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 …

Protecting Lebanon

President Yudhoyono remains extremely enthusiastic about sending peacekeepers to Lebanon.

On the 16th president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono reaffirmed Indonesia's commitment to "protect" the Lebanese and Palestinian peoples from Israel. In his State of the Nation address the president said:

...we have stated our readiness to join with the U.N. Peacekeeping force, in order to protect the …

Comment by Hassan: Mohammed Khafi: news flash for you, Israel had ALWAYS …

Remissions

… her two-year sentence for helping to hide her husband from the authorities.

Meanwhile president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said that security forces need to remain vigilant against terrorist attacks because the man who masterminded most of the past terrorist attacks in Indonesia, Noordin M. Top, was still at large.

Yudhoyono acknowledged that police have made progress in cracking the network, killing Jemaah Islamiyah's explosives expert Azahari bin Husin last year, but noted that Noordin …

Lebanese Jihad

… should continue to maintain Indonesia's traditionally "neutral" stance.

On 5th August president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono asked that Indonesians modify their anger with some realism. The government was doing all it could, he said.

The same day the Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI) said it could not forbid anyone from going to wage holy war. Kholil Ridwan of the MUI:

That's a person's right, as long as he can get himself there. If he wants to go to heaven there, go ahead.
(Itu kan hak …

Foreign Domination

… supervision, while the nation can do nothing about it.

The leaders of the country, president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and vice president Jusuf Kalla, had failed to show their courage to end such foreign domination.

He then made note of the examples of Evo Morales, the president of Bolivia, and Hugo Chaves of Venezuela, and suggested their records of rejecting foreign domination of their countries should be emulated by Indonesia - failing this the nation would remain in a parlous …

Eggy Sudjana

Eggy Sudjana goes on trial for insulting president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Eggi Sudjana is accused of having insulted the president when making comments in connection with his criticism of the giving of Jaguar cars to the president and some of his staff by a wealthy businessmen, one Haritanoe.

Eggi is charged under law 139 which carries a maximum punishment of six years in prison.

The accused said things which besmirched the good …

Partai Bulan Bintang & Sharia

… 11 seats in the parliament and its position as a coalition partner in the government of president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Israel & Lebanon

… nations of the world to unite against Israel.

Antara says that tomorrow, July 18th, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to meet with Arab ambassadors to discuss the "brutal attacks". Another report states that it is expected, by some, that officials from the United States embassy will engage in dialogue with Muslim leaders in Indonesia over the Israeli issue. Intelligence observer Wawan Purwanto said:

The US embassy should actively compose Indonesian Muslim`s mass …

SBY Will Be Judged

… there is no law requiring them to do so. It is not only they who sin, but also SBY [president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and [vice president] Jusuf Kalla will be held responsible on Judgement Day.
(Cara mengamalkan Islam itu harus diorganisir oleh negara. Itu contohnya Rasulullah yang diikuti oleh para sahabatnya. Jadi, misalnya orang Islam banyak yang melanggar salat karena nggak ada undang-undangnya, bukan dia saja yang dosa, tapi SBY dan Jusuf Kalla juga ikut nanggung dosanya di Hari …

Comment by Ram: … Ba’asyir Mr. Susilo B Yudhoyono Mr. Jusuf Kalla I …

The Palestinian Cause

… the intention of Indonesia to assign a special envoy to Palestine, first mooted by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on his his recent visit to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, and United Arab Emirates. The plan to assign the special envoy showed that Indonesia not only supported the Palestinians morally but also was ready to take concrete steps, Wirajuda said.

Metrotv reported that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono also reaffirmed his support for one of the sides in a far-away …

Radical Groups

… the ministry.

On the same day, yesterday, as the meeting of ministers was going on, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) met with Maria Ulfah Anshar, the head of the Fatayat NU, the womens' wing of the Nahdlatul Ulama. Later Maria Ulfah said kompas to Kompas:

Wer'e both concerned about the growth of groups that attempt to undermine Pancasila. He (SBY) said that Pancasila is the basis of the country which the founders of the nation built. We have agreed that it is the …

Donald Rumsfeld Visit

… for existing A 4 planes among other military hardware stuff.

