President asks govt agencies to implement budgets promptly

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has reminded all administrative authorities to implement their work programs in 2010 and not to postpone implementation of their budgets.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono made the statement here on Tuesday when handing over a List of Approved Projects (DIPA) 2010 to ministries and departments as well as regional administrations.

All regulations on budget disbursement and policies on goods and services procurement were available, the head of state said.

Therefore, there was no excuse for postponing the implementation of budgets, he said.

The head of state presented the DIPAs from the 2010 State Budget at the State Palace at a ceremony attended by Vice President Boediono, all cabinet ministers and 33 provincial governors from across the country.

The government is expected to allocate funds from the 2010 State Budget amounting to Rp1,047.7 trillion or 15.5 percent of the Gross Domestic Product.

The allocation of state budget funds for the central government is estimated at Rp725.2 trillion or 12.1 percent from the state budget, or up Rp79.8 trillion or 12.4 percent from Rp645.4 trillion in the 2009 state budget.

"The larger state budget should be spent as best as possible for the improvement of the people`s welfare," the president said.

Among government institutions and ministries receiving the largest amounts of DIPA funds totaling Rp340.1 trillion were the defense ministry (Rp42.3 trillion), the national education ministry (Rp55.2 trillion), the public works ministry (Rp34.8 trillion) , the religious affairs ministry (Rp27.2 trillion), the national police (Rp27.2 trillion) and the health ministry (Rp21.4 trillion). The transportation ministry (Rp15.8 trillion).

The president on the occasion presented DIPA funds to National Education Minister M Nuh for the 2010 budget for national education, and to Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro and Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati as the state`s general treasurer.

The 33 governors would also receive DIPA funds from President Yudhoyono for their 2010 regional budgets.(*)


Source :
http://www.antara.co.id/en/news/1262733478/president-asks-govt-agencies-to-implement-budgets-promptly
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Insight: Gus Dur, his cultural legacy lives on

Indonesia saw out the year 2009 with unexpected sadness in the passing of one of the country’s most valuable individuals: Abdurrahman “Gus Dur” Wahid.
He was the nation’s fourth president after Sukarno, Soeharto and B.J. Habibie. But he was the first to be elected in a post-authoritarian system of government.
In 1998, socioeconomic and political crises forced Soeharto to resign from the presidency he had occupied for more than three decades.
His vice president, Habibie, then took over for less than two years. In 1999 the People’s Consultative Assembly favored Gus Dur over Megawati Soekarnoputri to lead the country. Regardless of his physical limitations, he was considered the only person who could heal the country and unite the fragmented parties. Ironically, after less than two full years, his presidency was nullified and handed over by the Assembly to his vice president, Megawati.
It is important to note, however, that Gus Dur would not be remembered more as Indonesia’s fourth president. Instead, our reminiscence of him centers on the very fact that he was a man, an extraordinary one in fact, who dedicated himself to tolerance, pluralism, democracy and respect for human rights.
He might have failed as a president, yet he thrived as an ardent advocate of these important and fundamental issues. And because of that, he will be missed most as a person who others — regardless of socio-religious affiliation or ethnic origin — could lean on and turn to in their agonized as well as frustrating moments.
For Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), the largest Islamic organization in the country, he will be remembered more as an activist who guided the institution into modernity — in the truest sense of the word. In this organization, he deserved to be put on a par with Hasyim Asy’ari and Idham Chalid. The former was the NU founder and also Gus Dur’s grandfather. The latter was one of NU’s most well-known politicians, who led the organizations for decades.
Gus Dur entered Indonesia’s socio-religious and political limelight in the 1970s. As a leader at his grandfather’s Islamic boarding school in Jombang, East Java, he quickly impressed many Jakarta-based NGO activists. Though one should not forget that after all Gus Dur also spent his early years in Jakarta — given that his father, Wachid Hasyim, was a notable statesman and former minister of religious affairs.
Dawam Rahardjo, Adi Sasono, Utomo Dananjaya, the late Eky Syachruddin and Tawang Alun were among the earliest to regard him as a colleague. Having known him for several years, they were among his strongest supporters in his bid to be the NU head.
With Nurcholish Madjid joining his ranks, in 1980 Gus Dur succeeded Idham Chalid as chairman of NU.
He stayed at the helm of the organization for 15 years, successfully transforming it into a strong civil society institution.
It was during this time that Gus Dur also became a regular contributor for many media outlets.
Tempo, Kompas and Prisma were among his favorites. His interests were wide-ranging, but he was very keen to address the issue of Islam-state relations. Many misunderstood him as a proponent of secularism. Had they read him more carefully, they would know that he only wanted to place Islam in the context of Indonesia — culturally and politically.
This was where his idea of indigenization came in. In his view there is no need to put Islam culturally in the context of its origin, Saudi Arabia.
In Indonesia, Islam would thrive and make no discordance if it developed in the country’s socio-cultural context. Because of that, it is incumbent upon Islam to accept pluralism and accommodate indigenous and local cultures. Islam should also serve as a complementary factor in Indonesia’s socio-cultural and political life.
It was in this regard that once he posed the rhetorical question, “Why must we use the Arab word shalat [or pray] if the Indonesian term sembahyang is no less true [than the former in meaning]?”
And on another occasion he argued for the socio-cultural comparability of the Arabic “Assalamualaikum” with local greetings such as “Selamat pagi”.
These viewpoints became controversial only because many did not grasp the noble intention behind them.
Indonesians, whether in agreement with his ideas or otherwise, will likely remember Gus Dur in this context. They will miss him most for his viewpoints, controversial though they may be. With his demise, many will long for a father figure to lend them a hand in times of need and despair. It is very unlikely that they will see him in the context of the shortest period of his history — as the fourth president of the Republic of Indonesia.

