President SBY and the RMS

Yesterday, President Susilo Bambang Yudoyono (SBY) made a last minute cancellation of his visit to Holland.

SBY told reporters that he canceled the visit because a Court in The Hague examined a petition filed by a rebel group in southern part of Maluku province (RMS), requesting for the arrest of SBY for human right violation. He said that he is not afraid to be arrested, but he felt that such Court proceedings insults the national pride of Indonesia.

The Dutch government regretted the cancellation, saying that it has offered SBY diplomatic immunity against criminal prosecutions.

Meanwhile, the Court in The Hague has rejected the RMS's petition, due to which RMS plan to file an appeal against said ruling.

SBY's said decision was supported by government officials and members of his Democrat Party, while political observers and the opposition regarded it as an undiplomatic action that draw world attention on the RMS as a tiny rebel group. They questioned the credibility of our inteligence agency and the presidential Security Unit (Paspampres) in preparing for the visit.

Considering the above, I felt that the said cancellation has given RMS the biggest benefit since it declared independence and crushed in 1950 i.e. world attention they really need right now as a tiny unknown rebel organization.
From now on,  I hope that the government would be more careful in handling such matters, e.g by acquiring professional advice from world class experts in international relation and law.

Related acrticles : 
-  Breaking News: 'Insulted' Indonesian President Cancels Dutch State Visit (The Jakarta Globe)
-  RMS admits defeat, plans to file appeal after SBY rearrange Dutch visit (The Jakarta Post)
-  Republik Maluku Selatan (Wikipedia)

SBY on Malaysia

Last Wednesday, President Susilo Bambang Yudoyono (SBY) delivered a speech about the troubled relationship with Malaysia caused by the arrest of three Indonesian Maritime patrolmen by the Malaysian Police, and seven Malaysian fishermen by Indonesian Maritime Patrol, last Wednesday.

SBY emphasized the importance of maintaining very close relationship with Malaysia, because both countries :
-  Are neighbors that have very close historical and socio-cultural similarities
-  Have played crucial roles in the development of Association of South East Asia Nations (ASEAN)
-  Have strong economic ties whereby many Malaysians invest their money in Indonesia, and around two
    million Indonesians work in Malaysia.
   
SBY said that both countries should immediately negotiate their border so as to avoid similar incidents from happening again in the future.

In short, SBY wants any disputes with Malaysia to be settled through diplomacy based on the spirit of good relationship between the governments of both countries. Although he used plain words for the speech, but considering the venue he has chosen i.e. headquarters of the armed forces, his speech was not as weak as many people said.

However, some political observers said that SBY's speech was too weak, they said that as a persident of a country with a population around ten times larger than Malaysia, SBY should have used stronger words, because it concerns sovereignty of the state..

The speech did not end the anti Malaysia protests carried out by people whose status are not clear, but somehow it has been able to calm down politicians who started the protests in the first place and that's what really matters.

For details, please read the following articles :
-  Yudoyono's 'feeble' speech gets harsh criticism 
-  SBY silences war-drum sentiments vs Malaysia
-  Isi Lengkap Pidato President SBY

Photo of SBY : Courtesy of The Jakarta Post

The Controversial Sentence Remission

As in previous years, during the commemoration of Indonesia's Independence on 17 August, President Susilo Bambang Yudoyono (SBY) granted Sentence Remission i.e. reduction of jail term, to many people who are serving jail sentence.

This remission has enabled many of the inmates to be released from jail before their time.

This year's decision has caused strong protests from many people, because many of the released inmates were people who were jailed for Corruption, including the father in law SBY's son.
Some members of the House of Representatives have even proposed to end Sentence Remission as reported by The Jakarta Globe (below).

Considering the above I hope that in the future decision to grant Sentence Remission would be done more carefully based on the best interest of the people and country, and not on personal and/or group interests.

Legislators Differ Over Call To End Sentence Remissions
Anita Rachman | August 23, 2010

Haris Rusly of pro-democracy group Petisi 28 files a protest to the president via the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights regarding the ease with which clemency is granted to graft convict. (JG Photo/Afriadi Hikmal)

Jakarta. A call to cut out a host of clemency options currently enjoyed by corruption convicts has drawn a mixed reaction from the House of Representatives, which has produced a fair amount of such convicts over the years.

