gajah Mada University (UGM), Riswandha Imawan, to be an effort by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to strengthen his legitimacy within military ranks.
Jambi – A lecturer said here on Friday that some student groups have hidden agendas for staging protests in the province ahead of the direct elections of regional administrations.
On average, 10 people with dengue fever are admitted to city-owned hospitals every day, bringing the total of dengue cases since the beginning of this year to nearly 2,000. The central government has declared an extraordinary incidence of dengue in Jakarta and five other regions, and has urged that extra measures be taken to curb the outbreak.
Jakarta – Prior to its fuel price hike plan in April, which will eventually reduce budget expenditures for the fuel subsidy, the government has been preparing an additional Rp 10.5 trillion (US$1.13 billion) from the budget to assist the poor.
Environmental investigators said Thursday they had uncovered massive timber smuggling from Indonesia's Papua province to China in what they described as the world's largest logging racket involving one wood species.
Palu (Central Sulawesi) – Central Sulawesi Police named as suspects on Friday 19 councillors for their alleged involvement in the embezzlement of Rp 2.9 billion (US$322,222) in Buol regency budgetary funds between 2001 and 2004.
Kupang – Hundreds of residents staged a protest on Friday outside the East Nusa Tenggara council building, demanding the release of a local youth leader allegedly detained by soldiers.
Aldi Dalton Ndolu, the chairman of Kayu Putih Youth Organization, was apprehended by soldiers on Thursday after he attended the funeral of a local resident in Kupang city.
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta – Minister of Forestry Malam Sambat Kaban said on Friday he planned to meet with Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Widodo Adi Sucipto to help resolve the rampant illegal logging in Papua, which a recent report says is backed by members of the military.
Shaunak Mazumder, Jakarta – "You are late for class," my English teacher said, "Sorry, Miss. There is a lot of traffic on the way to school lately." This has most definitely become a regular excuse for many of the people residing in Jakarta. Jakarta is under constant construction to extend the busway service in the city.
Tangerang – Cable thieves disrupted trains services between Tangerang and Jakarta for the second time in a month on Friday.
Ahmad Sujadi, spokesman of state railway operator PT KAI, said that 18 trains were affected by the theft.
John Aglionby – Environmental activists have exposed what they claim to be the world's biggest timber smuggling racket, the supply of the luxurious dark hardwood, merbau, from Indonesia's eastern Papua province to China and then on to Europe and north America.
Tony Hotland, Jakarta – A brief commotion ended a five-hour hearing between the Attorney General's Office (AGO) and the House of Representatives on Thursday following a lawmaker's remark depicting Attorney General Abdul Rahman Saleh as "an Islamic preacher in a village of thieves".
Muninggar Sri Saraswati and Rendi A. Witular, Jakarta – Government officials appeared indifferent when responding to a survey by Transparency International Indonesia (TII), which ranked Jakarta and the customs office most corrupt institutions.
Jakarta – The most egregious case of timber smuggling ever discovered – valued at more than US$1 billion – was made public on Thursday by two non-governmental organizations (NGOs), who also accused Indonesian military and government officials of running the racket.
Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta – The Indonesian Military (TNI) announced on Thursday that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had appointed three new military chiefs of staff, giving him four candidates to be named TNI's next commander.
Jakarta – For Moudy Lintuuran, expanding her rubber supply business was not easy. Trying to obtain a bank loan last year, she had to deal with a maze of bureaucracy and discriminative treatment.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice signaled that the United States was ready to restore full military training ties with Indonesia that were downgraded 13 years ago.
Rice told a Senate panel she was in the "final stages" of consultations with Congress on certifying Indonesia as eligible to benefit from the International Military Education and Training (IMET) program.
Cutting beaurocratic red tape has been marked as a priority area by foreign investors interested in Indonesia. President Susilo Bambang Yudhyono was in Malaysia and Singapore this week talking up the benefits of his country as an investment destination. Indonesia has unveiled plans for massive infrastructure improvements and it needs millions of jobs for the ranks of unemployed.
Jakarta – The House of Representatives (DPR) has rejected a government's plan to merge state-owned Bank Tabungan Negara (BTN) with a publicly-listed state bank.
The reconstruction of Aceh moved into a new stage this week with the completion of military-style barracks to shelter victims of the December 26 tsunami. Not all the barracks have been completed but some 3,281 families, or more than 11,000 people, have now moved from their tents – that had been their home since the December 26 disaster – to the more substantial constructions.
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta – Law No. 32/2004 on regional administrations could create undemocratic elections of governors, mayors and regents, scheduled to begin in June across the country, a court heard on Wednesday.
Tony Hotland, Jakarta – In the eyes of the business community, Jakarta is the most corrupt city and the customs service the most corrupt institution in the country, according to a survey by Transparency International Indonesia (TII), the results of which were revealed on Wednesday.
Anton Muhajir, Denpasar – It was drizzling that Saturday, but Ketut Karja and his two friends were still working in their rice field in Legian, on the outskirts of north Kuta. Across the street, several Westerners were seen sitting in the gazebo of a restaurant. They were separated only by several rice fields and a highway known as "Sunset Road".
Bekasi – The ongoing construction of Blue Oasis City complex in Karangkitri, Bekasi, has come up against protest from all sides.
Aji Ngumboro, member of Bekasi council Commission A for legal and administrative affairs, said the administration should stop the project that is being developed by PT Rekapastika.
Bandung – Environment activists and Bandung residents have filed a civil lawsuit on Wednesday against Bandung Mayor Dada Rosada over the development of the Punclut Tourist Resort.