Thursday, December 31, 2009

The Wit and Wisdom of Gus Dur

Gus Dur was known for his way with words and his love of jokes. Some of his memorable quotes include: Suharto was a New Order president. Habibie was In Order and I am No Order. The deep problem is that people use religion wrongly in pursuit of victory and triumph. This sad fact then leads to conflict with people who have different beliefs. I was a forced politician, yes, but not a true politician..... in the sense that I never cared about public opinion, for example... No politician will do that. (laughs) You don’t realise that losing the presidency for me is nothing ... I regret more the fact that I lost 27 recordings of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. I am not worried about minorities dominating us. That is born from our own insecurities. Muslims – possibly due to historical factors – are often haunted by feelings of defeat and weakness. Democracy is not only not haram (forbidden) in Islam but is a compulsory element of Islam. Upholding democracy is one of the principals of Islam, which is syuro (assembly). There must no longer be anything to differentiate Indonesians based on religion, mother language, culture and ideology. If today there are people calling Islam bad names, we will teach them that Islam is peaceful. Why sweat it? (Gitu aja kok repot?) --Gus Dur frequently used this offhand remark to dismiss issues he considered unimportant. Seventy percent of our nation is saltwater, so why do we import salt? It’s okay being stupid but why are we purposely being ignorant? This is an ideal team. The president can't see and the vice president can't talk. --After becoming president alongside the famously taciturn Megawati Sukarnoputri I need help to step up, let alone to step down. --On being asked to resign If in the past I said that the House of Representatives was a kindergarten, now I say it is a playgroup.


http://thejakartaglobe.com/home/the-wit-and-wisdom-of-gus-dur/350114


Wahid: A 'prophet' welcomed abroad

While within Indonesia, Abdurrahman "Gus Dur" Wahid may be ridiculed by both his opponents and former trusted friends and aides, internationally he is still highly respected. At an international conference on religious issues held a few months ago in Melbourne, Australia, the former Indonesian president and former chairman of the country's largest Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), received a glowing reception.

Many participants and speakers from notable universities around the world praised Wahid as the ideal model of a traditional religious leader supporting the spirit of tolerance and peace.

Prof. Muddathir Abdel-Rahim (International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization, Malaysia) said Wahid was a strong identity helping to combat the wrong perceptions about Islam.

Prof. Abdullah Saeed (The University of Melbourne) supported this, saying Wahid played a key role in contextualising the universal spirit of the Koran. Dr. Natalie Mobini Kesheh (Australian Baha'i Community) said the only Islamic leader in the world who continued to support the Baha'i community was Wahid.

Prof. James Haire (Charles Stuart University, New South Wales) congratulated the country's fourth president for his role in protecting minority groups. Larry Marshall (Center for Dialogue, La Trobe University, Melbourne) described Wahid as an enlightened thinker with deep and insightful comments. Marshall previously did not believe Indonesia could produce an activist-thinker like Wahid in less than one hundred years. Wahid is no stranger to accolades from international academic circles. He has received awards in the past from international institutions for his human rights campaigning.

Wahid is facing a difficult phase of his life back home in Indonesia. After being eliminated from a key position in Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and usurped by his former loyalist, Hasyim Muzadi, Wahid was ousted from the National Awakening Party (PKB), which he established shortly after the fall of Soeharto in 1998, by his nephew Muhaimin Iskandar.

His ideological enemies are almost competing to humiliate the virtually blind Muslim scholar. On one television talk show, Rizieq Shihab (leader of the Islamic Defender Front) ridiculed Wahid, saying he was "blind in eyes, blind in heart."

The challenges did not solely come from his ideological and political enemies. Madina, a moderate Islamic magazine, did not list Wahid in the list of 25 peaceful Indonesian Muslim leaders. Even within the Indonesian moderate Islamic community, Wahid is often forgotten.

But the admiration shown for Wahid in Melbourne offers a ray of hope. Many worldwide believe Wahid can promote peace in the Islamic world, particularly Indonesia. Through his tireless activities and commitment to protecting minorities he has demonstrated the true spirit of Islam which honors pluralism. The position of Wahid as a politician and human rights activist is unique.

While most politicians remained silent when Ahamadiyah was attacked in several parts of the country, Wahid bravely defended their rights. Wahid said the followers of Ahmadiyah had the same rights as everybody else living in Indonesia and that the Constitution guarantees their safety.

What Wahid said in a press interview should remain a message of his good will for democracy, freedom and human rights for years to come: "As long as I live, I must defend the members of Ahmadiyah's right to live, based on the Constitution."

Maybe at this time, in this part of the world, Wahid is not supposed to flourish. His ideologies and actions are far beyond the narrowness of this time. Only the developed and enlightened societies can appreciate his struggle.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

KPPI: Gus Dur's Political Women orbiter

Women's Political Caucus of Indonesia (KPPI) Nusa Tenggara (NTT) assess the ex-President Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur) as a staunch pluralist character defend women and give space to women to appear in the political arena.

"The top of the alignments Gus Dur against women as evidenced by the Republic of Indonesia was elected the fourth president October 20, 1999 by selecting Soekarnoputeri Megawati as vice president," said the chairman of NTT KPPI in Kupang, Wednesday (30/12).

