Kleptocratic Lying Yudhoyono

Indonesia is a kleptocracy, says Amien Rais, and president Yudhoyono is a big liar, a leader of a republic of thieves.

The former leader of Muhammadiyah, and the National Mandate Party (PAN), in speaking at an Idul Fitri service in his home town of Yogyakarta, central Java, said that Indonesia suffered from all the symptoms of kleptocracy - its leaders were dishonest, arrogant, and did not uphold justice. An example of their dishonesty, he …

Yudhoyono For Nobel Peace Prize

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is favourite to win this year's Nobel Peace Prize, according to Australian bookmakers.

For his perceived role in creating peace in Aceh Yudhoyono has been posted a 3-1 favourite by Australian gambling firm Centrebet, according to Reuters .

The second favourite is Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari and his Crisis Management Initiative at 4-1. Ahtisaari …

Comment by Molisan Tono: … beloved president Yudhoyono deserve Nobel Prize… the …

Media Man Yudhoyono

It seems we're not the only ones with doubts about President Yudhoyono. An Aceh charity worker, Siswa Rizali, says:

Yes, public relation and media strategist is all his concern. Rating"¦rating"¦.and rating.

That is why SBY [Yudhoyono] spend his time watching TV, reading newspaper, listen to radio. He wants to know about his rating. If his rating decreases, he will call all his people (and ministry) and urge them to do some action to save …

God is Dead

Indonesian students of Islam encountering western anti-orthodox religion philosophy.

In an article from August 2008, Ahmad Sahidin, a former student of the Aqidah & Filsafat (Islam & Philosophy) faculty at IAIN (Institut Agama Islam Negeri) Sunan Gunung Djati (SGD) Bandung and now a teacher of the same discipline at IAIN, makes some reference to controversies at IAIN in 2004, …

Comment by Betty Rowan: … money. Worse, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. tolerates …

Indigenous Flag Raising

… Meanwhile, a few days earlier, 40 United States congressmen sent a letter to president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono asking for the "immediate and unconditional" release from prison of two members of the OPM, Filep Karma and Yusak Pakage, who in 2004 were convicted of raising the separatist flag and sentenced to 15 and 10 years respectively for treason. The letter read:

We, the undersigned, members of the U.S. Congress, respectfully call to your attention the cases of Filep Karma …

Comment by Enigmatic: … tell me that this news article is …

Energy Saving & Efficiency

… is launched by the president.

At the National Monument/Monas square on 9th August president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono launched a national water and energy saving movement (Gerakan Nasional Penghematan Energi dan Air), as scheduled power blackouts roll out across the country.

Yudhoyono said if the country cut energy costs by 20 to 30% the cost savings in the national budget would be between 45 and 75 trillion rupiah. antara

In government departments and offices Yudhoyono set a …

Mega 2009

… in the wake of fuel price increases, puts Megawati's support at 30%, as opposed to president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on 20%. jakartapost

Gabby, Talkative Intelligence Chief

… accused a certain cabinet minister from a certain party of being disloyal to the government of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, because of his public opposition to the fuel price increase, and even of having provided funds to organise the demonstrations outside the parliament building and at Atma Jaya University on 16th June.

Deputy Rector of the Universitas Paramadina, Yudi Latif, says Syamsir Siregar is making president SBY look weak, as if the president needs the help of the talkative spy …

World Peace Forum (WPF)

… of the World Peace Forum (WPF) has been going on in Jakarta, having been opened by president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on June 24th and involving about 200 representatives of religious and cultural organisations from around the world.

Some of the participants include jakartapost

Tan Sri Lee Kim Yew, from the Cheng Ho Multi Culture Trust, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Taskhiri, of the Global Assembly for Proximity of Islamic Schools of Thought, Iran …

My Friend the Fanatic

… is 2004, before or during the election, Dhume recounts the loathing such people seemed to have for Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono - Herry has secret information that the Yudhoyono presidential campaign is powered by a "Christianity motor", an Indonesian Christian (military)/American (and no doubt Jew) plot, and he even puts about a story that SBY's mother was once a member of Gerwani, the practically satanic (in New Order propaganda terms) communist womens' movement, and to advance his career SBY …

Comment by Achmad Sudarsono: … to do financial news websites or Bloomberg. The option …

Ustad Jefry Al Buchori

… did because it's not in accordance with Islamic doctrine.