Rumsfeld later met president Susilo Bambang Yudoyono for 45 minutes yesterday and both men were reported to have agreed on the importance of continuing military ties.

Yudhoyono called for permanent ties between the United States and Indonesian militaries to be re-established. The U.S. lifted its embargo in November 2005 but the measure has yet to be put on a "permanent" basis with some members of Congress still hostile …

Repressive Pornography Law

… of the parliament is in favour of the bill, Paddock says, although the position of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is, typically for him on controversial questions, unclear. He doesn't like seeing belly buttons, Paddock notes.

Read the whole article.

Pancasila

… to defend it from the assaults of radical Islamic groups. That may be changing now.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is reported by the Jakarta Post as saying that abandoning the Pancasila state ideology for narrow religious or ethnic-based ideologies will only jeopardize the unity and diversity of the nation. In a speech to commemorate the founding of Pancasila on Thursday, Yudhoyono said the ideology was not an absolute doctrine but a compromise reached by the nation's founding …

Comment by Patung: … Chinese Violence ?

Indonesia’s Role in UN Human Rights Council

… of All Forms of Racial Discrimination in 1999.

During the recent period under President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono a letter was submitted to the UN for accession to International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). So now in the international view Indonesia has already ratified six major international human rights law, more than any country in ASEAN.

Since Indonesia has ratified the six major …

Anggun C Sasmi

Expatriate pop singer Anggun visited Jakarta recently and left us with her opinions on the anti-pornography bill.

Anggun Cipta Sasmi, who lives in France now, re-visited Jakarta for a special concert at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) recently and, after belting out a few songs from her albums "Luminescence" and "Snow on the Sahara", including the hits "Saviour" and "In Your Mind", she …

Comment by Anonymous_aloy: … middle class. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is leading the …

Certificates in Quran Understanding

Students wishing to enter junior high schools in Padang, Sumatra, must in future provide a certificate that proves their ability to read and write in Arabic.

The head of the Education Department in Padang, M. Nur Amin, says that this measure is in accordance with local by-law Number 6, 2003 which requires ability in reading the Quran for those in primary/elementary school.

Said …

Comment by Anonymous_aloy: … inaction, the Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono regime are …

Critiques of Moderate Indonesia

… leadership of Indonesia, its failure to take bold steps, its lack of innovation under President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Despite the West's cheerleading rhetoric about Muslim world leadership and the ill-considered US embrace of Indonesia's unreformed military to combat terrorism, even its biggest boosters realize Indonesia is not a neutral player. Rather than exporting its moderate Islamic values, Indonesia has been importing those of Middle Eastern Muslim extremists.

The result …

Comment by Treespotter: … under President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’? I don’t …

Ahmadinejad

… visited Jakarta today and was warmly received by the leader of moderate Islam, president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia.

There was some amount of hugging and kissing between the two which, as Greg Sheridan noted, can do SBY's image no good.

The Iranian leader wants to wipe Israel off the map, says the Holocaust never occurred, has just sent a rambling 18-page letter to US President George W. Bush and is believed by virtually every national government to be intent …

Religious Freedom Report

… security and reconciliation efforts.

See another view of the conflict in Poso.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono publicly condemned the violence in Central Sulawesi and sent police investigators from Jakarta to coordinate investigations. However, no arrests have been made in any of the cases of communal violence that occurred in the past year. Some local leaders in Central Sulawesi laud recent efforts by local police to investigate, arrest, and prosecute those involved in past …

Inter Civilization Dialogue

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, while visiting Jordan, agreed with his host King Abdullah II that inter-civilizational dialogue is sorely needed, in order that the west understand that Islam is a peaceful, tolerant faith, in spite of the evidence.

Both men pledged to engage in a determined effort to educate westerners on Islam's essentially benevolent aspect. A statement from the royal …

Indonesia Counterterrorism Report

… this year, the Indonesian government, led by the country's first directly elected president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, demonstrated a new urgency on counterterrorism that could spawn needed institutional changes and a more comprehensive counterterrorism policy. The Indonesian government actively pursues the perpetrators of terrorist attacks.

President Yudhoyono's July appointment of a new National Police Chief, General Sutanto, led to strengthened support for needed police reform, …

Eradication of Corruption

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono says that corruption is the greatest problem facing Indonesia and that it can be overcome within a generation.

