Last Thursday, President Susilo Bambang Yudoyono (SBY) delivered a speech to comment the House of Representative's plenary last Wednesday which decided that the Bank Century Bailout was illegitimate.
SBY defended former Governor of the central bank and current Vice President Boediono and Finance Minister Sri Mulyani who were accused by the House responsible for the bailout, and called them as the best people to hold such positions with good track record.
Further, SBY said that he supported the decisions made by both top officials, and said that public policy cannot be prosecuted.
Furthermore, SBY said that the ruling coalition will carry on in spite of the fact that three members of the coalition i.e. Golkar, PKS and PPP, have voted against the Bank Century Bailout, therefore contradictory to the decision of SBY's Democrat Party which voted in favor of the Bailout. He said the most important thing is what is best for the people and country.
For detailed media reports, please click here and here.
Some points in SBY's above speech are debatable, for example about the timing of the speech, if it has been delivered prior to the House's Chaotic plenary, it could have reduced the tensions.
Also about his statement about Policies cannot be prosecuted, contradictory to reality whereby in the past there were officials prosecuted and imprisoned for their policies. For example a Director General at the Department of Laws punished by the court for the issuing and implementing Department's Online System, and also former Consul General in Kota Kinabalu for issuing and implementing policies regarding Visa fees.
But overall, SBY's above speech, which did not criticize his rebelling allies, is positive for the Social, Politic and Economic stability in Indonesia. That way we can concentrate on other matters which are not less important than the Bank Century case, such as implementation of the China-Asean FTA.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Beautiful Blogger Award
The said Award was presented with the following rules :
1. Thank & link the person that gave you the award.
2. Pass this award onto 15 bloggers you’ve recently discovered and think are fantastic.
3. Contact said Blogs and let them know they’ve won.
4. State 7 things about yourself.
I am passing this award to the following blogger that in my opinion are truly beautiful :
1. Ana the Imp. History
2. Anggara, Law
3. Boja Linuxer, Computers
4. Pelopor, General
6. Dhyarga, General
7. Sang Kuda Api, Parenting
8. Sector Edwin,General
9. Saung Web, Internet
10. Link Tea, Internet
11. Kiwi Riverman Post, General
12. TheRabExperience, Laws, Politics.
13. Love Ely, General
14. Jakarta News, General
15. Spektrum,General
Now it's the hard part LOL. 7 things about me.
1. My name is Harry Nizam
2. I am an Indonesian Muslim and very proud to be one.
3. I love blogging about the Indonesian Laws, Politics & Environment
4. I always want to be positive in life
5. I like people with a great sense of humor.
6. I appreciate beauty in everything...especially in mannerism.
7. I love traveling
I see you again soon. Take care.
Harry
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Bank Century Bailout - Final
After two days of meetings, members of the House of Representatives decided that the Bank Century Bailout on November 2008 which cost 6,7 Trillion Rupiah of taxpayer's money was illegitimate.
During last night's meeting, 325 members belonging to six political parties, i.e Golkar, PDIP, PKS, PPP, Gerindra and Hanura, voted against the Bailout. And 212 members belonging to three political parties, i.e the ruling Democrat Party, PKB and PAN, voted in favor of the Bailout.
PPP's decision was surprising considering people presumed that it will be in favour of the Bailout.
Considering that Golkar, PKS and PPP are members of President SBY's Coalition government, led by his Democrat Party supported by PAN and PKB, the result of voting has changed the balance of power at the House, and therefore shaken the government's power in the coming years.
During last night's meeting, 325 members belonging to six political parties, i.e Golkar, PDIP, PKS, PPP, Gerindra and Hanura, voted against the Bailout. And 212 members belonging to three political parties, i.e the ruling Democrat Party, PKB and PAN, voted in favor of the Bailout.
PPP's decision was surprising considering people presumed that it will be in favour of the Bailout.
Considering that Golkar, PKS and PPP are members of President SBY's Coalition government, led by his Democrat Party supported by PAN and PKB, the result of voting has changed the balance of power at the House, and therefore shaken the government's power in the coming years.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Inul, Candidate Regent of Malang
In this connection, some celebrities have stated their wishes to participate as Candidates in the said election, among others film actress Ayu Azhari who wishes to be Candidate Vice Regent of Sukabumi, West Java.
And recently, Dangdut Singer Inul Daratista has also stated her wish to run as Candidate in the Election of Regent of Malang, East Java, next August.
Detik quoted Inul as saying that for that purpose she will pick the Chief of the National Awakening Party (PKB) in Malang as her running mate, and shall prepare finance amounting to Rp 60 Billion Rupiah to support her election campaign.