House Speaker Marzuki Alie, from the ruling Democratic Party, said that denying graft convicts sentence reductions, presidential pardons, parole or social reintegration programs would require amending the entire 2006 Corrections Law under which they are regulated.

“While it’s possible, it’s not as simple as some might think,” he said on Monday.

“I’m not going to take sides before we hold a discussion on the issue and hear what the legal experts have to say about it.”

On Sunday, legislators from House Commission III, which oversees legal affairs, proposed discussing the ban for corruption convicts.

Those making the call include Tjatur Sapto Edy of the National Mandate party (PAN), who is the commission’s deputy chairman, and Golkar legislators Nudirman Munir and Bambang Soesatyo.

The issue came to the fore last week following the early release of several high-profile corruption convicts, including former Bank Indonesia deputy governor Aulia Pohan, the father-in-law of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s eldest son.

Aulia had only a day earlier also been granted a remission, or sentence cut, in commemoration of Independence Day on Aug. 17.

Meanwhile, House Deputy Speaker Priyo Budi Santoso, from Golkar, said he supported the ban to prevent giving graft convicts a “Get-out-of-jail-free” card.

“As long as it doesn’t affect clemency articles in the Constitution, I believe it’s worth looking at the ban,” he said.

He added the controversy spawned by the seemingly favorable treatment given to graft convicts should serve as a wake-up call for the government to punish corruptors more harshly.

However, Anis Matta, a deputy House speaker from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), said that while the proposed changes should be evaluated, he warned against rescinding all options for clemency for graft convicts.

He argued that much of the bad publicity was based on isolated cases and that such lenient treatment was the exception rather than the rule.

“Personally, I back only the call to phase out the option of remissions,” Anis said.

He added that in some cases, the graft convicts were themselves “merely victims,” but declined to elaborate.

“Even if we do get rid of remissions, we should be prepared to make exceptions in certain cases,” he said, again declining to say what those cases were.

However, Bambang said that the proposal was relevant to the current state of the corrections system, adding that Commission III would seek to push it into the law books.

“At their trials, these criminals get the minimum sentence, then when they’re eligible for it, they get the maximum remission,” he said.

“What does that say about the system?”

He added that ending remissions, parole and reintegration programs would ensure that corruption convicts were “truly punished” for their crimes.

Filtering the Internet

The recent controversy over sex video allegedly starred by celebrities i.e Ariel, singer of  pop band Peterpan, his girl friend model/presenter i.e. Luna Maya, and model/presenter/actress Cut Tari has re-inspired the government to regulate the use of the internet.

 
Last Thursday, the Minister of Communication and Information Technology Tifatul Sembiring told news reporters that he plan to draft of new decree in consultation with members of the House of Representatives (DPR) after his earlier draft was canceled due to widespread protests.

Further, President Susilo Bambang Yudoyono (SBY) has stated that Indonesia should protect itself against the Internet. 

I am not really sure whether such decree would be effective to prevent Indonesians from downloading and/or uploading pornography from the internet considering the internet is almost a border-less territory.

Related news report :
- Indonesia needs Internet Blacklist to stop Porn : Tifatul

- Indonesia must Resist Internet 'Frenzy' : President
- SBY : We must act on webs threat

Avatar Tree for President SBY

President Susilo Bambang Yudoyono (SBY) has been presented an Avatar Home Tree by the producer and maker of the movie AVATAR i.e. James Cameron.

Antara quoted Presidential spokesman Dino Patijalal as saying that the gift was presented in the form of an Oak Tree in a ceremony that took placed at Los Angeles, in which James Cameron said that Indonesia has important role in preserving world environment.  And the Oak Tree will be part of the one billion trees SBY promised to plant every year in Indonesia. At that time, SBY was represented by our Consular General in LA.

I hope this symbolic gift will strengthen SBY's determination to make Indonesia reduce 26% gas emision by 2020, as he promised world leaders last September, among others by masive planting of trees and stop deforestration.

Photo:  Courtesy of Antara.

Buffaloes Are Not Allowed to Protest

President Susilo Bambang Yudoyono (SBY) seems to hate Buffaloes so much that his newly formed government has forbid the animal participate in any political protests. Please find below a related article in The Telegraph.
 
