Lately, the city of Jakarta has been facing the worst electricity shortage in history.
Every night and day, the city's 10 million people have to take their turns to suffer electricity black-outs at their homes. According to the sole provider of electricity in Indonesia i.e. the state's electricity company PLN this inconvenience was caused by the damage of two of PLN's electric transformer units in Jakarta. And its repair would only be completed by next month, therefore until then the citizens of Jakarta must patiently suffer frequent electricity black out.
For details, please click here and here.
I hope that the damaged transformer units were not caused by PLN's failure to maintain them properly because the government reduced state subsidy for them.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Criminalization of KPK
Police Commissioner Williardi Mizard, key witness in the murder trial of businessman Nasrudin, has testified that former Chief of Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Antasari Azhar was not involved in the said murder.
Williardi’s shocking testimony was given during a trial session at the District Court of South Jakarta on Tuesday in which he said that he was forced by high ranking National Police officers to mention in the Police report about Antasari’s involvement.
Earlier, a witness in the Police investigation of the Bribery Case against suspended KPK Vice Chairmen Bibid Samad Arianto and Chandra Hamzah has reconfirmed that he never give bribe amounting to +/- 6 billion from Anggodo to both suspects or anyone at KPK. However, he admitted giving the money to Julianto who is still mysterious till now that the Police accused that he was lying.
For details, please click here and here.
The above facts indicated that the Criminalization of KPK may have been quite real. It would be very interesting to know about further development of both cases.
Williardi’s shocking testimony was given during a trial session at the District Court of South Jakarta on Tuesday in which he said that he was forced by high ranking National Police officers to mention in the Police report about Antasari’s involvement.
Earlier, a witness in the Police investigation of the Bribery Case against suspended KPK Vice Chairmen Bibid Samad Arianto and Chandra Hamzah has reconfirmed that he never give bribe amounting to +/- 6 billion from Anggodo to both suspects or anyone at KPK. However, he admitted giving the money to Julianto who is still mysterious till now that the Police accused that he was lying.
For details, please click here and here.
The above facts indicated that the Criminalization of KPK may have been quite real. It would be very interesting to know about further development of both cases.
National Heroes Day
On 10 November 1945 the army and militia of newly independent Republic of Indonesia fought a fierce battle in Surabaya, East Java, against the British military forces who tried to help the Dutch re-conquer its former South East Asian colony.
Although the Indonesian side suffered military defeat and loose many men & weapons, the battle has strengthened the new nation’s determination for independence and garnered international attention on Indonesia.
For the Dutch, it removed any doubt that Indonesia was not a gang of collaborators that has no popular support. It also had the effect of convincing Britain that wisdom laid on the side of neutrality in Indonesia’s struggle for independence.
Considering the above mentioned facts, every 10 November has been commemorated as Indonesia’s National Heroes Day.
Although the Indonesian side suffered military defeat and loose many men & weapons, the battle has strengthened the new nation’s determination for independence and garnered international attention on Indonesia.
For the Dutch, it removed any doubt that Indonesia was not a gang of collaborators that has no popular support. It also had the effect of convincing Britain that wisdom laid on the side of neutrality in Indonesia’s struggle for independence.
Considering the above mentioned facts, every 10 November has been commemorated as Indonesia’s National Heroes Day.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
The Chief of the Constitutional Court
Last Tuesday, the Constitutional Court (MK) held a public session of the Judicial Review on the Corruption Eradication (KPK) Law No. 30/2002 Article 32 requested by suspended KPK Vice Chairmen Bibit Samad Rianto and Chandra Hamzah.The session was very special because MK disclosed a six hours recording of phone conversation between those who were involved in the alleged conspiracy to criminalize the KPK.
After the session, President Susilo Bambang Yudoyono (SBY) ordered anyone whose names were mentioned in the said recording to step down from their official positions. As a result, Chief of Police Investigation Agency Com. Gen. Duadji & Vice Attorney General A.H Ritonga have stepped down from their offices.
The disclosure of above recording can only be carried out because of the persistent decision of MK's Chief Prof. Dr. Mahfud MD. and full support of all Constitutional Judges to preserve justice.
Considering the above, many people have been very grateful at Dr. Mahfud MD. This morning, I read an article about him on Kompas Newspaper in which he emphasized that MK will enforce Justice as a combination of written Law and Common Sense. Here is his brief biodata :
Professor Dr. H. Mohammad Mahfud Mahfuddin, SH.,SU., born in Sampang, Madura, East Java, 13 May 1957, married to Zaizatun Nihayati, SH. with three children.