Considering that celebrities are famous and have lots of financial resources, it is obvious that they want to get top position in society. In this case, I hope that they would do their very best to improve their knowledge, abilities, moral, behaviors and everything needed to fulfill all the needs of the people and country.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Bank Century Case Update
After four months of "investigation", yesterday the House of Representative's Special Commitee on the Bank Century case conducted its final session. As predicted, the session was chaotic, inside and outside the House's building.
Outside, around 20,000 students, anti-corruption activists and other activists demonstrated to give some sort of pressure to the 560 members of the House to make proper decision on the mysterious bailout that costed 6.7 Trillion Rupiah of tax payers money.
And inside, members of the House defended their perceptions of the case, as follows :
1) Four political parties (PDIP,Golkar, PKS & Hanura) claimed that the bail out was illegally and
demanded that former Governor of Central Bank, current Vice President Boediono, and Finance
Minister Sri Mulyani should be responsible;
2) Two political parties, including the ruling Democrat Party(PD), claimed that the bail out was legal
3) Three political parties claimed that the bail out was illegal without mentioning any names.
The Democrat Party (PD) was very annoyed that the above four parties that have been very agressive includes two members of their Coalition i.e Golkar and PKS. PD tried to lobby both parties to change their stance. One of PD's lobbyists is President SBY's Special Assistant for Natural Disasters i.e. Andi Arief who accused Muhamad Makhbuhin of PKS of issuing an unsettled LC amounting to US$ 22,500,000.00 with the Bank Century.
After the Head of Special Committee Idrus Markham finished delivering his final report, the House Speaker Marzuki Alie closed the session causing overwhelming protests from the opposing members.
After several hours, the House leaders announced that the Session will be continued the next day i.e. today, during which they would make decision on the case by voting.
I only hope that the members of the House would make their decisions on this cased merely based on the best interests of the people of Indonesia, not on their political parties' interests (I'll keep my fingers crossed).
Source : Various mass media (TV, Radio, Papers, websites)
Outside, around 20,000 students, anti-corruption activists and other activists demonstrated to give some sort of pressure to the 560 members of the House to make proper decision on the mysterious bailout that costed 6.7 Trillion Rupiah of tax payers money.
And inside, members of the House defended their perceptions of the case, as follows :
1) Four political parties (PDIP,Golkar, PKS & Hanura) claimed that the bail out was illegally and
demanded that former Governor of Central Bank, current Vice President Boediono, and Finance
Minister Sri Mulyani should be responsible;
2) Two political parties, including the ruling Democrat Party(PD), claimed that the bail out was legal
3) Three political parties claimed that the bail out was illegal without mentioning any names.
The Democrat Party (PD) was very annoyed that the above four parties that have been very agressive includes two members of their Coalition i.e Golkar and PKS. PD tried to lobby both parties to change their stance. One of PD's lobbyists is President SBY's Special Assistant for Natural Disasters i.e. Andi Arief who accused Muhamad Makhbuhin of PKS of issuing an unsettled LC amounting to US$ 22,500,000.00 with the Bank Century.
After the Head of Special Committee Idrus Markham finished delivering his final report, the House Speaker Marzuki Alie closed the session causing overwhelming protests from the opposing members.
After several hours, the House leaders announced that the Session will be continued the next day i.e. today, during which they would make decision on the case by voting.
I only hope that the members of the House would make their decisions on this cased merely based on the best interests of the people of Indonesia, not on their political parties' interests (I'll keep my fingers crossed).
Source : Various mass media (TV, Radio, Papers, websites)
Monday, March 1, 2010
More Deforestration
Last year, President Susilo Bambang Yudoyono promised the international community that Indonesia will reduce its Gas Carbon emission to 26% by 2010.
When I read about that promise, I thought that Indonesia would stop deforestation and start replanting forest trees.
That's why I was very surprised when I read on The Jakarta Globe that President SBY has signed a decree that will allow mining, power plants and other projects deemed strategically important to take place in protected forests. This means that more deforestation can be expected in the coming future.
Frankly speaking, I hope that the news is not true.
Indonesia continues to have one of the highest rates of deforestation in the world. (Reuters Photo/Yusuf Ahmad)
Indonesia's Protected Forests Now Open to Development
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has signed a decree to allow mining, power plants and other projects deemed strategically important to take place in protected forests.
The decree, which took effect on Feb. 1, is certain to anger environmental groups given that the country already has one of the fastest rates of deforestation in the world.
“The use of forest areas for development activities can be done for unavoidable strategic purposes,” said the decree, which said key development projects included power plants, renewable energy, toll roads and train lines.
The decree said open-pit and underground mining could take place in production forests, which is a forest area considered neglected or abandoned after trees have been cut.
“In a protected forest, mining can be done through underground mining,” the decree said.