Ustad Jeffry said he hoped president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono would take a firm stand against the FPI. okezone

Cool cleric.

Insiden Monas, FPI & AKKBB

… kekerasan Front Pembela Islam saat parade kebebasan beragama di Jakarta, dan tanggapan Presiden Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Video pemberitaan serangan Front Pembela Islam (FPI) terhadap Aliansi Kebangsaan Kebebasan Beragama dan Berkeyakinan (AKKBB) yang berkumpul di Silang Monas, Jakarta menandai peringatan hari Kesaktian Pancasila tanggal 1 Juni. Sekitar 200 orang anggota FPI memukuli ratusan pendukung AKKBB, menuduh bahwa AKKBB melindungi Jemaat Achmadiyah.

Dari …

Comment by Rambutan: … sanggar. Menurut Bambang Tedi, Komandan Laskar FPI …

FPI & Aliansi Kebangsaan untuk Kebebasan Beragama

Video of the Front Pembela Islam attack on a religious freedom rally in Jakarta, and president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's response.

A video news report of the Front Pembela Islam (FPI) attack on a gathering of the Aliansi Kebangsaan Kebebasan Beragama dan Berkeyakinan (AKKBB) marking Pancasila Day on June 1st at Monas square, Jakarta. About 200 FPI men beat and struck about 100 AKKBB members, accusing them of being protectors of the Ahmadiyah sect.

Among the huge …

Comment by Jimmy: … gets international news coverage, and are equally bad for …

Treason Acts, Trials & Penalties

… in early April the trials of those men who had danced and waved RMS flags in front of president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in June of 2007 (see Dancing Separatists ) concluded, with the leader of the group, Johan Teterisa Alis Jhon alias Yoyo (46), being sentenced to life imprisonment. Sentences for others involved ranged from 15 to 20 years. antara

Islamic State

In several cities of West Java on 20th April the anti-terror squad Densus 88 arrested 20 men thought to belong to …

Diana Abbas Thalib

… a family structure for their children.

Big Shots

Hidayat has already asked president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and vice-president Jusuf Kalla to be witnesses at the wedding, while Din Syamsuddin and Hasyim Muzadi will officiate. antara

Islamophobia

… on religion, and islamophobia among Australians and Balinese.

Harmony

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, in a speech on 25th March marking Muhammad's birth, advised Muslims to avoid being excessive or extreme in the way they viewed their unity as a group, or their solidarity. tempo

[Feelings of] solidarity which are too exclusive or excessive can disturb the peace, especially in very diverse countries.

Islamophobia

Later on 9th April he spoke again on …

Boring Speeches

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's boring speeches put people to sleep.

While giving a speech to provincial leaders on 9th April president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono noticed that a number of attendees had fallen asleep. He complained:

Wake up! Get out if you want to sleep.

Boring

He then launched into a mini-lecture about the evils of falling asleep while he was talking about …

Comment by Rob: … this is headline news in a country where there are …

Battle of the Islam Movies

… and Fitna, and which gives a better picture of Islam.

True Islam - Love

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono watched the Islamic soap-opera-romance movie Ayat-Ayat Cinta on 28th March and said he was moved to tears several times.

Tearful.

He said the film was a good example of how Indonesians should struggle to show the true face of Islam to the world, as a religion of peace, harmony, and tolerance.

SBY watched it at Studio XXI, EX Plaza, Jakarta, along with …

Barongsai, & Cultural Assimilation

… not forbidden from taking part in it. antara

Assimilation

On 17th February President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) asked Chinese people to better mix in with society and not keep their distance from others. waspada

For those with the financial capacity, give help to those who need it.

In a similar tone a sociologist at Airlangga University (Unair) in Surabaya, Hotman Siahaan, advised Chinese Indonesians not to adopt an "exclusive" attitude.

Just because they now …

Comment by Murphy: … and if you read newspaper about crime and prostitution …

Kebebasan Pers

Presiden Yudhoyono meminta kepada media untuk tidak memberitakan berita yang tidak sepatutnya.

Pada pidato di acara Peringatan Hari Pers Nasional (HPN) pada tanggal 9 Februari Presiden Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono meminta journalis dan pakar media untuk melatih self-censorship (melakukan kontrol atas dirinya sendiri), mengingat zaman ketika pemerintah mengendalikan press sudah berakhir.