Sby said :

Maybe I'm too optimistic but I believe it will happen. This is what happened in Hong Kong and Singapore.

Yes, too optimistic O Leader, and the people in the those small city-states you mentioned are made of different stuff to …

Rubbish From Indonesia & Australia

… The cartoon in the Weekend Australian is very rude towards the president of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. It depicts the president as an animal engaged in sexual acts with a Papuan man. It's rubbish. It's in bad taste, very bad taste, and shows a low level of culture.

It's not the work or opinion of the Australian government but a newspaper which enjoys unrestricted press freedom. The bad attitude to Indonesia is nothing new, it goes back a long way.

The Indonesian …

Attitudes to Australia

… the Indonesian government issued a formal protest? I think that if the battle is only fought in newspapers or in the mass media nothing will come of it.
(Tepatnya, saya menilai pemerintah Australia telah melakukan politik bertetangga yang sangat buruk atau bukan tetangga baik.... Mengapa pemerintah RI tidak melayangkan protes resmi kepada Australia? Saya pikir hanya dengan perang di koran atau media massa tidak ada implikasi atau dampak apapun.)

He said that Indonesia had to stand up …

Female Belly Buttons

… unrevised, would see the display of bare navels, thighs, and shoulders become illegal, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) confessed that he had once detik sent home a singer at the presidential palace because her belly button was visible.

Maybe I'm old fashioned but I don't like to see belly buttons, it bothers me. There was once a singer whose belly button was visible, she was going to perform at the palace, but I sent her home and she didn't have the chance to sing.

Man …

Comment by Parvita: … President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) …

Confucianism Religion or Khonghucu

The edict of 24 February 2006 which requires local and provincial administrations to give official recognition to the existence of Confucianism in Indonesia, or Khonghucu as it is called locally, appears likely to actually be enforced.

M Ma'ruf, the minister for religion, said mediaindo that there were some provinces and regencies which were still not ready to provide services to …

Comment by Mulyadi: … our President now Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, they have …

President Speaketh on Terrorism

We're not always entirely sure what to think of "our President" Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. He always seems to say the right thing to the right people at the right time, which may arouse suspicion in some, it does me, but in a rather inarticulate way. Anyhow he did it again today in a speech to a conference on terrorism in Jakarta.

The big, burly, handsome man said, at the opening of the Building International Cooperation Against Terrorism (which …

The Clash of Christianity & Islam

At a news conference in Jakarta the chairman of Muhammadiyah, which is a modernist Islamic social group with about 25 million members, Din Syamsuddin, said that religious harmony was difficult in Indonesia because Christianity and Islam were by nature proselytising faiths and naturally collided with each other.

Looking to protect his turf Syamsuddin said:

The idea of dissemination is …

2004 Election Results

… Votes

%

1.
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (PD) - Jusuf Kalla

39,838,184

33.6%

2.
Megawati Soekarnoputri (PDI-P) - Hasyim Muzadi

31,567,104

26.6 %

3.
General Wiranto (Golkar) - Solahuddin Wahid

26,286,788

22.2 %

4. …

Ahmadiyah Lombok

… had gone unpunished so this appears to be a positive sign.

The arrests come after the President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Saturday:

In this country, there is no such thing as religions that are recognized or not recognized by the state. The Constitution guarantees the freedom of every citizen to have a religion and to practice their faith. The state shall never interfere in any religious teachings. The duty of the state is to protect, serve and facilitate the building and …

Impending Executions of Christian Men

… death in April 2001 in a Palu court. Their most recent appeal for clemency was denied by president Yudhoyono in November 2005. Their executions were stayed to allow them to celebrate Christmas but it is feared they could be put to death any day now.

There are some ugly rumours that the authorities are determined to put the men to death as a means of "balancing" the also impending executions of the Bali bombers, as a sop to Muslim groups.

Some people, like former president Gus Dur, and …

Economic Development

… becoming a developed nation. The Indonesia Forum Foundation presented the vision to President Bambang Yudhoyono last week in a ceremony at the State Palace.