Indonesia bans buffaloes from political protests

Indonesian government bans buffaloes from attending street protests after president expressed his hurt at being compared to the animals.
Published: 1:34PM GMT 04 Feb 2010

Indonesia said it will enforce a ban on buffaloes at street protests after President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono expressed his hurt at being compared to one Photo: AFP/GETT

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said that he was upset by having his picture stuck onto a water buffalo during a protest in Jakarta.
The softly-spoken ex-general took exception at the suggestion he was "big, stupid and slow like a buffalo".

Protesters had brought the animal to one of a series of protests marking the first 100 days of Mr Yudhoyono's rule.
"They said that I am like a buffalo – big and stupid and slow in moving," he said.
"That statement is not ethical or moral, and to use a buffalo can violate other regulations, like traffic laws."

State Secretary Sudi Silalahi said a long-standing ban on the beasts at protests would be enforced.
"There's a law that's been violated ... which states clearly that protesters should not bring animals, buffaloes," he said.
"Firstly, that's a violation of the law, and secondly, which is more critical, when buffaloes are angry they'll kick and gore."
Mr Yudhoyono was re-elected to a second five-year term in a landslide in July but he is often criticised for being slow, indecisive and failing to use his mandate for reform.

Desmond Mahesa, from the opposition party Gerindra, called the buffalo ban an overreaction and said it shows the president is a weak leader.
"I think he is not a dictator, as long demonstrations are allowed in this country – but he too often complains about people's protests and critics against his administration," he said.

Under Pressure

It seems that people are the same, no matter who they are, whenever under pressure.

Caricature : Courtesy of The Jakarta Post.

Plan to Reduce Gas Emission

During the world's Group of 20 meeting in Pittsbugh, USA, last September, President Susilo Bambang Yudoyono (SBY) had promised that Indonesia will reduce 26 percent gas emissions by 2020.

This promise can be achieved, if the government stop giving license to cut forest trees and convert protected forests into commercial plantations or other purposes. Beside that, it should also start a massive replanting of forests immediately.

But this seems to be difficult to achieve because according to NGO Greenomics, the Department of Forestry has proposed a forestry program that will allow conversion of 3.4 million hectares of forests into mining and development areas over the next 10 years. If the proposal is agreed, gas emissions will likely increase by up to 850 million tons over the next 10 years.

Beside that, there is another problem i.e. according to a study by the University of Indonesia, personnel of the military has been deeply involved in the illegal logging business that is destroying vast tracts of pristine forest and contributing to global warming.

For detailed media reports, please click here and here.

Considering the above, I hope that the government would immediately revise the forestry program and make efforts to stop involvement of military personnel in the illegal logging business.

Photo :  Courtesy of The Jakarta Globe/AP

28 January Protest

Thousands of students, workers, NGO activists held demonstrations in Jakarta and others cities in Indonesia today to protest against the government of President Susilo Bambang Yudoyono (SBY) which celebrated its 100th days in office.

The topic of their protests are the same i.e. wide spread corruption, Bank Century bailout, series of injustice, poverty, et cetera, et cetera. Besides, they demanded the resignation that those responsible for the allegedly mysterious bailout of Bank Century i.e. V.P Boediono and Finance Minister Sri Mulyani.

In Jakarta, the protests were held at the Presidential Place and the People's Representative Council.
 
Although there were reports of burning of effigies and photos of SBY and Boediono, and Police arrest of some violent demonstrators, however in general they have been quite peaceful. Thank God!

For detailed media reports, please clik here, here and here.

I am glad that the protests went quite peacefully, thanks to the protesters who were able to control themselves and the security officers for not over reacting in doing their duty.
I hope that the camaraderie and energy for said protests can also be used for other purposes which would bring much more benefits to our society, such as campaigning cleanliness, maintain environment, healthy life, et cetera, et cetera.

Photo: Courtesy of Detik.

The First 100 Days

On 28 January, the government of President Susilo Bambang Yudoyono (SBY) will celebrate its first 100 days in office.

In this connection, SBY has just released his third song album consisting of nine songs he recorded together with famous pop singers like Vidi Aldiano Tantowi Yahya, Rio Febrian, Fariz RM.