Hal …

Media Self Censorship

President Yudhoyono asks the media to not report inappropriate news stories.

In a speech marking National Press Day on 9th February President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono asked journalists and media outlets to exercise self-censorship, given that the time of government control over the press is over.

He told about 500 journalists and media people present: waspada

I really want to see …

Comment by Lairedion: … then after the newspaper apologized. Unfortunately …

Anggota Militer

… Staf Ahli Mendagri menjadi penjabat sementara (Pjs) Gubernur Sulawesi Selatan oleh Presiden Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono pun bisa dilihat sebagai kembalinya TNI dalam dunia politik Indonesia, kalaupun mereka sempat meninggalkannya.

Tanribali pensiun dari karir militernya sebelum penunjukannya sebagai seorang pemerintah daerah, sebuah kedudukan yang menugaskannya untuk mengembalikan keamanan di Sulawesi Selatan.

Presiden SBY di masa tentaranya.

Yudhoyono sendiri pensiun dari TNI …

Military Men

… Djoko said the TNI bore the responsibility to restore peace when violence broke out.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has appointed Army chief operational assistant Major General Tanribali Lamo as interim governor of South Sulawesi, which some say signals a return of the military to everyday politics, assuming they ever left.

Tanribali retired from the military just before his induction as interim governor, a position that will require him to restore peace and reconcile the …

Letter to the President

… the Indonesian mentality.

Dear Bapak President

Yang Terhormat Bapak President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono,

It must be an unenviable job to be the President of the Republic of Indonesia. I mean who ever thanks the President for anything especially when matters seem to head in a different direction than the one intended?

Your team must be earnestly strategising the next Presidential elections for you. I hope my letter will reach you in time. As always, you have …

Comment by Aluang Anak Bayang: BREAKING NEWS ! AL JAZEERA - SAUDI ARABIA …

Minority Groups

Indonesia is founded on discrimination against minorities, says Dragonwall.

Bribery, Corruption and Discrimination

New Order

After the ending days of President Soekarno, General Soeharto then took command as President and Supreme Commander of the Indonesian Armed Force (TNI) and began his rule of Indonesia from 1966-1998.

To commoners in Indonesia, at that time, when …

Comment by Dragonwall: … I saw news reported that Bandung was having a …

Fuel Subsidies

Subsidies on fuel will be reduced, for some.

On 7th November 2007 president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said that the retail price of oil (BBM) in Indonesia, which is subsidised by the government, would not increase in spite of world oil prices remaining well over state budget calculations. antara

It is not an option [to reduce the state subsidies].

However on 4th December Coordinating minister for the Economy, Boediono, announced that subsidies for high demand …

Majelis Ulama

… to be a prophet was not a human right and such people should be punished. gatra

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on 5th November voiced his support for firm action against Al Qiyadah Al Islamiyah. The Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI) had spoken, he said:

There are thirteen points made by the MUI. The first one is to take very firm and appropriate action against false understandings and beliefs. I support them, let's get on with it together.

SBY also said he supported the MUI's …

Geothermal Energy

… in Indonesia, as world oil prices remain high, and Indonesian oil production declines.

Bambang Kustono of Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE) says the companies include Suez International Energy, Chevron, Star Energy, and others from New Zealand, Germany, the Philippines, and Iceland, and that PGE is currently evaluating their applications. antara

Reykjavik Energy Invest (REI) of Iceland is at the most advanced stage. On 23rd October President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono met with …

Sutiyoso

… Thanks to the press, people in other regions know me quite well because of abundant news about me in a lot of mass media.

Of Sutiyoso's likely prospects in 2009 Jeffrie Geovanie of The Indonesian Institute said much depended on Sutiyoso's choice of a running mate, and that this person needed to be non-Javanese and an Islamic figure. Possible candidates for the job included Muhamadiyah leader Din Syamsuddin, Constitutional Court head Jimly Asshiddiqie, and President of …

Stolen Assets

… $0.07-0.08 billion, or 0.04% of GDP.

Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will meet the World Bank president, Robert B. Zoellick, when he visits New York from September 22nd-26th to find out what the World Bank intends on doing with this information and how Indonesia might be able to help to recover some of the stolen funds. antara

Comment by Janma: … redaksi of Kompas newspaper… not a speculative sort of …

Wahidiyah

… some of the criminal responsibility for the attacks on the group.