Other prominent businessmen such as Angky Camaro of Sampoerna group and Anthony Salim of the Salim group are also members of the foundation, along with economists Anggito Abimanyu and Muhammad Chatib Basri, while several ministers, including Coordinating Minister for the Economy Boediono, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and …

Comment by Bas: … it. Just read newspapers. It’s so obvious only …

FDI Plunges

… instead that the country's macro-economic position this year had improved and that president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's frequent trips abroad to drum up new investments were not useless but that the problem was that foreign investors could not be forced to put their money here.

Despite in the drop in new investment the number of workers employed in foreign investment projects increased, according to the National Investment Coordinating Agency (BKPM). 191,473 new workers gained …

IMF Debt Repayment

… $3.7 billion of Indonesia's then approximately $7 billion in debt to the IMF, following President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's request to settle the debt within the next two years. The IMF actually does not require re-payment until 2010.

The deputy governor of BI, Hartadi, explained that the earlier debt repayment was possible due to Indonesia's strong foreign exchange reserves position, standing at $42 billion.

The planned re-payment will save the country some $500,000 in interest …

Jusuf Kalla’s Ambitions

The looming power struggle between president Yudhoyono and vice president Jusuf Kalla.

Previously touched on here in this comment the apparent rivalry between President Susilio Bambang Yudhoyono and his deputy is occupying the attention of Bill Guerin in an Asia Times piece.

Guerin writes of Kalla's dynamism in dealing with the aftermath of the recent Yogyakarta earthquake noting that the issuance of by Kalla of a vice …

Nationalism, Wiranto, & Kwik Kian Gie

… Kian Gie said the Nationalist Alliance had been formed to counter the capitulation of president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's administration to dastardly foreign interests. Kwik said the craven kow-towing of Indonesia to foreigners had caused much misery to the long-suffering poor masses of Indonesia.

We have seen how disastrous the effects have been of the policy to hike fuel prices. This is the result of adhering to a school of thought that allows market mechanisms to set fuel prices. …

Food & Energy Prices, & Climate Change

… 19th to mark the 63rd anniversary of the founding of Indonesia’s foreign ministry, President Yudhoyono spoke about looming global crises and what the country should do to meet these challenges. The three areas of concern he outlined were Food, Energy and Climate Change.

Like most things in the modern world these crises are not happening in isolation, they are in fact very interrelated. Any effort to try and stem them must first understand how they relate to each other and that …

Olympics Medals Count

The Olympics have apparently been going on, and just finished. Indonesia finished 43rd in the medal standings.

Badminton, 1 gold (men's doubles - Markis Kido, Hendra Setiawan)
Badminton, 1 silver (mixed doubles - Nova Widianto, Liliyana)
Badminton, 1 bronze, (women's - Maria Kristin Yulianti.)
Weightlifting, 2 bronze (Eko Yuli Irawan & Triyatno).

Other Asean -

…

Comment by Purba Negoro: … remember those old news reels of Ulster champion Rinty …

Bibit–Rustriningsih

… the Central Java governor's election:

Bibit–Rustriningsih ( PDI Perjuangan ) about 43%
Bambang Sadono-Muhammad Adnan (Golkar (& NU)) 23%
Sukawi Sutarip-Sudharto (PKS & PD) 15%
Muhammad Tamzil-Abdul Rozaq Raiz (PPP & PAN) 12%
Agus Soeyitno-Abdul Kholiq Arif (PKB) 7%

Turnout was in the range of 55-65%.
Bibit–Rustriningsih

One analyst puts the Bibit–Rustriningsih victory down to the continued dominance of " abangan " nationalist-military feeling …

Neighbour Misunderstandings

… is in Australia along with the head of the Pondok Pesantren Modern Assalaam in Solo, Bambang Arif Rahman, and the Director of the Pusat Muslim Moderat (CMM), Muhammad Hilali Basya, as part of an Australian Muslim-Indonesian Muslim exchange/study program.

He said many Indonesians had the impression, drawn from the period of John Howard's rule, that Australia was no different from other western countries in enmity to Indonesia and the Islamic world.

Happy Australian …

Comment by shorty: … and tv) broadcasts news, current affairs, whatever from …

List of Indonesian Billionaires

The world's billionaires, and which Indonesians are among them.

Indonesian citizens who made it onto the Forbes' "The World's Billionaires" list, out of a total of 1125 people worldwide: forbes

Sukanto Tanoto.