Not only that, according to Ana Waha, his leadership post as president in July 2001, Megawati, Gus Dur Soekarnoputeri choose his successor as president to continue the struggle and the rule of democracy.

In various community organizations and political organizations (parties) son of KH Wahid Hj Hasyimdan orbit Sholehah continue the program as evidence of women's partisanship that campaigned against gender reforamsi 1998 when the faucet is open.

Farewell pluralist character greatly appreciate and uphold democracy and religious tolerance, we remembered what you've done particularly in the field of women empowerment in various aspects that have been done before.

Meanwhile, Deputy Mayor of Kupang, NTT, Daniel Hurek said when contacted separately on behalf of Kupang society, expressed the deep part of berbelangsungkawa death and founder of the PKB and the enforcement of this nation's democracy.

Hurek is also a cadre of PKB NTT says, Gus Dur is a unifying figure and has a pluralistic attitude and outlook is always a positive impact on the things that he considered deviant particularly about democracy.

Hurek is also chairman of DPC PKB Kupang is not claimed telupakan impression when Wahid visited Kupang, NTT on March 23, 2003 and Hurek as secretary of the committee at that time and pick up from the airport Wahid El Tari Kupang to lead up the stairs Wahid campus of the University Catholic Widya Mandira Kupang to give lectures.

Strong and deep impressions that are not also be forgotten, said Hurek, when the 2007 election begins Kupang and should go to Gus Dur Ciganjur in South Jakarta residence to ask for permission to use the door to advanced PKB as a candidate for deputy mayor of Kupang is paired with the candidate at that time Mayor Daniel Adoe.

"When I heard the first greeting when entering the study Wahid directly connect with the return address Hurek," he said.

Gus Dur visits Hurek as a visually impaired person but has a very strong memory with the sound recording only one, he can know who the guest or the other.

"Gus Dur must go to his Creator outwardly, but universal values that are part of his life maintained and fought for," he said.

World Community Express Post-Death Pain grief Gus Durgus dur

The death of former Indonesian president to four brought sorrow to the international world. In the social networking sites, Twitter and Facebook, dozens of the world community expressed their grief after the death of a man who often called Gus Dur is. One German citizen, Kennedy, in the account for twitternya convey testimoninya Gus Dur. "Gus Dur is more awesome than Chuck Norriss" he wrote in twitternya account.

Meanwhile, a Malaysian citizen, Deenazah, expressing a sense of loss over the death of Gus Dur. "Love Gus Dur's a lot! My deepest Condolence, "he wrote in facebooknya account.

Not only the people of the world, some Indonesian people living abroad are also soluble in an atmosphere of grief. One of them is Heryadi. In twitternya account, the man who lived in the United States was expressing his admiration for the thought Gus Dur.

"Is right," If in the past I said that the House of Representatives was a kindergarten, now I say it is a playgroup. " So long, Mister "wrote Heryadi in twitter account RIP" Gus Dur "

Until now twitter and facebook pages and hold dibanjuri expression of grief and loss over the death of Gus Dur. The expression of grief was almost touching the 10 thousand.

Indonesia mourns former president Wahid, dead at 69


Former Indonesian president Abdurrahman Wahid died in hospital on Wednesday aged 69, after a long battle with illness, a party official said.

Wahid was Indonesia's fourth president, coming to power in 1999 after the country's first general elections following the fall of military strongman Suharto in 1998.

Popularly known as Gus Dur, he was practically blind, diabetic and had suffered strokes.

Doctor Aris Wibudi of Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital in Jakarta said Wahid died at 18:45 (1345 GMT) due to complications arising from diabetes and stroke.

His younger brother, Salahuddin Wahid, told AFP the family was "shocked, sad and grieving".

"He was humorous, happy, clever, brave and really cared about the community. He was full of life and his fighting spirit was strong. Even when he was sick, he would fight on," he said.

Wahid rose to political prominence through his role as a leader of one of the country's biggest mass Islamic movements, the Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), having been a strong critic of Suharto during the general's three-decade rule.

He defeated Megawati Sukarnoputri to scoop the presidency in a parliamentary vote, even though her Democratic Party of Struggle put in the strongest showing in a general election earlier in 1999.

His time in government was an exciting period of democratic change under the country's post-Suharto "Reformasi" drive, and Wahid was an enthusiastic advocate of ethnic and religious tolerance.

But there were also fears the unwieldy, Muslim-majority archipelago of 234 million people would crumble under the weight of separatist and sectarian conflicts in places like Aceh, Papua and the Malukus.

Violent Islamic extremism reared its head with the coordinated Christmas-eve bombings of churches in Jakarta and other cities in 2000, which killed 18 people and were blamed on regional terror network Jemaah Islamiyah.

Wahid's response was to crack down on Islamist extremists while seeking dialogue and conciliation with ethnic separatists, the latter strategy putting him at odds both with the military and the Jakarta elite.

He also broke a taboo in Indonesian politics by calling for diplomatic relations with Israel, and backed the lifting of a Cold War-era ban on communism.

It was the liberal and democratic ideas that had earned him international respect that ironically were often at the core of the steady growth of opposition to his leadership.