He also accused president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of being unable to protect the country's minorities, and complained that the Tasikmalaya police were hopeless, in that they couldn't defend ordinary people under attack by mobs. antara

Put Downs & Insults

Australia insults president Yudhoyono.

Golkar parliamentarian Yuddy Chrisnandi said on 9th September that Australia had insulted president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the APEC summit in Sydney by placing him in the back row of the final photo shoot.

Regardless of our critical stance towards the president, as loyal patriots we want the president to be respected as the leader of the biggest country in ASEAN, the …

Comment by Sputjam: … home there. Maybe Yudhoyono should buy one holiday house …

Traditional Markets

Attempting to save traditional markets and promote Indonesian products.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono asked regional administrations to make physical allocation for both modern and traditional markets in order to ensure the latter's survival. He said to a plenary session of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) at the parliament building on August 23rd, in discussing its policies on regional development:

Governors, district heads and mayors should determine …

Comment by Janma: … burn down on the news. my husband said that most of …

Munir Case

Munir was murdered to protect President Yudhoyono.

The human rights activist Munir Said Thalib was poisoned to death while travelling on a Garuda flight from Jakarta to Amsterdam in September 2004. An off-duty co-pilot for Garuda, Pollycarpus Priyanto, was convicted of the murder but his conviction was overturned by the Supreme Court in October 2006, eventually prompting prosecutors to re-open the case.

Munir.

As part …

Comment by Theo Dorrius: … Polycarpus is good news or not. He just seems to be …

Presidential Scandal

… position of deputy speaker Zaenal Maarif has now lashed out in bitterness and accused president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of being a polygamist, and suggested that he also be removed from his position.

Zaenal Ma'arif, bitter.

Zaenal said on 26th July that he had evidence that SBY had married early in his life, before entering or while attending the Military Academy, and that his young bride was not the First Lady, Mrs Ani, thereby accusing him of two "crimes": being a polygamist, …

Comment by Tomaculum: … unbelievable. Read news about him in Kompas.com. He wants …

National Insults

Indonesia has suffered a great number of insults to its pride and integrity recently.

Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) leader Hasyim Muzadi said on June 30th that Indonesia had recently suffered two terrible and embarrassing blows, the dancing resurgence of the South Moluccas Republic movement (Republik Maluku Selatan, (RMS)) in Ambon, and the banning of Indonesian Airlines from European airspace, …

Comment by Cukurungan: … television news channels were projecting that …

Dancing Separatists

President Yudhoyono is disturbed by a group of dancing separatists in Ambon.

While Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was attending a ceremony celebrating the 14th National Family Day (Harganas) in Ambon city, Maluku, 28 men suddenly approached the president, dancing all the while, and attempted to unfurl flags of the banned separatist group, South Maluku Republic (Republik Maluku Selatan, (RMS)). The dancers …

Comment by michr: … informations and news about “DANCING SEPARATISTS” …

Evangelizing Muslims

… adequately.

If the police can't handle it then we will write to General Sutanto and president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono because this sort of thing never stops and it really disturbs the Muslims of Aceh.

Comment by dewaratugedeanom: … comes up in the news, Muslims stubbornly jump on the …

The Three Dont’s

President Yudhoyono outlines his Three Dont's.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) on May 21st urged all people in the country to observe the "three dont's", they being:

Don't be too free-living.
Don't be materialistic.
Don't slander people.

He said these things while addressing leaders of the Rabithah Ma'ahid Islamiyah (RMI), an association of Islamic boarding schools …

Village Field Trip

President Yudhoyono visits a village and is not happy with what he sees.

The Jakarta Post says that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on 20th May suddenly descended on Karang Tengah village in Sentul, Bogor, to have an intimate look at the daily lives of villagers.

First he visited a petrol stall/kiosk owned by one Rohman Husein. Yudhoyono said he was bewildered that petrol was being sold …

Comment by Teng: President Yudhoyono visits a village in Aceh and …

Yusril Ihza Mahendra

… Ihza Mahendra was dismissed from his position as State Secretary in the cabinet of president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on 7th May due to, according to many, the likelihood that he is criminally connected with Tommy Suharto 's stealing of state funds. asiasentinel

Yusril Ihza Mahendra.