Sukanto Tanoto (Chinese name - Chen Jianghe), originally from Medan in North Sumatra, and owner of the holding company PT Raja Garuda Mas International (RGM …

Comment by Purba Negoro: … Australian newspapers covered such contemptuous …

Admiral Cheng Ho Film

… a minister several times, I've worked in the administrations of presidents Soeharto, Habibie, and Yudhoyono. If you ask me whether I'm suitable for the job, I say I am and I'm ready for it.

Film Star

And finally a preview of Yusril's role in the film production of the life of Admiral Cheng Ho (see Islam and Chinese ).

Airline Blacklist

The EU airline blacklist and whether President Yudhoyono will visit the Netherlands.

A story from "De Volkskrant", 13th February 2008, a Dutch daily newspaper:

Indonesia cancels state visit

Amsterdam - Indonesian authorities have cancelled preparations of a state visit by president Yudhoyono to the Netherlands because the national airline Garuda is not allowed to land on Schiphol Airport. This was stated by a spokesman of the …

Comment by Hadz: Yudhoyono insisted on arriving with …

Blacklist Maskapai Penerbangan

Maskapai penerbangan yang diblacklist EU dan jadi tidaknya Presiden Yudhoyono melakukan kunjungan ke Belanda.

Berita dari "De Volksrant", 13 Februari 2008, harian Belanda:

Indonesia Membatalkan Kunjungan Kenegaraan

Amsterdam - Pemerintah Indonesia telah membatalkan persiapan kunjungan kenegaraan Presiden Yudhoyono ke Belanda karena maskapai nasional, Garuda, tidak diizinkan untuk mendarat di bandara Schiphol. Hal ini disampaikan oleh juru bicara …

Bali Travel Tips

Tips for travelling in Bali, by Dewaratugedeanom.

Travel Warnings

Following the suggestion of iamisaid (another commenter in this blog) in his opinion piece " Travel Horrors " I would like to submit a surat pembaca published in the Bali Post of April 11, 2006 by a Balinese individual whom I suppose to be a member of the Indonesian police force.

As the letter was published in …

Comment by kinch: … I care that Tutut, Bambang, Tommy related members of the …

Aburizal Bakrie

… Tanoto led the rankings.

Aburizal Bakrie.

Vice-president Jusuf Kalla ranks 30th while Bambang Trihatmodjo is at 33rd.

In general Indonesia's richest men have seen huge gains in wealth on last year, with their combined net worth rising to $938 billion, up from $575 billion in 2006, which Forbes says is due to strong equity values and healthy real estate markets, as well as the weak dollar.

Comment by Andrew: … you read the news ? Bakrie’s resignation was …

Most Influential Women

… Former President of Indonesia Sri Mulyani Indrawati - Minister of Finance Kristiani Herawati Yudhoyono - Indonesia's First Lady Miranda Gultom - Senior Deputy Governor of Bank Indonesia Siti Hartati Murdaya - Social Entrepreneur, businesswoman, politician Mari Elka Pangestu - Minister of Trade Mooryati Soedibyo - Entrepreneur, politician Kartini Mulyadi - Entrepreneur Itjih Nursalim - Entrepreneur Yanti Sukamdani - Head of Hotels Association Butet Manurung - Social …

Stability, Law, & Corruption

… Indonesia was ruled by General Suharto, although the trend in the last few years, since president Yudhoyono has been in office, is upwards.

The scores are found in the "percentile rank" colored column, 100 being best, and with anything in the 0-10 range likely in the Third World "basket case" category. The data sources are gathered from a variety of survey institutes, think tanks, non-governmental organizations, and international organizations. worldbank

Governance …

Siti, Susmiyati, & Donald

… attracted some media attention but paling in comparison to the storm of protest that greeted the news that an Indonesian karate referee, Donald Pieter Luther Kolopita, was beaten and kicked by Malaysian police on 23rd August in Kuala Lumpur.

