Saturday, April 28, 2012
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Amnesty International Calls for National Police Evaluation
Amnesty International has requested the Indonesian government confirm that all murder reports are free from law enforcement interference and are not motivated by police attacks. The reports should also be investigated by an independent institution, which announces the finding to the public, Amnesty said.
“Amnesty International calls for an evaluation by the Indonesian government over the tactics used by the police in their arrest and maintenance of public order to ensure they comply with international standards,” said Amnesty International Indonesia campaigner Josef Benedict in a press release on Wednesday.
Josef said that Amnesty suspects the Indonesian police is guilty of abusing its power. Josef added that the Indonesian police have shot, beaten, and killed people without considering accountability. Over recent months, the police have attracted criticism for repeatedly shooting and attacking civilians involved in peaceful protests and land disputes.
“Amnesty International calls for an evaluation by the Indonesian government over the tactics used by the police in their arrest and maintenance of public order to ensure they comply with international standards,” said Amnesty International Indonesia campaigner Josef Benedict in a press release on Wednesday.
Josef said that Amnesty suspects the Indonesian police is guilty of abusing its power. Josef added that the Indonesian police have shot, beaten, and killed people without considering accountability. Over recent months, the police have attracted criticism for repeatedly shooting and attacking civilians involved in peaceful protests and land disputes.
Historic Ship To Transport Bontang Gas
PT Badak NGL Bontang of East Kalimantan will transport liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Jakarta using a 35 year old LNG tanker named Aquarius. “The same tank transported LNG to Osaka, Japan in 1977,” said President Director of PT Badak NGL Sutopo on Wednesday, April 25, 2012.
He said that Aquarius was used for the first export of LNG in August 1, 1977. Now it will be used for domestic shipping of LNG to Jakarta Bay. PT Badak NGL began shipping abroad with 2 trains of LNG around the end of 70s. In the early 90s till now, Sutopo said, Pertamina's subsidiary company has an annual capacity of 22,5 million ton. “We have achieved 8,085 shipments as of April 21, 2012,” Sutopo said. All of these shipments were destined to buyer countries.
This time LNG will be sent to Jakarta Bay for a floating terminal project a floating storage regasification unit (FSRU). LNG Bontang has supplied 11.75 million metric tons LNG to West Java FSRU in the past 11 years. The new FSRU will be operated by PT Nusantara Regas.
The FSRU project in Jakarta Bay is to support government program to diversify energy to manage future energy challenges. With FSRU, Nusantara Regas can also explore other business potentials to make optimal use of the facility.
He said that Aquarius was used for the first export of LNG in August 1, 1977. Now it will be used for domestic shipping of LNG to Jakarta Bay. PT Badak NGL began shipping abroad with 2 trains of LNG around the end of 70s. In the early 90s till now, Sutopo said, Pertamina's subsidiary company has an annual capacity of 22,5 million ton. “We have achieved 8,085 shipments as of April 21, 2012,” Sutopo said. All of these shipments were destined to buyer countries.
This time LNG will be sent to Jakarta Bay for a floating terminal project a floating storage regasification unit (FSRU). LNG Bontang has supplied 11.75 million metric tons LNG to West Java FSRU in the past 11 years. The new FSRU will be operated by PT Nusantara Regas.
The FSRU project in Jakarta Bay is to support government program to diversify energy to manage future energy challenges. With FSRU, Nusantara Regas can also explore other business potentials to make optimal use of the facility.
Minister Hatta: Subsidized Fuel Restriction Cannot Take Effect in May
Coordinating Minister for Economy Hatta Rajasa stressed that subsidized fuel restrictions cannot be enforced this May. “The issue has only been unravelled and discussed recently and is still being deliberated upon intensely. Later the Energy and Mineral Resources Minister (Jero Wacik) shall unveil the technical details and our President will listen. Afterwards, the implementation will need steps. So, it is not possible to enforce the policy as per 1 May," Hatta said at the Presidential office on Tuesday, 24 April 2012.
The subsidized fuel restriction, Hatta said, will be applied not only to private cars but also cars belonging to the state and state-owned companies' vehicles, and one of the possible measures was to use stickers. “We listen to all input given to us,” Hatta said.
The policy implementation will depend on the polling results to avoid the over quota use of subsidized fuel, earmarked at 40 million kiloliter for this year.