A moderate religious scholar, Wahid was also criticised in office for his erratic leadership style and was sacked by the national assembly in 2001 amid unproven allegations of corruption and incompetence.

Hailing from a prominent Muslim family in Jombang, East Java, the father of four daughters held a degree in Arabic studies from Cairo University and another in literature from Baghdad University.

Despite his obvious ailments, Wahid remained active in public affairs until his death as a senior leader of the 40-million-strong NU.

NU vice-president Maskuri Abdillah said Wahid -- who studied English, German, Arabic, French and Russian -- would be remembered as a "pluralist" who stood for tolerance in the most populous Muslim-majority country.

"His death is a big loss not just to Nahdlatul Ulama, but also to Indonesians from all races and faiths," he told AFP.

"He was a humorous person who loved to crack jokes so people could feel at ease. He would always crack jokes at social events to reduce tension and people would warm up to him easily."

In September 2007 he announced that he would campaign for the presidency in 2009 if asked by the movement's top clerics -- whom he referred to as the "elders" -- but in the end he did not get the call.

Wahid's National Awakening Party won only 4.9 percent of the vote in general elections earlier this year, less than half its showing in 2004, but it remains strong in its East Java heartland.

Indonesia held its first direct presidential elections in 2004, which were won by the incumbent Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Cabinet’s performance ‘under threat from conflict’

The scandal threatening to bring down Vice President Boediono and Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati for their roles in bailing out Bank Century is indicative of the rift forming within the Cabinet, analysts said Sunday.

Mulyani has accused Golkar Party chairman and former chief welfare minister Aburizal Bakrie of being behind the calls for her to be axed over the Rp 6.76 trillion (US$716 million) bailout.

Speculation is rife that the rift was created by political parties eyeing the vice presidency and finance portfolio for their own members.

Political expert Bima Arya Sugiarto, from the consultancy Magna Charta, said the conflict had impacted on the Cabinet’s performance, but did not elaborate on what that meant.

“The whole investigation into the Century bailout should be organized on a proper schedule,” he said.

He added President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s Democratic Party, as the coalition leader, should immediately re-evaluate the alliance in order to tackle “future political catastrophes”.

“The party should initiate a review of each coalition partner so as to give more room to those wiling to work for the nation,” he said.

Bima warned that the rift, if not properly handled, could lead to a further deterioration in the Cabinet’s performance.

“It could turn into a serious problem for the administration,” he said.

The University of Indonesia’s Maswadi Rauf agreed the present dispute had affected the Cabinet.

However, coalition party officials have denied any rift forming between them, insisting the current political turbulence has had no effect whatsoever on the government’s performance, and pointing out that, on the contrary, the government is working at its optimum level.

“There’s no such political fracture within the Cabinet,” Justice and Human Rights Minister Patrialis Akbar, from the National Mandate Party (PAN), said Sunday as quoted by news portal detik.com.

“Matter of fact, we’re coordinating and performing at our best in providing assistance to the
President.”

Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan, also from the PAN, said he too was working at peak performance of late.

“The speculation about the Cabinet’s inability to work is just a rumor,” he said as quoted by detik.com.

“Any talk of a rift is baseless. I hope the public isn’t wasting its time entertaining such rumors.”

Also denying there was any rift in the Cabinet were Coordinating Public Welfare Minister Agung Laksono and Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad, both from the Golkar Party.

Golkar and the PAN are both members of the coalition led by the Democratic Party.

Democratic Party legislator Ruhut Sitompul also said there was nothing amiss.

However, he said any rough patch that did crop up from the Century case would pose a challenge for the government, particularly if not handled correctly.

“We’re now dealing with the Century case by summoning for questioning those involved in the contentious bailout,” he said.

“To date, I’ve seen nothing that could harm the current government’s performance.”



http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/12/14/cabinet%E2%80%99s-performance-%E2%80%98under-threat-conflict%E2%80%99.html

Whole bailout process was ‘illegal,’ says audit agency

The investigators into the Bank Century’s bailout may be hitting a wider target as the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), whose recent report is the basis for the probe, underlined Monday the bailout process might not have a legal basis.

On Monday, the BPK hosted a meeting with representatives from three law enforcement institutions, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), the National Police, and the Attorney General’s Office, as well as the Financial Transaction Report and Analysis Center (PPATK), to discuss its findings that might lead to criminal charges arising from the case.

A member of the BPK who was also the head of the BPK’s investigation team on the Bank Century case, Hasan Bisri, reiterated the agency’s findings, as stated in the audit report, that the whole bailout process resulting in Century being handed over to the Deposit Insurance Corporation (LPS) might be illegal due to the absence of a clear legal basis.

A body called the Coordination Committee (KK) officially handed over the Bank Century to the LPS, but the BPK audit said the KK had never been legally formed.

According to Article 21 of the 2004 Law on LPS, a troubled bank considered to constitute a systemic threat to the banking system should be handed over by the KK to the LPS. However, the detail of the law said that the KK could only be established after the enactment of the proposed law on the financial sector safety net, which has never been established and endorsed.

“In this case, we found that the KK’s legal basis was absent and therefore the LPS management of Bank Century has not been legally covered,” Hasan said.