Donald, who was in Malaysia for the Asian Karate Championships, says he was walking to his hotel at midnight when four plain-clothes policemen attacked him from behind. Donald thought he was being mugged and fought back but being outnumbered he took a …

Comment by Fred: … it did, it ain’t news worthy for Indonesian media. And …

Labor Unions

… is rarely lost for words on any subject, and in contrast to the platitudes of president Yudhoyono, nearly always manages to say something interesting. He did so again on 9th August after meeting leaders of the Confederation of the SPSI (Serikat Pekerja Seluruh Indonesia, All Indonesian Working Peoples' Union).

Jusuf Kalla, fount of wisdom.

In the hopes that Indonesia would be able to attract more foreign investment Kalla advised the representatives of the workers to cut …

Comment by Pena Budaya: … in the headline of newspaper in Europe. Mostly headlines …

Violations of Human Rights

Sharia, caning, and violations of human rights.

IAIN professor of Islamic law in Banda Aceh, Ar Raniry Al Yasa' Abubakar, says:

There are some concerns that Islamic law violates human rights.

The application of sharia in Aceh was not yet complete or perfect, he said, and still needed time, and besides it represented the will of God.

In Indonesia this is the first time sharia …

Comment by Dragonwall: … granted. How did Bambang Tri and his wife fare? So this …

Foreign Radio & Television

Foreign radio and television broadcasts should be censored, say some leaders.

Joko Susilo, a member of the Information Commission of the Indonesian parliament from the National Mandate Party (Partai Amanat Nasional (PAN)) from East Java, says that relayed foreign broadcasts, whether radio or television, such as Voice of America (VOA), have to be stopped immediately.

Joko Susilo.

Sofyan Djalil, the minister for Communications and Information, said he couldn't solve the …

Comment by Parvita: I find this news not informative. There is no …

Native Languages

… traditional languages and Bahasa Indonesia.

Meanwhile national education ministry spokesman Bambang Wasito Adi said that in elementary and junior high schools each class studied traditional languages for two hours a week, compared to six hours for Indonesian.

The ministry aims to protect traditional languages by placing requirements in local school curriculums. We are keeping them from vanishing by teaching their values in the classroom.

We emphasize traditional languages in …

Partai Hanura

Army pensioners, including General Wiranto, declare a new political party, Partai Hati Nurani Rakyat (Hanura).

Retired military commander General Wiranto and a number of retired generals yesterday formed a new political party in preparation for the general elections in 2009, the Partai Hati Nurani Rakyat (Hanura), or People's Conscience Party.

Besides Wiranto other former military …

Comment by Ilham Nurdin: … party (I red from news paper). thanks for you information …

Papuan Mission

… to begin a tour of duty of Papua, to patrol the border with Papua New Guinea. Major General Bambang Darmono, while carrying out an inspection of the men on the 14th, asked the officer in charge of the battalion's health about the matter of condoms. Dr Silalahi replied republika :

We're ready, we're taking one thousand condoms so that the men don't get HIV/AIDS while serving in Papua.
(Siap, kami membawa seribu buah kondom, agar personel tidak terular HIV/AIDS selama bertugas di …

Comment by seguni: … Hope to get news and statistical data about the …

Jesus Wheelchair

A disturbing message was found on the back of a wheelchair given by president Yudhoyono to a crippled man.

On 25th October, to celebrate Idul Fitri, president Yudhoyono held an open day at his Cikeas residence in Gunungputri, Bogor, West Java, in which about 500 people attended. Most were from near Jakarta but one man, Sohimin, who has been crippled for twelve years, travelled all the way from Kendal, Central Java. While being in such august company Sohimin …

Israeli Aircraft

… commission are urging the government to be clear and open in its procurement of the drones. Djoko Susilo of the National Mandate Party (PAN), who first spoke out about the irregularities, said the Defense Ministry had acted unprofessionally by trying to get the drones from the wrong source, the Philippines.

We have carried out an investigation and found out that the company from which we will get the UAV's is in fact a food and beverage company based in Manila.

Djoko then distributed …

Comment by Anonymous_aloy: … election. Fox News is as close as you can get to a …

Fabulous BCA

… in 2000, and the government sold 51% to Farallon Capital of the U.S. and the Hartono brothers, Bambang and Robert Budi, in 2002.

If ranked by market value B.C.A, one of the more innovative and forward thinking banks in Indonesia with their "klik bca" internet banking service, comes in at 36th on the list.

PSK Punishments

… presumably their customers.