Hatta said there are targets the government plans to meet, in order to ensure preparedness toward enforcing the restrictions - for example, familiarization and the public's understanding of the policy and infrastructure. “A good idea has to be implementable. We want to walk the talk, not just talk.” he said.
"The meeting will formulate the implementation of APBNP (Revised State Budget) 2012, which still uses the assumption of RP. 1,500 price increase for subsidized fuel. We will not enforce price increase till end of June if the increase is not justified by Paragraph 6a of Article 7," Hatta detailed.
Without the price increase, the government has to implement a variety of strategies to maintain the growth at 6.5 percent and a healthy fiscal climate. "Without the increase, subsidies will swell and without control it will reach Rp. 340 trillion,” he added.
The subsidized fuel restriction, Hatta said, will be applied not only to private cars but also cars belonging to the state and state-owned companies' vehicles, and one of the possible measures was to use stickers. “We listen to all input given to us,” Hatta said.
The policy implementation will depend on the polling results to avoid the over quota use of subsidized fuel, earmarked at 40 million kiloliter for this year.
Hatta said there are targets the government plans to meet, in order to ensure preparedness toward enforcing the restrictions - for example, familiarization and the public's understanding of the policy and infrastructure. “A good idea has to be implementable. We want to walk the talk, not just talk.” he said.
"The meeting will formulate the implementation of APBNP (Revised State Budget) 2012, which still uses the assumption of RP. 1,500 price increase for subsidized fuel. We will not enforce price increase till end of June if the increase is not justified by Paragraph 6a of Article 7," Hatta detailed.
Without the price increase, the government has to implement a variety of strategies to maintain the growth at 6.5 percent and a healthy fiscal climate. "Without the increase, subsidies will swell and without control it will reach Rp. 340 trillion,” he added.
Workers to Go on Strike Again on May 1
Thousands of workers from various alliances in Tangerang declared their protests against cheap labor on May 1. The issue of cheap labour will be one of the major demands to improve welfare of the workers. “We deplore cheap labor practices,” announced Chairman of Karya Utama Workers Union Federation Koswara on Wednesday, April 25, 2012.
Koswara said their demands will be announced during the planned peace rally together with other labour organizations in Tangerang and Jakarta. They also reject labour outsourcing and press the government to protect its national assets and declare the Labor Day as a national holiday. "The government has to declare May Day as a national day because that is the victorious day of workers, and to show that Indonesia is moving forward from agrarian to industrialization," Koswara said. May 1 which falls on Tuesday is a normal working day in Indonesia.
Koswara also pledged that workers will maintain discipline during the May Day protest as the planned action has already been coordinated with police.
Around 5,000 workers from Tangerang will take to streets on the day. According to Chairman of Indonesian Metal Workers Union Federation of the Tangerang City and Regency, Riden Hatam Azis, the said number came from 80 work units based in Tangerang City and Regency, their point of meeting is established around Bitung toll road.
Koswara said their demands will be announced during the planned peace rally together with other labour organizations in Tangerang and Jakarta. They also reject labour outsourcing and press the government to protect its national assets and declare the Labor Day as a national holiday. "The government has to declare May Day as a national day because that is the victorious day of workers, and to show that Indonesia is moving forward from agrarian to industrialization," Koswara said. May 1 which falls on Tuesday is a normal working day in Indonesia.
Koswara also pledged that workers will maintain discipline during the May Day protest as the planned action has already been coordinated with police.
Around 5,000 workers from Tangerang will take to streets on the day. According to Chairman of Indonesian Metal Workers Union Federation of the Tangerang City and Regency, Riden Hatam Azis, the said number came from 80 work units based in Tangerang City and Regency, their point of meeting is established around Bitung toll road.
Indonesia Police Watch: Inafis a Waste
Indonesia Police Watch (IPC) head Neta S. Pane, says the implementation of the Inafis card project must be stopped for four reasons.
The first reason, according to Neta, is because Inafis, the finger print ID card, has no additional benefit than regular ID cards such as drivers’ licenses, passports and the planned e-ID card.
Neta also said the project, which has cost the state Rp43.2 billion, has not been transparent. The National Police, said Neta, never announced the winner of the project tender. In addition, Neta said the Inafis card system ‘criminalizes’ citizens because criminal records will be stored on the Inafis card.
Neta said that no more than 2 percent of 250 million Indonesian citizens have been involved in criminal acts. Furthermore, Neta also questioned the Inafis card system, which refers to the United States police system.