The KK was crucial because the bailout disbursement could not be done if the committee did not hand over the bank to the LPS.

When asked whether the absence of a legal basis for the KK would mean the whole Rp 6.76 trillion (US$710 million) of bailout was illegal, Hasan said, “I think so.”

LPS executive director Firdaus Djaelani recently said the debate over the KK’s legal basis was due to differences in legal interpretation.

“In my opinion, the KK was legal. It was not a real institution, though. It was like a group of officials.”
KPK acting chairman, Tumpak Hatorangan Panggabean, said the antigraft body would only investigate violations committed by authorities and leading to state losses.

“If you ask whether the KPK has found graft indications? I answer, yes. We have kicked off preliminary investigations but have yet to be able to publicize the case.

“We will soon summon witnesses, search offices, seize evidence, in order to find facts before we can name any suspect,” Tumpak said.

National Police Chief Detective Comr. Gen. Ito Sumardi, meanwhile, said that detectives would soon question Ito’s predecessor Comr. Gen. Susno Duadji over the Century scandal.

Susno previously said that he had information about the recipients of the bailout funds.

Another BPK member, Taufiequrahman Ruki, said the investigative audit of the bailout had found nine violations that could potentially be categorized as crimes.

“The possible crimes don’t only include corruption, but also banking crimes and money laundering, as well as general crimes,” Ruki, a former KPK chief, said.

Information on the nine findings will be distributed to three law enforcement institutions. The violations were allegedly committed by officials from Bank Indonesia, the Financial System Stability Committee (KSSK), the LPS and Bank Century itself.



http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/12/15/whole-bailout-process-was-%E2%80%98illegal%E2%80%99-says-audit-agency.html

Century team to summon Boediono and Sri Mulyani

The Bank Century inquiry committee is questioning Vice President Boediono and Finance Minister Sri Mulyani on their decision to issue Rp 6.76 trillion (US$716 million) in bailouts.

The decision to summon Mulyani and Boediono was made during the first plenary meeting of the House of Representatives committee in Jakarta on Monday.

Mulyani and Boediono decided to salvage the bank during a meeting in November last year. During that time, Boediono was the Bank Indonesia governor.

Mulyani and Boediono said their motives were nothing more than to save the nation by preventing a possible systemic collapse of the country’s banking system by saving Bank Century during the global
financial crisis.

Economists and legislators at the House’s finance commission, however, have doubted their reasoning, citing that Bank Century was a small and insignificant bank. Legislators also questioned the bailout, because its amount was much higher than the amount agreed by the House, which ranged between Rp 600 billion and Rp 1 trillion.

An audit report from the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), recently submitted to the House, also said there might have been a number of procedural violations conducted during the bailout process.

Along with Mulyani and Boediono, the 30-member inquiry committee will also summon a number of people deemed to know more information about the bailout.

One of the committee deputy chairmen, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle’s (PDI-P) Gayus Lumbuun, said former National Police detective chief Comr. Gen. Susno Duadji, would also be summoned. Susno was heard in a wiretapped conversation by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to have allegedly asked for a Rp 10 billion bribe during the debacle.

Gayus also said that former vice president Jusuf Kalla would be summoned, because he was the acting president when the bailout was issued. During that time President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was abroad.

Despite determining the people and institutions that needed summoning, the committee has yet to determine the fixed schedule of the summoning.

“Our summons will be directed by the development of the investigation,” committee chairman Idrus Marham from the Golkar Party said.

The committee has currently only established a fixed meeting schedule with the BPK and the Financial Transaction Report and Analysis Center (PPATK).

“We are going to meet with the BPK on Wednesday, and PPATK on Thursday,” Idrus said.

The committee plans to discuss the people that need summoning and budgeting Tuesday.

During the hearing, there was also a debate on whether the committee’s future hearings should be made open to the public.

Yudhoyono’s Democratic Party, which has the most members in the committee, insisted that the meeting should be closed door.

However, other parties insisted the meetings be open to the public and the media. The committee agreed that all hearings and inquiries be made open, unless there were requests from certain witnesses. “But the final say will be made by committee members,” committee deputy chairman, Mahfudz Siddiq from the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), said.


http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/12/15/century-team-summon-boediono-and-sri-mulyani.html

Monday, December 7, 2009

Seren Taun ceremony in CIGUGUR - Kuningan

Seren Taun is a tradition of public thanksgiving application especially in West Java as an agrarian society to the Creator of Life. This tradition can be found in some indigenous communities in West Java, Banten as in; community Baduy, Sumedang Disallow (Ranch Kalong), Kampung Naga-Tasik, Copyright Degree-Sukabumi etc.. Seren Year ceremony held in West Java Brass CIGUGUR be interesting to discuss because it is a portrait of the social life of society. Be unique because of the implementation of Year in CIGUGUR Seren can involve all elements in society regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender and age.

CIGUGUR society that values diversity not only look at the Seren Taun cultural event held once a year, but more than that the values of togetherness, harmony in diversity is terejawantahkan in everyday life people.
One week before the tra
ditional procession of the ceremony took place Seren Taun begins with the Feast Dadung located in Situ Hyang on On the morning after dawn. Hyang Situ area is an area surrounded by rocky hills, which is said by people in the surrounding area is famous for being haunted. The core of the party is throwing Dadung pests. Use of large mines Dadung or made of fibers, expressing gratitude to a shepherd community.