MMI spokesman Adi Basuki said to a representative of the court, Bambang Kusmunandar, that sentences handed out to PSK (pekerja seks komersial) were too light and not in accordance with a recently passed law (Peraturan Daerah No. 3 2006), which, he said, allows for punishments of up to 3 months in prison and fines of up to 50 million rupiah for crimes of sexual immorality.

Basuki gave a few examples. On 19th of September 11 PSK were sentenced by judge Y. …

Discrimination Against Chinese

… Lee Kuan Yew.

Indonesian politicians were quick to react to these statements. Djoko Susilo of the National Mandate Party (PAN), said Yew was a big liar, and:

We are very upset because it has disgraced Indonesia. We will ask the government to send a letter of protest to Lee.

He said that Chinese people were able to work in any area, including the military.

We even have ministers and MP's [who are Chinese].

Amris Hassan of the Indonesian Democratic Party of …

Comment by janma: … personal, not news….. I fail to see any …

Consumer Goods Sales

… traditional markets, leapt by 10% on the previous six months.

AC Nielsen director Yongky Surya Susilo said:

Compared to last year's first half, the total sales of consumer goods in the first semester rose by 10%. I estimate that by the end of 2006, we will see growth of at least 15%.

Year-on-year sales up to June 2006, which totalled 60.1 trillion rupiah, or about $6.5 billion, increased by 12 percent% from last year's 53.8 trillion rupiah figure.

Yongky said that the 120% fuel …

Andara Early

… saya punya keluarga dan teman-teman yang terus memberi dukungan.)

According to her lawyer Susilo Aribowo both of the other suspects, model Kartika Oktaviani Gunawan and editor Erwin Arnada had already been interrogated.

The head of the Womens' and Childrens' Unit of the police, Ahmad Rivai, said that the cases of the two models were still being investigated while that of Erwin Arnada had already been forwarded to the prosecutor's office.

Comment by Andre: … be found easily at news counters on the street. …

Lilies Lindawati

… mediation.

Pastra said his fellow members of the panel of judges, Permadi Widiyatno and Bambang Irawan, had asked Lilies' attorney and the plaintiff to try to reach an out-of-court settlement.

But Lilies' lawyer, Yan Apul, said that Lilies was the victim of wrongful arrest and suffered public humiliation from being labeled a prostitute.

My client has suffered moral and material damage because her good name has been besmirched.
(Klien saya telah dirugikan secara moral dan …

Terrorists Captured or Killed

… of the men were killed. Another man gave himself up.

The slain men are Abdul Hadi alias Bambang, and Jabir, men said to be expert in the making of bombs. The man who surrendered himself is one Solahuddin.

Residents of the village say that shooting began at 6.15 am and went on for twenty minutes.

Noordin Mohammad Top has long been the most wanted terrorist in Indonesia and is the man believed co-responsible for a string of bombings since 2000 including the attacks in Kuta, …

Condoleezza Rice Press Conference

… of course, active through ASEAN and here I want to thank Indonesia, and particularly President Yudhoyono, for his efforts concerning Burma. Great democracies like Indonesia and like the United States cannot turn a blind eye to those who still live under oppression, and I know that Indonesia, through the President and through the efforts of the Minister as well, have been trying to convince the Burmese, the junta in Burma, that it is time to join the international community and to respect …

Two Terrorists Arrrested

… Noordin's group with the TNT used in 2004 bombing of the Australian Embassy.

In related news the search for fugitive Noordin M. Top continues. Antara reported Monday that East Java's Brawijaya Military Command had ordered all soldiers down to the village level to increase their vigilance in efforts to determine Noordin's whereabouts.

Spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Bambang Sulistyono said all soldiers should immediately report any suspicious behavior in their area to superiors so …

Poll Results

… trends in the parliament in Jakarta.

The poll shows support for the party of President Yudhoyono, PD, the Democratic Party, continuing its slide from an all time high of 28% in January 2005 to stand at 16.5% presently, with the Golkar party trailing at 14.2% and the PDI-P of Megawati at 14.1%.