The decree defined mining activities as including oil and gas, minerals, coal and geothermal.
Yudhoyono has pledged to cut red tape and prevent overlapping regulations from slowing down projects ranging from mining to toll roads. Increasing exploitation of mineral resources and speeding up infrastructure development are seen as keys to boosting growth and creating jobs.
State-owned oil and gas company PT Pertamina has urged the Forestry Ministry to allow geothermal activities in protected forests as most of the country’s geothermal reserves are located in these areas.
There has frequently been confusion over whether companies can exploit resources in forest areas, with various ministries requiring permits.
The Forestry Ministry recently asked Freeport McMoRan Copper and Gold to submit a request to use land in a protected forest area, a ministry official said on Tuesday. Freeport operates the huge Grasberg copper and gold mine in Papua. Grasberg has the world’s largest recoverable reserves of copper and the largest gold reserves.
In 2004, the government allowed 13 mining firms, including Freeport, to continue mining operations after the introduction of a law in 1999 that banned open-pit mining in forested areas.
Last month, police temporarily shut the Jorong coal mine in Kalimantan operated by a unit of Thailand’s top coal miner, Banpu, over a permit problem. Banpu said the closure would only have a slight impact on production at its domestic unit, PT Indo Tambangraya Megah.
Indonesia has struggled to attract fresh investment into mining, as well as for developing new oil and gas fields, partly due to uncertain regulations and red tape.
The government has previously said it expected mining investment to hit $2.5 billion this year, up from $1.81 billion in 2009, supported by greater certainty after the introduction of new mining regulations.
Reuters
When I read about that promise, I thought that Indonesia would stop deforestation and start replanting forest trees.
That's why I was very surprised when I read on The Jakarta Globe that President SBY has signed a decree that will allow mining, power plants and other projects deemed strategically important to take place in protected forests. This means that more deforestation can be expected in the coming future.
Frankly speaking, I hope that the news is not true.
Indonesia's Protected Forests Now Open to Development
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has signed a decree to allow mining, power plants and other projects deemed strategically important to take place in protected forests.
The decree, which took effect on Feb. 1, is certain to anger environmental groups given that the country already has one of the fastest rates of deforestation in the world.
“The use of forest areas for development activities can be done for unavoidable strategic purposes,” said the decree, which said key development projects included power plants, renewable energy, toll roads and train lines.
The decree said open-pit and underground mining could take place in production forests, which is a forest area considered neglected or abandoned after trees have been cut.
“In a protected forest, mining can be done through underground mining,” the decree said.
The decree defined mining activities as including oil and gas, minerals, coal and geothermal.
Yudhoyono has pledged to cut red tape and prevent overlapping regulations from slowing down projects ranging from mining to toll roads. Increasing exploitation of mineral resources and speeding up infrastructure development are seen as keys to boosting growth and creating jobs.
State-owned oil and gas company PT Pertamina has urged the Forestry Ministry to allow geothermal activities in protected forests as most of the country’s geothermal reserves are located in these areas.
There has frequently been confusion over whether companies can exploit resources in forest areas, with various ministries requiring permits.
The Forestry Ministry recently asked Freeport McMoRan Copper and Gold to submit a request to use land in a protected forest area, a ministry official said on Tuesday. Freeport operates the huge Grasberg copper and gold mine in Papua. Grasberg has the world’s largest recoverable reserves of copper and the largest gold reserves.
In 2004, the government allowed 13 mining firms, including Freeport, to continue mining operations after the introduction of a law in 1999 that banned open-pit mining in forested areas.
Last month, police temporarily shut the Jorong coal mine in Kalimantan operated by a unit of Thailand’s top coal miner, Banpu, over a permit problem. Banpu said the closure would only have a slight impact on production at its domestic unit, PT Indo Tambangraya Megah.
Indonesia has struggled to attract fresh investment into mining, as well as for developing new oil and gas fields, partly due to uncertain regulations and red tape.
The government has previously said it expected mining investment to hit $2.5 billion this year, up from $1.81 billion in 2009, supported by greater certainty after the introduction of new mining regulations.
Reuters
Falun Gong Radio
Radio Era Baru in Batam, Riau Province, airs 30 percent of its programs in Mandarin and targets the Indonesian-Chinese community as its market segment.
One of the radio's favorite topics is about the activities of the Falun Gong movement which is banned by the Communist government in the People's Republic of China, and Beijing is very disturbed with such activities that they have requested the Indonesian government to ban the radio.
According to The Jakarta Post, the Ministry of Information and Communication through the Radio Frequency Spectrum Monitoring Center plans to force the radio off air.
I hope that the final decision of the Ministry, or it's agency, on this case would merely be based on the best interest of the people of Indonesia..
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