He became Chief of the Constitutional Court on 1 May 2008. Before that he was the Minister of Defense (2000-2001), Minister of Law (2001), member of House of Representative (DPR) from the Nation Awakening Party (PKB). On top of that, he still teach at the Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII) Yogjakarta.
Considering the above and the fact that most of Indonesia's current leaders are getting very old, I believe that Prof. Dr. Mahfud MD.(52) can be considered as one of the potential top leaders in the future.
Photo: Coutesy of Wikipedia.
In the name of God
I believe that good people are those who always remember God in what ever they are doing.
However, in the last few months the news media have reported about some people who mentioned the name of God to justify their actions so as to make people believe in what they have said and done.
On 17 July 2009, two suicide bombers claimed to be acting in the name of God blasted themselves at two hotels in Jakarta i.e. J.W Marriot and Ritz-Carlton, killing nine innocent people and wounding more than fifty people.
Last Thursday and Friday, Chief of Police Investigation Agency Commissioner Gen. Susno Duadji who was suspended for his alleged involvement in the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) case, appeared before the House of Representative and swear to God that he never receive a Rp. 10 billion commission for helping businessman Budi Sampoerna to cash US$. 18 million from ailing Bank Century.
Similar statements mentioning the name of God have also been made by the recently resigned Vice Attorney General H.A Ritonga and former Deputy Intelligence of the Attorney General Wisnu Subroto in denying their involvement in similar KPK case.
For detailed media reports on the above, please click here, here, here, here.
The above shows that people, who ever they are and whatever their intentions are, tend to mention the name of God.
However, in the last few months the news media have reported about some people who mentioned the name of God to justify their actions so as to make people believe in what they have said and done.
On 17 July 2009, two suicide bombers claimed to be acting in the name of God blasted themselves at two hotels in Jakarta i.e. J.W Marriot and Ritz-Carlton, killing nine innocent people and wounding more than fifty people.
Last Thursday and Friday, Chief of Police Investigation Agency Commissioner Gen. Susno Duadji who was suspended for his alleged involvement in the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) case, appeared before the House of Representative and swear to God that he never receive a Rp. 10 billion commission for helping businessman Budi Sampoerna to cash US$. 18 million from ailing Bank Century.
Similar statements mentioning the name of God have also been made by the recently resigned Vice Attorney General H.A Ritonga and former Deputy Intelligence of the Attorney General Wisnu Subroto in denying their involvement in similar KPK case.
For detailed media reports on the above, please click here, here, here, here.
The above shows that people, who ever they are and whatever their intentions are, tend to mention the name of God.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Public Officials' Honor
On April 1989, the Japanese Prime Minister Noboru Takeshia resigned because a member of his Liberal Democratic Party was involved in a corruption case.
On May 2007, the Japanese Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery Toshikatsi Matsuoka committed suicide because he was ashamed when the public questioned his corruptible policy.
The above two gentlemen were very good examples of public officials who are very dedicated and passionate therefore accountable in doing their jobs, that they cannot stand feeling guilty because they have not done their job properly and honestly.
For detailed media reports, please click here, here and here.
I wonder whether or not public officials in Indonesia would ever go as far as what their above counter parts in Japan have done. Frankly speaking, I don't know the answer.
On May 2007, the Japanese Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery Toshikatsi Matsuoka committed suicide because he was ashamed when the public questioned his corruptible policy.
The above two gentlemen were very good examples of public officials who are very dedicated and passionate therefore accountable in doing their jobs, that they cannot stand feeling guilty because they have not done their job properly and honestly.
For detailed media reports, please click here, here and here.
I wonder whether or not public officials in Indonesia would ever go as far as what their above counter parts in Japan have done. Frankly speaking, I don't know the answer.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
KPK & the Police
In the last few weeks the Indonesian news media have been focusing on the conflict between the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the Police.
The conflict started when KPK investigated the flow of Rp. 6,7 Trillion from the state to help the ailing privately owned Bank Century on November 2008.
In order to provide a brief explanation on this matter, I need to quote an article in The Jakarta Post, as follows :
9 September: KPK announced that it is investigating the Chief of Police Detective General Susno Duadji for his involvement in the case.
15 September: the Police named KPK Vice Chairmen: Bibit Samad Rianto and Chandra Hamzah as suspects for abuse of power in imposing travel ban on businessman Anggoro Widjaya who was suspected of corruption.
28 September: Bibit & Chandra submitted a Police report against Gen. Susno for alleged abuse of power.
29 September: The Police named Antasari a suspect for violating the KPK ethics code in meeting with Anggoro who was a suspect.