Song of the petition containing a blessing, so that farmers, shepherds, cattle and rice fields saved from peril, the opening event. After that, then banished to the fields of pest hole in Situ Hyang, which is said to have long had a place of throw away pests. Dadung party ended with a dance by some farmers. One expression of joy to entertain the farmers who work year sweat, cultivate rice in the heat and rain. Planting tree seedlings is also a part of Dadung Party. One form of kindness and love of the natural population, which sustain everyday life.

Not just stop at Dadung Party, the next day moved into the center of Balong Girang (natural pool of water upstream) CIGUGUR. After noon, the villagers gathered Nyiblung entertained by the music produced from hand pats in the pond water. Water music played by the player's hand and contested by local residents heard a thud clamorous. Laughter, cheers and applause sounds combined with the audience crowded musical sounds of water.

The following days during the week before the ceremonial procession of the top seren taun, usually held pegelaran attractions or traditional arts from various regions
in West Java such as (Art Jentreng Tarawangsa Disallow Sumedang, Ronggeng Mount of Ciamis, Angklung Baduy of Baduy or Baduy, Music Rendo and outs of Baduy, Gending Karesmen or sendar dance, classical tembang Sundanese, etc.). In the afternoon and evening during the week was also held exhibitions like the various handicrafts of local communities, batik, weaving, carving and traditional dishes such as peuyeum CIGUGUR glutinous (sticky tape), gemblong (a type of cassava chips) and so on. On the sidelines pegelaran activities of various traditional arts and art exhibitions are also held dialogue among like indigenous peoples, agam and the general belief peeling of the social and cultural problems experienced in each region. Dialogue is usually also take place in the warm atmosphere of family, sharing experiences and help each other find solutions to be addressed together.

The night before implementation Seren Taun ceremony, usually held the customary rituals of the society ngareremokeun Baduy, ritual songs of the Dayak community Losarang Indramayu and ends with a dance Badaya Pwah Nyi Aci Sang Hyang Sri by female dancers.

The morning of 22 Saka Sunda Rayagung year, along with the rising of the dawn began the tradition of ceremonial processions peak Indigenous Seren Taun. The ceremony began with music gempitanya goong successively as a sign that the ceremonial procession to begin. Goong music is playing echoed successively implies an atmosphere of joy as indigenous citizens to start a party CIGUGUR agrarisnya customary. Aft
er that came the music of the harp to play the flute to the accompaniment of tattoo bubuka narrative horse's bit host with a short poem explaining the meaning of implementation intentions Seren Year ceremonies.

Further attractions Baduy angklung performances played by about ten people Baduy tribe. Baduy Angklung art as usual was done in the community Baduy / Baduy the traditional harvest feast in progress. Then forwarded to the pitcher as pesembahan dance a traditional dance CIGUGUR creations are danced by dozens wanoja (the girls) CIGUGUR. Formation of the dancers move from berbbagi direction of the wind directions in accordance with each party procession ceremony. This jug dance implies the meaning "w
here the earth where the sky dipijak upheld". Done pitcher dance performances and events continued with performances from CIGUGUR angklung beans that dipergelarkan by hundreds of youths beat sambiol CIGUGUR angklung and reog or dog-dog (sort of a drum percussion instruments of various sizes covered only the skins of animals on one side of the wooden circle). Along with musical instruments ditabuhnya angklung this reog beans and dance formations dipergelarkan banners colored by the youths also follow the music swell and rumbles echoed that.

After the end of angklung musical beans coming or moving from different parts of the wind's direction, then the procession of ngajayak ceremony. Where the corners of each group were moved lulugu and youth in pairs (male and female) of the eleven pair
s take the earth in Tampah woven bamboo. Usually women girls who bring the produce white berkebaya and berkain batik dipayungi by rereng and young coconut leaf umbrellas by the pious youth-clothes white shirt, black pants and batik cloth berdodot too. The delegation of eleven pairs of young people carrying produce from different parts of this lacks the back by a group of mothers carrying rice or stored in ditampah Tampah and carried on his head (in Sundanese = disuhun), and behind are mothers, fathers father who carry rice and other crops (fruits and tubers) with a rengkong, dongdang and jampanan. The group of mothers mememaki slps koko berkain sinjang white and batik, while the gentlemen dressed in black shucks and bonded head-patterned batik cloth cap liwet general.

The procession of all the group moved the ceremony accompanied by a gamelan goong successively moved into the Tri Paseban Pendopo Gdeung Panca Tungga
l. The results brought the earth lulugu and eleven pairs of young people were taking turns secaar and diterimakan dedicated to traditional leaders, community leaders, leaders of gamma and trust, and character of government officials. While the group of mothers and fathers to move directly to the place of rice or panutuan comminution. When the procession crop revenue received by the community leaders and officials said, the music of the gamelan called goong S imonggang faint strains of melodious sounds accompany tembang-tembang or babarit songs (Buhun hymn) sung by Rampak sekar (chorus) people elderly.