However deputy chairman of Yusril Ihza Mahendra's party, Partai Bintang Bulan (PBB), Crescent Star Party, Janzi Sofyan, believes that the real reason for Mahendra's dismissal was the …

Comment by Dragonwall: … was wrong amidst news by SBY recently that said “Yang …

Nationalization

… had had control of the wealth of Indonesia for dozens of years now and Fatwa hoped that president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono would soon summon the courage to return these assets to the state, such as the Freeport mining operation in Papua.

His position had constitutional support, he said:

In the 1945 constitution it says "the land and water and natural wealth is held by the state and is to be used for increasing the people's prosperity." It's very clear that all natural resources are …

Maia & Ahmad Dhani

… affair of state. He plans to send a letter outlining his marital problems to the wife of president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Mrs Ani, as well as former president Gus Dur's wife, Shinta Nuriyah Wahid, and the current minister for Womens' Empowerment, Meuthia Hatta. He hopes the letter will give the three important women a fuller view of what is going on in his household, whether they are interested or not.

The couple have three children, all named in mystical Sufi Islam style, Ahmad Al …

Comment by Ihaknt: … this is a good news, well, in a way it provides a nice …

Extradition Treaty

… has signed a defence and extradition treaty with Singapore.

On 28th April president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong witnessed the signing of the treaty by the countries' respective foreign ministers with on the sunny island paradise of Bali.

All smiles.

The treaty allows for the extradition of Indonesian nationals who have fled to Singapore in the cases of 31 defined crimes, mostly in the financial and corruption area, and it …

Muhammadiyah

… some criticism.

At the opening of the conference (Tanwir Muhammadiyah) on April 26th president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono complained that Muhammadiyah was not doing enough in the economic sphere:

We have to be honest and admit that Muhammadiyah's role in the economic field is not as big as in the health and educational fields.

The leaders of Muhammadiyah were all bureaucrats and academics, he went on, there were never any men from the business world.

Even in their speciality area, …

World’s Tallest Statue

… in a nationalist spirit, on or near August 17th 2007, the first stone to be laid by president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Tuani Lumban Tobing.

Hasrul Azwar, the head of the Medan branch of the United Development Party, Partai Persatuan Pembangunan (PPP), however says the Noah statue will greatly distress Muslims because in Islam prophets may not be depicted in artistic form.

Showing the faces of prophets and Muhammad is strictly forbidden in Islam.

What was worse for …

Jamu Products

… need to be competitive with other Asian producers of traditional medicines and cures.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono opened the meeting and asked that the Indonesian version of the F.D.A, the Badan Pengawas Obat dan Makanan (POM), keep a closer watch on traditional medicine in the country to ensure that unregistered and unsafe medicines were not available. metrotv If not the whole industry would suffer, he said, especially given the fact that the year 2020 was nearing, when laws and …

Comment by Dragonwall: … Not long after news leak out and reports of people …

Dita Indah Sari

… in the minimum wage. She has not moderated her views now and considers the government of president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to be a weak failure, beholden to big (foreign) business.

Dita, like Amien Rais, believes that the examples of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, and Bolivian leader Evo Morales, should be followed by Indonesia, specifically their nationalisation programs of key industries.

The government is also too weak in defending the rights of citizens attacked by militant …

Comment by Brad: … of the benefits. Yudhoyono spent his whole career as a …

IPDN

… been expelled from the Institute and charged by police.

Cliff Muntu's body.

Since the news of Cliff Muntu's death television news stations have repeatedly shown old footage of training exercises at the civil service academy involving much karate style kicking and punching of students, and IPDN Rector Nyoman Sumarayadi later admitted that two other students had been punched to death in recent years, these being Eri Rachman and Wahyu Hidayat from West Java in 2000 and 2003 …

Comment by Angie: … I’ve heard, a news-closing on a tv station). The …

UN Resolution 1747

… Resolution 1747 against Iran's nuclear program, and many are upset.

Indonesia, which news agencies and politicians never tire of saying is the "world's most populous Muslim country", joined in the unanimous Security Council adoption of Resolution 1747 which expands existing economic sanctions on Iran due to the Iranian regime's unwillingness to abide by restrictions on its nuclear program.

While the reaction to Indonesia's support of 1747 has generally been negative it hasn't …

Comment by Yunir: … then its good news for US leaders. Iran will and …

Sunni vs Shia

… in Bogor, south of Jakarta, by some government officials.

