Rupiah Stability

… rupiah's recent relative stability proves Indonesia is on the right track, says booster-man Stephen Schwartz.

The head of the Indonesia branch of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Stephen Schwartz, says that the continued stability of the rupiah, and even strength, is a reflection of the trust held in the Indonesian economy by investors.

It also shows the external position of Indonesia is improving, the balance of trade is in surplus, portfolios are strong, the IHSG …

Investment & Growth News

… predicted yearly growth for 2006 would hit 5.2%, in contrast to the government's guess of 5.9%. Stephen Schwartz, the IMF's man in Jakarta said :

Indonesian economic recovery is very dependent on improvement in the global economy.

Milan Zavadjil, the IMF's Asia Pacific assistant director, said that a six to seven percent growth rate could be possible in future if the investment climate were improved. Specifically he mentioned infrastructure, tax procedures, ease of entrance, …

Bahai

… leaders. Four others refused to change back to Islam, while the seventh did not turn up. antara

Comment by Ade Wanto: … Einstein and Stephen Hawking say, this universe is …

Islam & Terrorism

Islam has no relationship to terrorism.

Australian ambassador to Indonesia Bill Farmer said on 23rd July that the various acts of terrorism around the world in recent times had nothing to do with Islam. He told Antara reporters: antara

I can't see any relationship between Islam and terrorism.

He said he had learned this after having lived in Indonesia for some time.

I …

Comment by Ihaknt: Stephen, spot on. It’s the followers …

Heretic Outreach

The government reaches out to heretics.

The head of the Bengkulu office of the Department of Religion (Depag), Mukhtaridi Baidjuri, has invited any members of non-orthodox Islamic groups to give up their strange beliefs and return to the fold of government approved Islam .

We are inviting them to return to the correct teachings, ie., those based on the Quran and hadiths of Muhammad. …

Comment by Cukurungan: … bit better than Stephen Hawking theory. Car is the …

Divorce Causes & Victims

The causes of divorce, and adulterous women.

The main causes of divorce, says a report by the National Child Protection Commission (Komnas PA), are economic pressures (23%), followed by domestic squabbling (19%), incompatibilty (19%), interference by relatives (14%), violence (12%), adultery (8%), and sexual problems (3.6%). However these figures are based on only 109 cases.

Of the nine …

Comment author: Stephen

Comment by Stephen: … I don’t even know where she is!

Beheadings Trial

The man on trial over the schoolgirl beheadings of 2005 is said to have carried out the attack as a Lebaran gift for Muslims.

Hasanuddin has been sentenced to 20 years.

November 10th, 2006.

Prosecutors at the Central Jakarta District Court allege that Hasanuddin, alias Hasan, alias Slamet Raharjo, who is Javanese, planned the beheadings of three Christian schoolgirls in 2005 as …

Comment by Czeslaw: … martyrs: I. St. Stephen. This early martyr was …

Communism in Aceh

Aceh is threatened by communism, says the head of the Banda Aceh parliament.

The chairman of the parliament, Muntasir Hamid, says he has information that communists, or communist tendencies, are about to enter Aceh, or are already in the process of doing so. He urged all sections of society to be on their guard and to report any sightings of communists, or communist looking things, to the …

Comment author: Stephen

Independent Candidates

Independent candidates should not be allowed to participate in elections, say some.

In the wake of the victory of Irwandi Yusuf & Muhammad Nazar in the Aceh elections, men who do not belong to any formally established political party but are considered to be "former" members of the Gerakan Aceh Merdeka (GAM), voices have been raised in Jakarta that independent non-party candidates …

Comment author: Stephen yealands

Noviana Malewa

Noviana Malewa is still undergoing treatment after a beheading attempt in Sulawesi last year.

Noviana Malewa, who was 15 at the time, and three of her friends, Theresia Morangke, Alfita Poliwo, Yarni Sambue, were walking along a path on October 29th, 2005, on their way to a private Christian school in Poso, Sulawesi, when they were set upon by a gang of men who may or may not have been …

Comment by Czeslaw: … Nero: I. St. Stephen. This early martyr was …

Dating Indonesian Girls

Dating Indonesian women may not be for everyone.

Indonesian women, particularly on the island of Java, are exceptionally beautiful. They tend towards the very feminine side, with lovely skin, are not too tall, and have knock-out smiles. There's plenty of plus on that side of things.

If wer'e to be honest we have to recognise that many men are interested in a woman who will take care of …

Comment author: João Paulo Esperança

Comment by João Paulo Esperança: … Private Dancer by Stephen Leather. Is is set in Thailand …

Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus da Silva, & Marinus Riwu

Update 18th September 2006 - Tibo et al. To Be Executed .

Update for the cases of Fabianus Tibo, Dominggus da Silva, & Marinus Riwu, awaiting execution for their supposed roles in inter-religious violence in central Sulawesi in 2000.

The Jakarta Post reports that prosecutors are demanding that the death sentences be carried out forthwith. The chief prosecutor, M. Jahja Sibe, is …

Comment author: Stephen Yolland