The climax of the top of this ceremony is seren taun speech Indigenous leaders CIGUGUR (Kusumah Djati Prince, grandson of Prince Madrais), leaders of government officials and representatives from national institutions or the world who happened to be present at the time. Then include prayers from their respective religious leaders and representatives of the trust as a form of unity in diversity in gratitude to God Almighty. Further gradual procession ended when the leaders and officers entered the area of comminution and rice together to pound rice, followed by all citizens who follow the whole ceremonial was seren taun. In addition to explanations that are usually crushed grain mass society in the top end of the ceremonial process of seren Year's around 20 quintals of paddy, while the other 2 quintals of rice in the granary store and distributed to the residents who attended and farmers in the form of puppet-wayangan rice. The entire ceremony lasted from morning till afternoon.

Only 62 pct of RI hospitals accredited


Until December 2009, 831 or 62 percent of total hospitals in Indonesia have been accredited, a health ministry official said here on Monday.

The director of mental health service development, Dr Aminulla said the total number of public and private hospitals in the country was 1,371, adding that 22 percent of private hospitals in the country have also been accredited.

He said the accreditation was important with regard to assuring provision of standard services.

He said hospital services had to be improved continuously to meet increasing public demand.

In view of that implementation of service standards in hospitals had to be carried out well and for that hospitals needed accreditation.

He said the accreditation was a government`s confirmation that the recipients had given the standards of service.

On Law Number 44 of 2009 on hospitals, Aminulla said it had clearly sided with the people, as for example, it had assured a free charge ambulance service for the poor.
He said he hoped the hospitals could continue improving their service by among others not prioritizing advance payment from patients.

He said the government was responsible in assuring easy access for quality health service to the people.

He said the law which still requires government regulations for its implementation was continuously familiarized to accomodate people`s interest.

He said the government would strive to reduce tax for hospitals but the directors general of medical service and taxation still needed to sit to build common perception with regard to it.(*)




http://www.antara.co.id/en/news/1260218980/only-62-pct-of-ri-hospitals-accredited


Jakarta to build seawall to anticipate rising sea level

Jakarta plans to build a seawall to overcome increasing sea levels, Governor Fauzi Bowo said at a meeting with newsmen at Hotel Golden Boutique on Monday.

"The seawall is badly needed especially because 40 percent of the Jakarta area is currently under the sea level," he said.

The seawall is not like the current embankment for blocking tidal waves but it will be like a huge wall stretching along the Jakarta coast.

He likened the wall to the one being prepared stretching from St Petersburg in Rusia and New Orleans in the US which had a topography like that of Jakarta.

"The two cities are also port cities like Jakarta so that the wall may not disturb ships coming in and out the cities," he said.

Regarding the urgency of the development of the wall the governor said that it was because globally the sea level was increasing 0.8 centimeters a year while the construction would take years.

"This is not only a multi-year project but perhaps even a decades-long project," he said.

The people living in North Jakarta right now have not yet fully been freed from the impact of tidal waves because the damaged parts of the embankment had not been fully repaired.

The head of the city`s public works service, Budi Widiantoro, admitted it saying it was because the construction of the Pelindo embankment had not yet finished.

"It is still leaking. Attempts have been made to stop using river stones but it could not as yet overcome the problem," he said.(*)




http://www.antara.co.id/en/news/1260219150/jakarta-to-build-seawall-to-anticipate-rising-sea-level

SBY warns of ‘politically motivated’ rally next week

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono says he has been informed of a plan by rogue elements to use the upcoming International Anticorruption Day on Dec. 9 as a platform for their “political motives”.

Speaking while opening a Cabinet meeting at the Presidential Office on Friday, Yudhoyono said the motives were “not necessarily related to corruption eradication measures”.

“I’ve received information that on Dec. 9, some social movements are planning to commemorate International Anticorruption Day,” he said.

“That’s good, [it shows] concern for our anticorruption measures. However, there are those whose real motives are political.”

Yudhoyono hinted these figures would be those “whose commitments to combating graft are never seen”.

“If that’s the case, then welcome — if you really want to eradicate graft in the country together,” he said.

He added similar political moves were afoot among some parties urging a probe into the Bank Century bailout.

Yudhoyono has in recent weeks expressed his anger over rumors that some of the bailout funds were channeled to his election campaign team and family members.

“Some people sincerely want to get to the bottom of the Bank Century case, to get answers, which we must respect and respond positively to,” he said.

“But I know that others [are doing it] not out of curiosity, [but out of] political motives.”
Yudhoyono said he had already briefed his Cabinet on the issue.

“Whatever happens, especially in Jakarta, it shouldn’t disrupt our concentration and perseverance in doing our duty for the development and welfare of our people,” he said.

The Cabinet meeting touched on developments in the government’s plan to combat judicial corruption and Indonesia’s proposals for the climate conference in Copenhagen.

This is the second time Yudhoyono has openly warned of a plot against himself. On July 17, following the bombings earlier in the day of the JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels, he claimed to also be a terrorist target.

Ahmad Muzani, secretary-general of the opposition Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), suggested Yudhoyono calm down and quit blowing things out of proportion.

“All he has to do is approach all elements in society,” he said as quoted by news portal detik.com.