Meanwhile, a group of students, non government organizations, and other elements in society who called themselves Petisi 28 Coalition plan to launch a big demonstration in Jakarta on that day. Their objectives are to voice their allegations that the government failed to maintain justice, eradicate corruption and poverty. This is is shown by the mysterious flow of Rp 6.7 Trillion of tax payers' money to bail out Bank Century, and the conspiracy to criminalize the Corruption Eradication Corruption (KPK).
They also accused the government of adopting a neo liberal economic policy that do not benefit the majority of the country's people. In spite of protests made by industrialists the government insists that participation in the Asean-China Free Trade Agreement starting 1 January 2010 must go on without delay. This will cause the closing down of many local industries and massive lay down of workers.
The coalition demanded the resignation of Vice President Boediono and Finance Minister Sri Mulyani who were allegedly responsible for the Bank Century bail out.

But unfortunately SBY would not be around to listen to those protests because he will be visiting the Province of Banten.

For detailed media reports on the above, please click here, here, here.

I hope that the government would pay serious attention to the people's requests, and always base its policies on the interests of the majority of the people, otherwise they would look for alternative solutions offered by radical religious groups, socialist groups or even communist groups.

Can Indonesia Stop Deforestration ?

In 2007, a World Bank study has named Indonesia as the third largest emitter of greenhouses after China and the United States, largely due to its rapid deforestation.

In reaction to this, President Susilo Bambang Yudoyono (SBY) promised that Indonesia will cut gas emission by 26% by 2020, or 41% by that year if supported by other countries. This means that Indonesia will drastically reduce deforestation and replant trees in severely damaged forests in the islands of Kalimantan, Sumatera and other islands. Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan mentioned about a  plan to add an extra 21.15 million hectares (52.26 million acres) of forest by 2020.

This leads us to a question : Can Indonesia Stop Deforestation ? Here is a related article that I found on Kompas.

Can Indonesia Meet Emission Target with Its Forest Plan?

Kamis, 7 Januari 2010 | 09:28 WIB

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - An ambitious Indonesian plan to plant millions of hectares of forest should allow the country to exceed its target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by more than a quarter by 2020, the forestry minister said on Wednesday. Indonesia was named in a 2007 World Bank study as the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases after China and the United States, largely due to its rapid rate of deforestation.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has pledged to cut emissions by 26 percent from business as usual levels by 2020 or by 41 percent by 2020 if given sufficient international support. Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan said the plan to add an extra 21.15 million hectares (52.26 million acres) of forest by 2020 would turn the country from a net carbon emitter to into a net carbon sink.

“If the scenario described proceeds, if the planting proceeds, we can reach more than 26 percent (in emissions cuts),” he told reporters after the presentation. “If we can also eradicate illegal logging, then the 26 percent will be achieved entirely in the forestry and peat sector.”

The target appears ambitious since Indonesia currently has one of the fastest rates of deforestation in the world. Hasan said there were 130 million hectares of forest left in the country but only 48 million hectares were in good condition.

Under the new plan, he said 500,000 hectares of new forest would be planted annually at a cost of 2.5 trillion rupiah ($269 million) per year. An extra 300,000 hectares of degraded forest would be rehabilitated every year funded by the government and money from Australia, Norway, Korea and the private sector, he added.

“And it all must be verified. That is in our best interest, so that in future, other countries can see it is transparent, open and will want to help,” he said. Indonesia last year set up a legal framework to encourage forest preservation projects operating under a U.N.-backed scheme called reduced emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD).

Under the scheme, polluters can earn tradeable carbon credits by paying developing nations not to chop down trees. However, powerful illegal logging syndicates have helped accelerate forest destruction in Indonesia and Hasan said that combatting such forces required cooperation between district officials as well as law enforcement officials.

Fitrian Ardiansyah, climate change programme director for WWF Indonesia, welcomed the forest plan but said it may not address the main source of Indonesia’s greenhouse gas emissions.

“Most emissions in this sector usually come from forests being converted to grow crops, build infrastructure, settlements and set up mining operations; illegal and destructive logging outside and inside legal forest concessions; and forest and land fires to clear space for some agricultural lands,” he said. Ardiansyah said the government should focus on conservation and using remaining primary and high conservation value forests and terrestrial ecosystems in a sustainable way.