The first reason, according to Neta, is because Inafis, the finger print ID card, has no additional benefit than regular ID cards such as drivers’ licenses, passports and the planned e-ID card.
Neta also said the project, which has cost the state Rp43.2 billion, has not been transparent. The National Police, said Neta, never announced the winner of the project tender. In addition, Neta said the Inafis card system ‘criminalizes’ citizens because criminal records will be stored on the Inafis card.
Neta said that no more than 2 percent of 250 million Indonesian citizens have been involved in criminal acts. Furthermore, Neta also questioned the Inafis card system, which refers to the United States police system.
Power Out in 17 Jakarta Substations
Manager of state electricity company PLN for the Jakarta-Tangerang distribution Paranai Suhafsan, confirmed there were electrical problems in the Interbus Transformer (IBT) 500 Kv/150 at Gandul, Cinere, in South Jakarta yesterday.
The interference caused a disruption in the Muara Karang and Lontar generators, which led to power outages in 17 substations in Jakarta. “We are still unable to identify the cause of the disturbance,” Paranai told Tempo on Wednesday.
Paranai said the 17 substations would be manually restarted. The problematic substations include the Ketapang, Kebon Sirih, Karet Baru, Cengkareng, Budi Kemuliaan, AGP, Grogol, Kebon Jeruk, Karet Lama, Muara Karang, Petukangan, Danayasa, Senayan, Bintaro, Teluk Naga New Tangerang and Duri Kosambi substations. “The 17 substations are capable of generating 1,600 megawatts,” said Paranai.
Power was out in some vital locations due to the disruption in the 17 substations, including at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. The power outage also caused some traffic lights to stop working, resulting in traffic congestion in central, west and south Jakarta.
The interference caused a disruption in the Muara Karang and Lontar generators, which led to power outages in 17 substations in Jakarta. “We are still unable to identify the cause of the disturbance,” Paranai told Tempo on Wednesday.
Paranai said the 17 substations would be manually restarted. The problematic substations include the Ketapang, Kebon Sirih, Karet Baru, Cengkareng, Budi Kemuliaan, AGP, Grogol, Kebon Jeruk, Karet Lama, Muara Karang, Petukangan, Danayasa, Senayan, Bintaro, Teluk Naga New Tangerang and Duri Kosambi substations. “The 17 substations are capable of generating 1,600 megawatts,” said Paranai.
Power was out in some vital locations due to the disruption in the 17 substations, including at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. The power outage also caused some traffic lights to stop working, resulting in traffic congestion in central, west and south Jakarta.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
16 police stations damaged in fuel price protests nationwide
The Indonesian Police Watch (IPW) reported on Sunday that the recent five-day series of massive rallies to protest against the government's plan to increase fuel prices had resulted in damage to at least 16 police stations nationwide.
In its press release, IPW said four damaged police stations were located in Jakarta, while the remaining 12 were located in several other big cities, like Makassar, Medan, Yogyakarta, Samarinda and Kendari.
The rallies, held from March 27 to March 31 by students, activists and supporters of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, the country's largest opposition party, also damaged four patrol cars and one police motorcycle.
The House of Representatives decided early on Saturday to allow the government to raise subsidized fuel prices only if the Indonesia Crude Price (ICP) was 15 percent higher than assumed in the state budget within six months, meaning that the government had to cancel its initial plan to increase subsidized fuel prices today.
In its press release, IPW said four damaged police stations were located in Jakarta, while the remaining 12 were located in several other big cities, like Makassar, Medan, Yogyakarta, Samarinda and Kendari.
The rallies, held from March 27 to March 31 by students, activists and supporters of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, the country's largest opposition party, also damaged four patrol cars and one police motorcycle.
The House of Representatives decided early on Saturday to allow the government to raise subsidized fuel prices only if the Indonesia Crude Price (ICP) was 15 percent higher than assumed in the state budget within six months, meaning that the government had to cancel its initial plan to increase subsidized fuel prices today.
PKS told to leave government over fuel price rebellion
Democratic Party executive and lawmaker Umar Arsal said on Sunday the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) should withdraw its ministers from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Cabinet after refusing to support the government's recent plan to increase fuel prices.
Umar said the other parties within the government coalition had also been disturbed by the PKS' unexpected political move in the recent fuel price controversy.
“I can understand if the Democratic Party and other
parties in our coalition ask the PKS to take their ministers out of the Cabinet,” Umar said as quoted by tribunnews.com.