2 October: Gen. Susno comes to the KPK headquarters to sooth relations between the two institutions.
5 October : The police investigated Gen. Susno for abuse of power.
6 October : President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) issued an emergency decree (Perpu) appointing Tumpak Hatorangan Panggabean as acting KPK chairman to replace Antasari, and Mas Achmad Santosa and Waluyo acting Vice Chairmen to replace Chandra and Bibit.
7 October : The police internal affairs division clears Gen. Susno of all charges.
26 October : Recordings of wiretapped conversations between Anggoro and his brother Anggodo with high-ranking prosecutors and police officers discussing in July a plot to frame KPK leaders is leaked to the media.
27 October : Acting KPK Chairman Tumpak confirms that the recordings exist.
29 October : The Constitutional Court allowed KPK to disclose the recordings and other supporting facts that may strengthen their authority to combat corruption on Nov. 3.
Soon after, the Police arrested Bibit and Chandra.
The Police arrest was strongly protested by various elements in society, including former president, former Chief of the Constitutional Court, Chairmen of two of the largest Muslim organizations Nadhatul Ulama and Muhamadiyah, et cetera.
Beside that, strong supports have also been shown in Facebook, whereby more than 630 thousand people have joined the Free Bibit-Chandra Movement.
In response to the strong public protests, SBY formed a special Fact Finding Team consisting of 8 prominent members of the society, including Adnan Buyung Nasution as Chairman, Todung Mulya Lubis, two of SBY's legal advisors Amir Syamsudin and Denny Indrajana.
On Tuesday morning the Constitutional Court held a session opened to public to listen to the wiretap recording. As a result, Anggodo was interrogated by the Police afterward.
And before midnight, the Police suspended the arrest of Bibit and Chandra and allow them to leave the Police jail.
Considering the fact that our society needs both the Police and KPK, I hope that this case will be processed thoroughly according to the laws so that the real truth shall be revealed.
The conflict started when KPK investigated the flow of Rp. 6,7 Trillion from the state to help the ailing privately owned Bank Century on November 2008.
In order to provide a brief explanation on this matter, I need to quote an article in The Jakarta Post, as follows :
9 September: KPK announced that it is investigating the Chief of Police Detective General Susno Duadji for his involvement in the case.
15 September: the Police named KPK Vice Chairmen: Bibit Samad Rianto and Chandra Hamzah as suspects for abuse of power in imposing travel ban on businessman Anggoro Widjaya who was suspected of corruption.
28 September: Bibit & Chandra submitted a Police report against Gen. Susno for alleged abuse of power.
29 September: The Police named Antasari a suspect for violating the KPK ethics code in meeting with Anggoro who was a suspect.
2 October: Gen. Susno comes to the KPK headquarters to sooth relations between the two institutions.
5 October : The police investigated Gen. Susno for abuse of power.
6 October : President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) issued an emergency decree (Perpu) appointing Tumpak Hatorangan Panggabean as acting KPK chairman to replace Antasari, and Mas Achmad Santosa and Waluyo acting Vice Chairmen to replace Chandra and Bibit.
7 October : The police internal affairs division clears Gen. Susno of all charges.
26 October : Recordings of wiretapped conversations between Anggoro and his brother Anggodo with high-ranking prosecutors and police officers discussing in July a plot to frame KPK leaders is leaked to the media.
27 October : Acting KPK Chairman Tumpak confirms that the recordings exist.
29 October : The Constitutional Court allowed KPK to disclose the recordings and other supporting facts that may strengthen their authority to combat corruption on Nov. 3.
Soon after, the Police arrested Bibit and Chandra.
The Police arrest was strongly protested by various elements in society, including former president, former Chief of the Constitutional Court, Chairmen of two of the largest Muslim organizations Nadhatul Ulama and Muhamadiyah, et cetera.
Beside that, strong supports have also been shown in Facebook, whereby more than 630 thousand people have joined the Free Bibit-Chandra Movement.
In response to the strong public protests, SBY formed a special Fact Finding Team consisting of 8 prominent members of the society, including Adnan Buyung Nasution as Chairman, Todung Mulya Lubis, two of SBY's legal advisors Amir Syamsudin and Denny Indrajana.
On Tuesday morning the Constitutional Court held a session opened to public to listen to the wiretap recording. As a result, Anggodo was interrogated by the Police afterward.
And before midnight, the Police suspended the arrest of Bibit and Chandra and allow them to leave the Police jail.
Considering the fact that our society needs both the Police and KPK, I hope that this case will be processed thoroughly according to the laws so that the real truth shall be revealed.
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