A Book about SBY

When Soeharto was a President from 1966 until 1998, many books were not allowed to be publicized, even if they were approved for publication they can always be withdrawn from circulation if the authority felt that they might be dangerous for them.

After Soeharto stepped down on May 1998, I thought that the days of book withdrawal have been over.

That's why I was so surprised when the media reported that the Gramedia bookstore has suddenly withdrawn a book written by George Aditjondro titled: " Membongkar Gurita Cikeas " (Revealing the Tentacles of Cikeas) which tells about the business of President SBY & his family, and his alleged involvement in the Bank Century case.
Note: Cikeas is the area where President SBY's personal residence is located.

However, the President's spokesman Julian Pasha said that the President is still studying the book, and no decision has been made about the book.

For detailed media reports, please click here and here.

In my humble opinion, it would be better if the book is not withdrawn from circulation. Doing that would only draw public's curiosity about the book's content. And there is no guarantee that the pirate edition of book can be obstructed from circulation. Let the public be the judge to what is written on the book.


Photo - George Aditjondro (center) : Courtesy of Antara Foto.

Perppu for KPK

In spite of protests by anti-corruption activists, on 23 September, President Susilo Bambang Yudoyono (SBY) issued the Government Regulation in liue of Law (Perppu) which enabled him to appoint three leaders of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) without approval from the Parliament (DPR).

Based on the Indonesian Constitution Article 22, the President may issue a Perppu in times of emergency and asked for DPR's approval afterwards. In this case, the Perppu by-passed the procedure stipulated by the KPK Law No. 30/2002.
Further, SBY has formed a Team of Five to select candidate KPK leaders who will be appointed by SBY in 7 days. The Team consists of the Coordinating Minister for Politics Law & Security: Widodo AS; the Minister of Law: Andi Matalatta, former KPK Chairman Taufikkurahman Ruki, Senior Lawyers Adnan Buyung Nasution and Todung Mulya Lubis.

In reaction to the issuance of the Perppu, former Constitional Court Chaiman Jimly Assiediqi said in TV interview that the Perppu is legitimate therefore should be implemented accordingly.

For details on the above, please read here, here, here, and here.

Although I share the opinion of those against the Perppu who feared that it might make KPK a subordinate of the President, however considering that the Team of Five consists of highly respected people in Indonesia, therefore I hope that the choosen KPK leaders would be able to work independently as their predecessors. And if the DPR do not agree with the Perppu, they can always cancel it.

Photo: Courtesy of Kompas.

Happy Birthday Indonesia

On 17 August 1945, the people of Indonesia declared independence from the Japanese occupation and established the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia.

Later, the Dutch, who occupied Indonesia from the 16th century until the Japanese came in 1942, tried to invade Indonesia again, but after four years of unsuccessful military actions, the they gave up.

Since 1950, Indonesia faced separatist movements by local people supported by foreign countries who either want to turn Indonesia into an Islamic country, or a Federal country, or a Communist country.
On 30 September 1965, seven high ranking Army officers were bloodily killed, and the Army accused that the Indonesian Communist Party were responsible for this.

On 11 March 1965, President Soekarno handed power to Army General Soeharto, who later became president and hold power for 32 years. Soeharto successfully maintained stability especially in the fields of Economy, Politics and Security because he was fully supported by Western countries like the USA, Australia, Japan and Western Europe. Besides, he built effective intelligence networks, special security agency, and maintained an Anti-Subversive Law which enables unlimited arrest without warrant. He limited the number of political parties into 3, Golkar, PDI & PPP which must adopt one ideology i.e Pancasila i.e. five principle: Belief in God, Unity, Democracy, Humanity and Social Welfare.

After the Reformasi (Reform) on 20 May 1998 Vice President Habibie replaced Soeharto as president. In 1999, Megawati’s PDI won 35% votes in the General Election, however she only became Vice President, and Abdurrahman Wahid became President. During his term, several changes were made like: deletion of Anti Subversive Law, allowing fanatic religious movements. Two years later, Megawati became President.
Since 2002, some fanatic people who claimed to be Muslim and want to force the adoption of Middle East tradition have carried out campaign of terrors by killing themselves and hundreds of innocent people (many were Muslims) in Bali, Poso, Ambon, and Jakarta.