The PKS initially had four ministers in Yudhoyono's Cabinet before the President appointed former environment
minister Gusti Muhammad Hatta as Research and Technology Minister replacing Suharna Surapranata, a senior PKS member, in a major Cabinet reshuffle last year.
In a dramatic vote, the House finally agreed to revise the 2012 state budget in the early hours of Saturday. The decision automatically aborted the government’s plan to raise the fuel price by 33 percent from its current price on April 1 but allowed it to increase the price if the Indonesian Crude Price is 15 percent higher than assumed in the state budget within six months.
The PKS had earlier said it would oppose the plan despite being part of the ruling coalition. The party’s lawmakers maintained their opposition during voting to determine the fuel price increase.
Indonesia sets the price of subsidized fuel at Rp 4.500 (49 US cents) per liter, making the country’s fuel price the cheapest among Southeast Asia countries.
Umar said the other parties within the government coalition had also been disturbed by the PKS' unexpected political move in the recent fuel price controversy.
“I can understand if the Democratic Party and other
parties in our coalition ask the PKS to take their ministers out of the Cabinet,” Umar said as quoted by tribunnews.com.
The PKS initially had four ministers in Yudhoyono's Cabinet before the President appointed former environment
minister Gusti Muhammad Hatta as Research and Technology Minister replacing Suharna Surapranata, a senior PKS member, in a major Cabinet reshuffle last year.
In a dramatic vote, the House finally agreed to revise the 2012 state budget in the early hours of Saturday. The decision automatically aborted the government’s plan to raise the fuel price by 33 percent from its current price on April 1 but allowed it to increase the price if the Indonesian Crude Price is 15 percent higher than assumed in the state budget within six months.
The PKS had earlier said it would oppose the plan despite being part of the ruling coalition. The party’s lawmakers maintained their opposition during voting to determine the fuel price increase.
Indonesia sets the price of subsidized fuel at Rp 4.500 (49 US cents) per liter, making the country’s fuel price the cheapest among Southeast Asia countries.
House slams budget revision plan
The House budget committee’s meeting with the government over the revision of the state budget reached a stalemate on Thursday, with lawmakers claiming that government “mismanagement” caused an overhaul of macroeconomic assumptions.
“It has been merely three months since we approved [the 2012 state budget] and we have to make significant and thorough changes already,” Tamsil Linrung, the deputy chairman of the House budget committee from Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), said during the hearing, which was attended by representatives from the Finance Ministry, Bank Indonesia, the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) and the Central Statistics Agency (BPS).
“If the changes are based on external factors, then we could understand. But the problem here is the changes look to be caused not by external factors only, but also internal problems, such as the government’s mismanagement,” Tamsil said, citing that state-owned electricity company PT PLN saw electricity subsidies double to Rp 89.55 trillion, from Rp 40.45 trillion in the previous budget.
The government is proposing several alterations in macroeconomic indicators for the state budget. It proposes to lower the yearly economic-growth forecast from 6.7 percent to 6.5 percent, increase the annual inflation target from 5.3 percent to 7 percent and change the official exchange rate to Rp 9,000, from Rp 8,800, against the US dollar.
The proposed revisions will see the price of Indonesian crude oil change to US$105 per barrel, from $90 per barrel, and an oil production target of 930,000 barrels per day (bpd), down from 950,000 bpd.
The substantial rise of global oil prices and the economic slowdown in United States and Europe are among the reasons behind the revision, Finance Ministry acting chief of fiscal policy Bambang Brodjonegoro told lawmakers during the hearing.
Bambang, however, acknowledged government mismanagement had been the major factor behind the overhaul in the state budget’s macroeconomic assumptions.
“We certainly have an internal problem on why the electricity subsidy could soar and our oil production could not achieve the estimated targets,” Bambang said, adding that the government, through the state-owned enterprises minister, would conduct internal evaluations on the matter.
The revision of macroeconomic assumptions in the state budget was imperative to keep the country’s budget deficit below the permissible level of 2.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), Bambang told lawmakers at the end of the hearing, which was adjourned until Friday.
“It has been merely three months since we approved [the 2012 state budget] and we have to make significant and thorough changes already,” Tamsil Linrung, the deputy chairman of the House budget committee from Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), said during the hearing, which was attended by representatives from the Finance Ministry, Bank Indonesia, the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) and the Central Statistics Agency (BPS).