In his opening speech, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said religious leaders have a great role to play in ending the conflict in Iraq. He said the process of reconciliation requires enormous self-restraint and resistance against impulses to avenge past wrongdoings, as well as needing many acts of forgiveness.

For that to be possible, the (Iraqi) community must call upon tremendous reserves of spiritual strength. Hence, …

Comment by Mohammed Khafi: … and Ethics News Weekly. Ihaknt is right, he …

Garuda Crash

… the plane was travelling too fast and ran off the runway, by 300 metres. antara

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has ordered an investigation to find out whether the plane was sabotaged, while some have complained that this will give the false impression that Indonesia is not safe, in security terms. A parliamentarian in Jakarta, Ngabalin, said that the president's instruction would cause the image of Indonesia to become poorer, and would encourage foreign interference in the making …

Comment by Andrew: … of the world, the news is long gone from the main page of …

Yunus Yosfiah

… Yosfiah served as commander of the Sriwijaya Army Command from 1994 to 1995 (as did president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, 1996-97) kodam and later again as information minister in the government of B.J. Habibie. Currently he is a member of the MPR for the United Development Party (PPP).

The arrest warrant issued has no force outside of Australia and does not imply that Yunus has committed any crime. The man himself says he is unconcerned about it, and that he had already explained to …

Comment by Janma: … I watch the news and I just can’t stand it! For …

Overseas Workers

… the majority probably women employed as domestic servants. One might think that president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono should appoint somebody to look after the domestic maids in Indonesia itself, who are often treated disgracefully, but let's look on the bright side.

Jumhur Hidayat.

Mr. H. is going to be a busy man, if my own experience in Singapore reflects the reality of the problems faced by these mostly young lasses who seek their fortunes abroad. We went over there to …

Bashir Visit

… arrived unannounced at the State Palace on the 22nd to hand over a letter of advice to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. The letter contained an appeal to the president that all government policy should be based on Islamic shariah law.

Just turned up.

Ba'asyir and friends waited for 45 minutes at the palace gates until they received permission from presidential guards to enter. Upon entering they were received by presidential spokesman Andi Mallarangeng, who said his boss was too …

Consultative Group on Indonesia (CGI)

The Consultative Group on Indonesia (CGI) will be disbanded.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on the 24th that Indonesia would no longer seek financial aid through the Consultative Group on Indonesia (CGI), as there was no longer any need for it. He said that Indonesia no longer needed the special assistance of the CGI because the country was now able to overcome its foreign debt problems acting alone.

I consider that it is necessary to terminate the CGI …

Comment by Ali: … I’ve read in newspaper, the debt about 25T but …

Poso Fighting

… to the real problems in conflict-torn Poso. Nahdlatul Ulama chairman Hasyim Muzadi urged President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to take over the matter personally.

But the problem is, our President never takes over a problem. He will just set up a team. He should oversee this matter.

He said the Poso conflict has reached an "emergency" level since it involves armed civilians. Setting up a government team, he said, would not solve the problem.

Muhammadiyah chairman Din Syamsuddin …

Natural Disasters

President Yudhoyono advises the people not to be superstitious about natural disasters.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, putting some distance between himself and some of his rather superstitious predecessors, namely presidents Suharto and Gus Dur, said on the 20th of December that natural disasters were inevitable in Indonesia, for geological and other environmental reasons, and that the people …

Comment by Hassan: … least) to hear the news.

Beware America

… state of the US economy.

Zaenal Ma'arif.

He said, in a written submission to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY), that America was nearing a recession, its people were wasteful and debt-laden, and its government owed massive amounts of money to China, Japan, South Korea, and the wealthy middle eastern countries.

He advised that Indonesia follow the path of Malaysia and sell some its oil in Euros and Yen, and not rely solely on the sickly dollar. For non oil and gas products …

Apartment Buying

… although it seems likely that apartments will be the main type. Hidayat claimed that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had, in principle, agreed to open the country's property market to foreign buyers.

It was agreed during a discussion last month with the President, National Land Agency (BPN) chairman Joyo Winoto, property developer Hendro Setyawan and myself, that a form of foreign ownership would be legalized in 2007.