In 2004, the first presidential election was held and Soesilo Bambang Yudoyono (SBY) won with 60%. But considering SBY’s Partai Demokrat only got 7% in the Parliamentary election, therefore his 5 years term seemed to be ‘shaky”. This is obvious because SBY must to rely on the support of Vice President Jusuf Kalla and his Golkar Party who has the majority 25% seats in Parliament.

Last week, the General Election Committee (KPU) announced SBY’s Partai Demokrat as winner of the Parliamentary Election with 20% votes, and SBY as winner of the Presidential election with 60.8% votes. Therefore, SBY will once again be the President of 235 million people of Indonesia as the world’s largest Muslim country and the third largest democracy.

Earlier, on 17 July two Suicide Bombers made twin attacks on Hotel JW Marriot and Hotel Ritz-Carlton Jakarta, killing five innocent people and more than 50 wounded. In three weeks, the Police successfully identified those responsible and killed or captured some of them.

Considering the above, I hope that the President would now be more confident in leading the people to overcome any problems created by anyone, individual or group, local or foreigners, whatever their basis (politic or religion). The best way would be to eliminate any reasons for people to commit suicide bombings or other crimes that is by creating many jobs and low cost education. For which purpose, a conducive condition must be created for business development, e.g. freedom from any fear, guaranteed security, so that business people would want to invest money in Indonesia.

Long live Indonesia, Happy 64th Birthday!

Image: Courtesy of Wikipedia

Presidential Election Disputes

On Tuesday 4 August the second and third winners of the Presidential Election on 8 July have presented their complaints with the Constitutional Court (MK).

Both of them, Megawati and Jusuf Kalla, claimed that there has been foul plays in the election i.e. existence of millions of fake votes making the election results illegitimate, therefore a second round of election should be held.
However, they both claimed that each of them should be the second winner of the election, therefore eligible to run for the second election.

On 23 July, the General Election Commission (KPU) announced that incumbent President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) won with 73,874,562 votes (60.8%), Megawati came in second with 32,548,105 votes (26.8%), and Jusuf Kalla third with 15,081,814 votes (12.4%).
The Presidential Election Law requires a candidate to win 51% of the votes, otherwise a second election must be held.
Both Megawati and Kalla teams said that their goal in disputing the results was to force a Second Election and hope to win there.

For details on the above, please click here.

Considering the above, I hope that MK would not pass a decision that would lead to a Second Election, thus avoiding additional waste of taxpayers’ money. However, if Second Election should be held, I hope that all the parties would be willing to accept whatever the result.

The Campaign Carries On

Last Sunday, campaign for the general election has ended, and based on the General Election Law 10/2008, 38 political parties will go through a cooling down period before the general election on Thursday, 9 April 2009. During which, they are not allowed to do and/or say things which can be regarded as campaign.

However, it seems that the above law is only obeyed in real world, but not in the virtual world. According to Tempointeraktif, someone has opened a site in the social networking media Facebook titled Say No!!!” to Megawati, which until yesterday 10 am, has been supported by 64,188 people.
And at the same time, there is also a site titled Say No to Prabowo, which was supported by 751 people. Note: when I checked one hour ago the supporters has jumped to 3,068 people.

The strange thing is that there is another site which is contradictory to both sites, titled: Say Yes to SBY, which was supported by 5,185 people. Note: when I write this post the number has jumped to 116,286 people.

Further, Kompas reported that the “Say “No!!! to Megawati site was banned by Facebook on Tuesday, 7 April, 1 am, when its supporters have reached a total of 97,177 people.
However, this action did not stop the Anti Megawati campaign, because a similar site titled SAY NO TO MEGAWATI which until today noon has been supported by 4,071 people. Note: when write this post the number has jumped to 13,774 people.

Considering the cooling down period from 6 to 8 April, I hope that all parties participating in the general election on 9 April would refrain from saying and/or doing things which would offend other parties. And I also hope that they do not get easily offended by statements made by unclear people in the internet. That way peace and order can be maintained, and the majority of our people can live in peace