“Stay calm, this is a trivial matter. As head of state, he can solve this with a persuasive approach.”
Muzani also suggested the announcement was part of a political image-building campaign.

“Yudhoyono is panicking about the worst-case scenario from the rallies to commemorate International Anticorruption Day,” he added.

“Such rallies, big or small, are the public’s way of expressing their aspirations. There’s no call for panic.”

Former student activist Hariman Siregar said Yudhoyono’s announcement was inappropriate.

“His statement will only serve to further inflame the situation,” he said as quoted


http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/12/05/sby-warns-%E2%80%98politically-motivated%E2%80%99-rally-next-week.html

By the way : A ban that boomerangs back on us

When I first saw the trailer for the movie Balibo about five months ago, it never dawned on me that this particular film would be causing such a stir today.

To be honest, I didn't consider that a film about East Timor from an Australian perspective would bring in the crowds. I expected it to have appeal only for curious crowds on the festival circuit, who wanted to know more about the mysterious deaths of five Australian journalists during the annexation by Indonesia.

I was also convinced that after doing away with East Timor in the best possible way - in a referendum, or "popular consultation" in Indonesian Military speak - I thought that we were ready to move on and develop a better relationship with our new neighbor of Timor Leste.

And as much as I admire the courageous work that journalist Jill Jolliffe did for the book Cover Up - which I read for my graduate thesis - on which the movie is based, it comes across as simply another commendable endeavor to connect the dots on what went wrong before, during and after the Indonesian occupation in 1975.

There has never been any dearth of materials in which students of East Timor's geopolitics can learn about some of the most deplorable acts that took place during the Indonesian occupation of the small territory.

And with the ushering in of the Reform era, any side of the story could be told, or so I thought.

It seems I was wrong. Balibo was banned by the Film Censorship Board on Tuesday, only hours before it was due to be shown in Jakarta and a week before it was to be screened at the Jakarta International Film Festival.

One member of the board said the movie was banned because it discredits Indonesia.

A military spokesman stated that screening the film would only hurt many Indonesians.

I am not quite sure which Indonesians he was referring to. But I suspect that he means the members of the military who perished in the territory subjugating the resistance movement, as well as some of those who did not.

This is an echo of the not-so-distant past. The argument that uncovering East Timor's shady past will do the fallen soldiers a disservice was the stance of the Indonesian generals when they opposed then president Habibie's decision to grant the East Timorese a referendum in 1999.

Or maybe the authorities are concerned about the less-than-flattering portrayal of the Indonesian side, without considering that audiences no longer take depictions at face value only.

Critics said the film provides simplistic portrayals of the "bad" Indonesians, in the form of the invading forces, and the good East Timorese. But when Michael Moore made a documentary on capitalism, could we really assume that a liberal such as he would paint a rosy, or even objective, view of capitalism?

Clint Eastwood did a good job in giving Japanese imperialistic ambitions a more humane face in Letters from Iwo Jima, but at the end of the day, it is a film about American heroism. After all, good Japanese soldiers depicted in the film are the ones who were trained in the United States.

And don't get me started on Michael Bay.

The point is that it would be too much to ask Balibo director Robert Connolly to paint a comprehensive picture of the event, when he was telling the story from the perspective of the journalists who were killed.

For more than 25 years, until East Timor broke away from Indonesia in 1999, the world was presented with the historical account conveniently written by a legion of army historians in Jakarta. The world's great powers apparently turned a blind eye toward the violent occupation of the province.

Australia, not wanting to jeopardize its amiable relationship with its neighbor to the north, officially agreed with the military account of the event, saying that the five journalists died in crossfire.

Deliberately or otherwise, by presenting an independent account of the Balibo incident, the film's producers have taken aim at the long-standing complacency about the deaths in both Indonesia and Australia. It would likely stir debate and raise some questions, but they would be limited in scope. And the ensuing dialogue could have helped bring some closure to the families of the dead journalists almost 35 years later.

But thanks to the ban, the film is making waves. Some Indonesians, who knew next to nothing about the deaths, are now curious to know exactly what happened all those years ago. In all likelihood, Balibo is poised to become another blockbuster, just because we tried to keep it under wraps.


http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/12/06/by-way-a-ban-boomerangs-back-us.html

Committee blighted by parties' political interests: Observers

Major political parties are intensifying closed-door lobbying among themselves and with high-ranking officials in the leadup to the Bank Century inquiry committee during the House of Representatives' recess period.

The committee, chaired by Golkar secretary-general Idrus Marham, will go on a week-long break, and will be back to work on Dec. 14.

Legislators have said that those lobbying, which include the government's coalition bloc and mem-bers of opposition groups, are concerned with the inquiry's exit strategy, including who should be saved and victimized, as well as what the politicians could gain from the government if they followed the design.

A committee member claimed that the parties involved in the lobbying are aiming to predetermine the results of the inquiry so that by the time it begins its first meeting everything would have been settled.

Ahmad Muzani from the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) said that as the major parties had pre-decided the committee chairman even before the formal election was conducted demonstrated backroom deals would determine the results of the inquiry rather than the official meeting.

"If we reflect on the chairman selection process, it is clear that we cannot do anything to go against the government and its large coalition bloc. From the beginning, it's a political compromise, and it will last until the end."