Speaking at the annual meeting of the Indonesian Real Estate …

Comment by Setiawan: … Any latest news about that?, is there somebody can …

Insulting the President

… Eggy Sudjana.

The law has also been recently used against students who insulted president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and vice president Yusuf Kalla during street protests. In October, a university student, Fahrur Rahman, was sentenced to almost four months jail for calling the president and his deputy "cat sh*t" during a protest to demand that former leader Suharto be put on trial.

One oddity of the way the law was enforced previously is that police would, by their own efforts …

Comment by Dragonwall: … people hearing news of such good buys came and quickly …

Polygamy

… aroused by them have not been ignored by the president, and his wife.

It appears that president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's special SMS message service was inundated with complaints from the nation's womenfolk and this, at least in part, led to Yudhoyono on the 5th to call the minister for womens' empowerment, Meutia Hatta, as well as the director general of the Islam section of the department of religion, Nazaruddin Umar, and the cabinet secretary, Sudi Silalahi, to the presidential palace …

Government Downfall

… the 28th that certain extreme groups were working hard to bring down the government of president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and vice president Jusuf Kalla (SBY-JK).

Tewu said the team of SBY-JK had the right to lead the country until 2009 and he felt it incumbent upon himself to warn the country about the efforts to cause the downfall of the legitimate government.

Denny Tewu

Although he would not name names or give any specific details he said that the devious plotters were …

Waste Not

President Yudhoyono urges the wealthy to be frugal.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on the 26th of November that state officials and wealthy people were living "wasteful" lifestyles, and they should learn to rein in their excessive use of electricity, gas, water, telephones and food. The government's budget was burdened by wasteful public servants and the people's sense of justice was …

Comment by Karania: … President Yudhoyono urges the wealthy to be …

Bleak Economic Future

… in Jakarta on the 22nd that the recent meeting between U.S. president George W. Bush and president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono earlier this week, where they are said to have discussed bi-lateral relations and investment, among other things, would not help in increasing foreign investment in Indonesia if the Indonesian government itself failed to remove the many barriers.

Just because Indonesia and the United States were on friendly terms was not enough to attract investors, he said:

Yes, …

Comment by Avi: … I agree that Bpk. Susilo has shown weakness and a lack of …

Population Growth & Family Planning

… without growing or declining, TFR needs to be at 2.1 births per woman. antara

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono says that the 1.3% figure this year is too high and puts a strain on the country's ability to provide enough food, health care, and jobs. SBY said that when he went travelling about the countryside he was always struck by the number of youngsters running about.

I found so many children there, and I think about their education, health, jobs and so on.

He urged the …

Bush Visit Opposition

… Muslims and that any relationship with a tormentor of Muslims was haram, or forbidden. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who claimed to be a Muslim and had been to Mecca, was obliged to obey the haram injunction. tempo

Teleconference Instead

Some people offered high-tech alternatives to allowing Bush to actually set foot in Indonesia. Fadli Zon, a political analyst, said if Bush wanted to talk about something he could just teleconference or telephone, he didn't need to visit. …

Comment by Andrew: … who’s talking.

Meeting George Bush

… the Bogor presidential palace, for ten hours on 20th November and Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will bring five important national figures to meet and talk with Bush.

Presidential spokesman Dino Patty Djalal said:

We and the US government have already agreed on the names of the five public figures (who will meet Bush). antara

But the names have not yet been released. The last time Bush came to Indonesia, in Bali in 2003, he met a number of religious …

Australia & Indonesia

… least part of the Indonesian president's name right. Only 5% are able to give his complete name - Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Interestingly as well, but not specifically related to Indonesia, is that Australians are very worried about international terrorism (73% regard it as a critical threat) and quite worried about Islamic fundamentalism (60% regard it as a critical threat), far more than they are worried about, say, the growing power of China (25% regard it as a critical threat). This …

Royal Doulton

… the chairman of Waterford Wedgwood Plc., the owner of the Royal Doulton brand, met with president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the presidential palace in Jakarta on the 2nd and announced that Waterford Wedgwood/Royal Doulton, a manufacturer of ceramic and china dinnerware, would expand its factory at Tangerang, Banten (western Java, near Jakarta) at a cost of 125 million US dollars.

Waterford Wedgwood, which apart from its famous Royal Doulton china cups, plates, and saucers also produces …

Comment by Purba Negoro: … to see some good news hear- although I am sad if the …

Last Insults for Tibo et al.