Moving down to parties with strong Muslim orientation we have the moderate PKB at 7.3%, the Islamist PPP at 3.9%, the Islamist PKS at 2.7% and the moderate PAN at 2.4%. All of these …

Al-Qaeda Funding & Recent News

… speaking at a two-day international conference on terrorism, which had been opened by President Yudhoyono.

He explained that:

They [Al-Qaeda] sent it through their channels from Khalid Sheikh Mohammed via Thailand and Malaysia before finally reaching Indonesia.

However he would not mention from which countries the money had come from. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, one of the masterminds of the 9/11 attacks on the United States, was arrested in Pakistan in 2003 and handed over to the …

Offensive Cartoons on Websites

Website and blog owners scramble to delete offensive cartoons as the government, MUI and PKS bear down on them.

Faith Freedom Indonesia

The full bore anti-Islam forum site Faithfreedom, run by Ali Sina, has nine non English language versions, including an Indonesian one, or did until today.

The site has been shut down by its operators after it attracted the attention of various …

Comment by monyetmerah: … Usually, the news like this makes me angry but …

Lexie M. Giroth

… swine-herds who scan IM!)

As readers know, I can rail as well as anyone, but that particular news item had me wishing I still had my Dad's trusty.303 rifle to hand. What poor Cliff's parents must be feeling at the present time beggars the imagination.

The JP report informed us that Lexie's speech was devoted to the "evolution of governance in the country". Really? Has it evolved so far from the barbaric rituals of primitive tribes, if the Head of State and his Education Minister can …

Lastri, Eros Djarot, & Marcella Zalianty

A film that touches on events of 1965 starring Marcella Zalianty and directed by Eros Djarot runs afoul of the police.

The shooting of the film Lastri: Suara Perempuan Korban Tragedi 1965 (Lastri: The Voice of Women Victims of 1965), has been delayed because police in the Central Java city of Solo/Surakarta have declined to give permission for filming, as they suspect the content of the …

The Jakarta Globe

Another English language newspaper launches, the Jakarta Globe.

The first edition of the James Riady owned Jakarta Globe came out today, it seems, here is the front page:

Anyone who's seen a physical copy feel free to give your impression.

Their website, well, difficult to say anything much about it other than that it is simple, simple is good, although for a national newspaper you would have …

Comment by Achmad Sudarsono: … losses” and “newspapers”…

War on Poverty

Politicians waging war on poverty via billboards, and bus riding buskers in Jakarta.

A campaign billboard for General Wiranto:

"Poverty Must Be Ended", says General Wiranto, and "I swear to devote the rest of my life to improving the welfare of the Indonesian people".

On a similar theme:

"The People Must Not Be Allowed to Suffer", says somebody from the police faction, and …

Comment by dragonwall: … second hand news being brain washed till he had …

Dorce Gamalama & Imam Samudera

… coffin among the throng of thousands, and it seemed she attempted to avoid journalists and news crews during her 30 minute visit to the kampung of Lopang Gede, but one reporter did get near her as she left and extracted the following quote banjarmasinpost

God willing, Imam Samudera died a martyr's death.

Gratuitous opportunity to show Sandra Dewi taken - on Dorce Show, May 2008.

[rss]This is a post from the Indonesia Matters website.[/rss]

Amrozi Executed by Firing Squad

Amrozi, Muklas, and Imam Samudra are executed by firing squad.

Ali Amrozi bin Nurhasyim, Ali Ghufron aka Muklas/Mukhlas, and Abdul Aziz aka Imam Samudra aka Qudama were executed at Nusakambangan island prison, Cilacap, Central Java, some time after midnight on Sunday 9th November, for their roles in the 2002 Bali …

Comment by Geordie: … read indonesian newspapers. Amrozi had to be dragged to …

Pro The Death Penalty

… to write more on Death as a subject in the future.

[rss]This is a post from the Indonesia Matters website.[/rss]

Comment by Ross: … to hell the best news for ages.

Single Mothers in Yogya

… Oh goody

I replied.

Ha!

my wife brought her “you have no idea what this news portends” ‘Ha!’ into play,

You are English. This isn’t England. You don’t know what this will mean. The baby will be called names at school. There will be demonstrations outside our daughter’s house. We will be disgraced.

I said stoutly:

Rubbish

although I had to admit I had no idea whether my wife was right or wrong on all, or any, of these points,

I am …