“If the changes are based on external factors, then we could understand. But the problem here is the changes look to be caused not by external factors only, but also internal problems, such as the government’s mismanagement,” Tamsil said, citing that state-owned electricity company PT PLN saw electricity subsidies double to Rp 89.55 trillion, from Rp 40.45 trillion in the previous budget.
The government is proposing several alterations in macroeconomic indicators for the state budget. It proposes to lower the yearly economic-growth forecast from 6.7 percent to 6.5 percent, increase the annual inflation target from 5.3 percent to 7 percent and change the official exchange rate to Rp 9,000, from Rp 8,800, against the US dollar.
The proposed revisions will see the price of Indonesian crude oil change to US$105 per barrel, from $90 per barrel, and an oil production target of 930,000 barrels per day (bpd), down from 950,000 bpd.
The substantial rise of global oil prices and the economic slowdown in United States and Europe are among the reasons behind the revision, Finance Ministry acting chief of fiscal policy Bambang Brodjonegoro told lawmakers during the hearing.
Bambang, however, acknowledged government mismanagement had been the major factor behind the overhaul in the state budget’s macroeconomic assumptions.
“We certainly have an internal problem on why the electricity subsidy could soar and our oil production could not achieve the estimated targets,” Bambang said, adding that the government, through the state-owned enterprises minister, would conduct internal evaluations on the matter.
The revision of macroeconomic assumptions in the state budget was imperative to keep the country’s budget deficit below the permissible level of 2.5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), Bambang told lawmakers at the end of the hearing, which was adjourned until Friday.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Headlines Indonesia Has More of ASEAN's Top Companies 50 companies in Southeast Asia may grow into multinational companies.
A consulting firm, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), figures 50 companies in Southeast Asia will emerge as the new market leaders in the region. Indonesian and Malaysian companies are the major contributors with a total of 12 corporations.
In The Companies Piloting a Soaring Region report obtained by VIVAnews, BCG announced that the 50 companies were selected from an analysis of geographic and economic diversity.
BCG at least listed around 500 companies in Southeast Asia of which annual income reach at least US$500 million per year.
The firm also measures top five companies in each area as well as considering their chances of turning into multinational companies.
Out of the abovementioned criteria, BCG came to conclusion that 50 companies in Southeast Asia may grow into multinational companies.
Indonesia and Malaysia contribute 12 first-rate companies each.
In the meantime, Singapore and Thailand can only produce 11 candidates of multinational companies each.
The Philippines and Vietnam only have two companies each that are considered worthy to spring up in regional and international markets.
Southeast Asia's economies have been out of the world's radar. The international community has so far only focused on India and China.
In fact, following the financial crisis in Asia in 1997-1998, Southeast Asia’s economies have recovered and developed significantly. The gross domestic product (GDP) of the Philippines and Singapore recovered completely in 1999.
Meanwhile, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia's economies recovered within 5 years.
Currently, Southeast Asia's GDP has reached US$3 trillion, greater than Brasil’s and Russia’s. Between 2005 and 2010, Southeast Asia’s economies grew more than 7% per year.
Now, the average per capita income of the people in Southeast Asia has climbed to nearly US$5.500.
In The Companies Piloting a Soaring Region report obtained by VIVAnews, BCG announced that the 50 companies were selected from an analysis of geographic and economic diversity.
BCG at least listed around 500 companies in Southeast Asia of which annual income reach at least US$500 million per year.
The firm also measures top five companies in each area as well as considering their chances of turning into multinational companies.
Out of the abovementioned criteria, BCG came to conclusion that 50 companies in Southeast Asia may grow into multinational companies.
Indonesia and Malaysia contribute 12 first-rate companies each.
In the meantime, Singapore and Thailand can only produce 11 candidates of multinational companies each.
The Philippines and Vietnam only have two companies each that are considered worthy to spring up in regional and international markets.
Southeast Asia's economies have been out of the world's radar. The international community has so far only focused on India and China.
In fact, following the financial crisis in Asia in 1997-1998, Southeast Asia’s economies have recovered and developed significantly. The gross domestic product (GDP) of the Philippines and Singapore recovered completely in 1999.
Meanwhile, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia's economies recovered within 5 years.
Currently, Southeast Asia's GDP has reached US$3 trillion, greater than Brasil’s and Russia’s. Between 2005 and 2010, Southeast Asia’s economies grew more than 7% per year.
Now, the average per capita income of the people in Southeast Asia has climbed to nearly US$5.500.
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