… executions of Tibo and his two colleagues is seen simply as an attempt by the regime of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Jusuf Kalla to cover up the real persons and institutions who should be held accountable for the ongoing unrest in Central Sulawesi, where violence from Poso spread to Morowali and even to the provincial capital, Palu. So, while Tibo and his colleagues were sitting in Palu prison for more than five years, violence had been continuing in the province, escalating in …

Sri Mulyani Indrawati

Sri Mulyani is the all-Asia Finance Minister champion, according to Emerging Markets newspaper.

Sri Mulyani Indrawati, Finance minister in the government of president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, is to be awarded the title of Best Finance Minister in Asia on the 19th by Emerging Markets newspaper.

Sri Mulyani Indrawati.

Editor Taimur Ahmad says that Sri was chosen based on progress achieved in areas like economic growth, investor trust, and ratings in Indonesia, …

Papal Speech

… karena hanya akan menambah masalah bangsa yang sudah menumpuk sekarang ini.)

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono also complained about the speech, saying it not wise or appropriate. He hoped the Pope would correct himself.

Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI) head, Ma'ruf Amin, said it would be better if Benedict were more like his predecessor, John Paul II, in that the latter was good at building bridges between religions.

Ahmad Syafii Maarif, a former chairman of …

Comment by IndraPr: … made such remarks in the first place.

Javanese Language

Javanese language and script are dying and president Yudhoyono is one who is concerned.

In Semarang from the 10th to 14th of this month is being held the Fourth Javanese Language Congress, attended by about 800 people, at the Hotel Patra Jasa, with the congress having the goal of "Pemberdayaan Bahasa dan Sastra Jawa Melalui Pendidikan Dalam Rangka Penguatan Bhineka Tunggal Ika", or energising Javanese language and culture through …

Fahrur Rahman

Fahrur "Paunk" Rahman has gone on trial for insulting the nation's wise leader, president Yudhoyono.

In a somewhat similar case to that of Eggi Sudjana Fahrur "Paunk", or "Paung", Rahman, 20 years old, a student at Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University, is accused of having insulted both President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Jusuf Kalla in a speech he made during a protest organized by the Alliance of People's Movements and the Try Soeharto Movement. …

Direct Foreign Investment

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono advises regional leaders on how to create a welcoming investment environment for foreign direct capital inflows.

Speaking at the 2006 "Forum Kerja Sama Antar Pemerintah Daerah Provinsi Kepulauan" on Bintan island, Riau province, and accompanied by Economy minister Boediono, Security minister Widodo AS, Trade minister Mari Elka Pangestu, Industry minister Fahmi …

Comment by Junko: Dear President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Please set …

Growth Forecasts

Various bold predictions from the leader of the nation, president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

On the 4th the president, known usually as SBY, predicted that the Indonesian economy would double in size in the next ten years.

I am convinced that with the right policies and lots of hard work, and perhaps a little luck, Indonesia's GDP will double in the next 10 years.

He told the "Forbes Global CEO Conference" in Singapore.

Inflation, he said, …

British Investment

… in Indonesia, who delivered a special message from British Prime Minister Tony Blair to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Rous said:

I am not only here for business interests, but also to convey the Prime Minister's message regarding capital investment. The main concern is still legal issues.

He said he hoped that the draft bill on Capital Investment could succeed in boosting foreign investment. tempo

We are absolutely certain that investment in Indonesia will increase. I am …

Yossi Sarid

… was refused a visa because he is Israeli.

Yossi Sarid, who has worked on a number of newspapers in Israel, had planned to visit Bali to attend an international conference on freedom of expression but was refused a visa, because of "the existing circumstances". Ironically the conference, called "Global Inter-Media Dialog in Bali", which is being co-sponsored by the prime minister of Norway and the president of Indonesia, has the stated goal of " bridging gaps between different …

Israel’s Rejection

… Palestine and Lebanon.

He advised also that Israel be charged with war crimes.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono reaffirmed that Indonesia would shortly send its army to Lebanon.

Our troops in Lebanon will be under the auspices of the United Nations.

Speaking at a celebration of the Islamic holy day, Miraj, SBY said that the example of the prophet Muhammad in creating peace should be followed by Indonesia, as the world's largest Muslim country:

Every Muslim wherever he …