The Democratic Party has expressed its minimum target of getting the President and Vice President Boediono off the hook, with no comment on Finance Minister Sri Mulyani's culpability or lack thereof.

Rescue missions to save Mulyani are reportedly underway, with a group of businesspeople, a political party and supporters on Facebook intensifying efforts to defend the reform-minded minister.

Sources have said that a tycoon was approaching the House's major factions to save Mulyani while in the online world, the rescue mission began with the establishment of a Facebook group named "We Believe in the Integrity of Sri Mulyani".

As of the time of writing, the group had gathered 10,060 members.

On Saturday, the United Development Party (PPP) invited Mulyani to explain the bailout, with the party chairman and Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali stating his party needed more firsthand information about the case.

The Golkar Party aimed at more seats for either the Cabinet or state enterprises, party officials have said.

Party chairman Aburizal Bakrie, who reportedly plans to run for president in 2014, said he would not seek to impeach Yudhoyono and Boediono.

Yudhoyono's other coalition members, which include the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the National Awakening Party (PKB), also looked to strengthen their position against the government through the inquiry move, observers have said.

Burhanuddin Muhtadi from the Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI) said that all political parties, pro-government or opposition, knew about each other's dirty laundry.

As a number of high-ranking PDI-P figures are tangled in graft cases. Burhanuddin said such a condition would eventually cause PDI-P legislators at the committee to succumb to their party's political bargaining interests.

The PDI-P's Gayus Lumbuun, however, said that his party would work seriously, even if it were waylaid by its members' legal problems.



Mulyani, Boediono, may have been “ridden” in bailout policy: former minister


Former state SOE minister Sofyan Djalil said Monday that Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Idrawati and former Bank Indonesia governor (now Vice President) Boediono might have not realized that the decision to bail out Bank Century had been “pushed by ghost riders” although the policy itself was imposed based on goodwill.

“There is no policy without risk, same goes for the Bank Century bailout. But then it appeared that the bailout was undertaken due to pressure from third parties,” Sofyan told a discussion.

He was referring to some parties who allegedly needed the government to inject the Rp 6.76 trillion (US$716.56 million) bailout in order to save the money of the bank’s big depositors.
Sofyan said the bailout policy making was okay as long as it was supported by sufficient data and based on good faith.

“Whether there were ‘ghost riders’ behind the policy or not, it is a separate issue. If they really exist, please, law enforcers investigate it,” he said, refusing to elaborate who the “ghost riders” might be.

Critics have called for Mulyani and Boediono to step down because the two are considered as the policy makers responsible for the bailout.

Sofyan said that such efforts were too extreme and counterproductive.

Sofyan said he was afraid that if every big policy was slammed by political moves, even if it was legally safe, many legislators would be hesitant to make quick and strategic decisions. “The country may become stagnant if this happen,” he said.

Sofyan surprised observers when suddenly made public his thoughts on the scandal. Sofyan had kept out of the media since he left office in October, despite the explosive scandal.

“It was my personal opinion,” he said, referring to his statement which was in favor of Mulyani.

When asked why he had not talked to media earlier, Sofyan said, “Because Pak Erry just called me yesterday, asking me if I could [enter the] discussion,” referring to former Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) deputy chairman Erry Riyana Hardjapamekas.

Rumors have circulated that Erry has begun rounding up experts and public figures to spread opinion to the public in favor of Mulyani.


http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/12/07/mulyani-boediono-may-have-been-%E2%80%9Cridden%E2%80%9D-bailout-policy-former-minister.html

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Indonesian CPO controls 14.37 percent of world market


Indonesia`s crude palm oil (CPO) production which last year reached 19 million tons now controls 14.37 percent of the world`s vegetable oils` market, a minister said.

"CPO accounts for 33.6 percent of the world`s eight main vegetable oils, and Indonesia`s CPO accounts for 14.37 percent," Agriculture Minister Suswono told a palm oil conference and outlook 2010 here on Wednesday.

He said that Indonesia`s CPO controlled 44.7 percent of the world`s CPO market with a total exports last of 12.29 million tons.

Together with Malaysia, the minister said, Indonesia controlled 85 percent of the world`s CPO market.

"This year, Indonesia`s CPO exports are expected to reach over 14.2 million tons," the minister said.

The estimate of this year`s CPO exports is higher than that exported last year which stood at 11.2 million tons, Suswono said.

He said that this year, Indonesia`s CPO production was also expected to exceed 20 million tons from a total plantation area of seven million hectares.

In the international conference which was attended by representatives from various countries, the minister said that the role of CPO in Indonesia`s economy was very significant so that the government was committed to developing CPO industries from upstream to down steam.

"There are many external challenges in developing CPO industries, among others, the accusation that Indonesia destroy their forests and let fauna be extinct," he said.

However, Indonesia and other countries in the world are committed to carrying out sustainable CPO industrial development by doing their best to meet the world requirements through the Roundtable Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), he said.

Besides, the minister said, the government will also develop CPO down stream industries in an effort to increase the commodity`s added values and create more jobs for the people.


http://www.antara.co.id/en/news/1259737775/indonesian-cpo-controls-1437-percent-of-world-market
 
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