by : Bactiar Effendy


Source :
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/01/05/insight-gus-dur-his-cultural-legacy-lives.html
http://anakbangsa69.files.wordpress.com/2008/06/gusdur-senyum1.jpg

160 Thousand Indonesian Children Infected with HIV / AIDS

National AIDS Commission (KPAN) recorded about 160 thousand children in Indonesia are under 15 years of age infected with HIV / AIDS. Most of these children have HIV / AIDS from parents.

KPAN Secretary Nafsiah Mboi said KPAN with several pediatricians in Indonesia now is trying to do therapy on children with HIV / AIDS including the provision of drug seeking HIV / AIDS or antiretroviral (ARV) special children, although antiretroviral drugs in children is still imported from India.

According Nafsiah, the government is also now being sought to provide prevention services HIV / AIDS transmission from mother to child. "Starting this 2009 more and more hospitals and doctors can take steps to prevent from parents to the baby," he said.

He acknowledged the stigma and discrimination also still occur in health institutions, although patients with HIV / AIDS are children. According to him, the future need for an HIV / AIDS is more focused on children and adolescents.

Sekatenan in Yogyakarta

Sekaten is a preliminary ceremony of the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad in the environment of Yogyakarta Palace and Surakarta (Solo). In addition to commemorating the birthday of Prophet Muhammad, sekaten also used by the King / Sultan to communicate with people and to give thanks to God's blessing.

Sekaten also often regarded as the People's Party. Sekaten Night Market is a local tour event whose existence was so eagerly awaited by the people of Yogya and Solo.

Usually one week before the closing, Kanjeng gamelan Kyai Kyai Gunturmadu and Kanjeng Nogowilogo removed from its storage place in Sri Manganti to be placed in the ward and then transferred to Ponconiti grand mosque yard with a convoy of abdi dalem (court officials) to be sounded every day except Friday . Another requirement is to eat betel nginang alias believed to make a young, red egg aka abang egg as a symbol of life, there is also sego tasty (rice uduk) is interpreted as a request that the upcoming crops succeed, then there is also whips (whips ) which means to try.

At the closing ceremony Sekaten, gamelan will be drawn back into the palace accompanied by courtiers. as the climax of the sekaten "grebegan". where there will be 4 "mountain" (a pile of food that resembles a mountain) which will be distributed to the people who believed to bring fortune.

At the end of the procession will appear 4 mountains (Mount Kakung, Estri, Gepak and Pawuhan), where the mountains are brought from the palace and will be a bone of contention residents. Previously, 1 mountain (kakung) brought to the area accompanied by a bodyguard Pakualaman elephants and other troops for grabs people. The other 3 mountains will be brought to the mosque gedhe as an offering to the people of Yogyakarta. There is a myth that says that when he got the blessing mountain will come to us. So that people would expect a blessing to scavenge the rest of the mountain that is not drawn.

Long before the "core", the local authorities have warned people who crowded and jostled for the order. Even been warned that his mountain fighting after the prayer offered. However, when entering the mosque gedhe Mount community has urged for progress. Whereas the existence of these mountains are still outside the mosque complex. But it often happens even totally out of control, before the prayer over the people's fight for hope Mount blessing.

SBY eyes 6.6% average annual growth rate

Indonesia’s economy may grow by an average annual rate of 6.6 percent over the next five years and reach 7 percent by the end of 2014, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said at the opening of the first trading day in 2010 of the Indonesia Stock Exchange.
In his second five-year term Yudhoyono plans by 2014 to have the unemployment rate fall to between 5 and 6 percent from 8 percent currently, and to reduce the poverty rate to between 8 and 10 percent from 14.2 percent.
Yudhoyono said the Indonesian economy showed all the favorable conditions required to attain 7 percent growth by 2014 as long as there was economic and political stability.
A key contributing factor to  economic stability, he said, was to have strong foreign currency reserves.
“We now have only US$65 billion [in foreign currency reserves]. This must be increased in line with our volume of trading,” Yudhoyono said, announcing a target of US$100 billion for currency reserves by 2014.
Yudhoyono also lauded the performance of the IDX in 2009, which had emerged as the second best performer in Asia with a growth of 86.98 percent.
“I really thank and appreciate all the parties who have been working hard last year,” Yudhoyono said, following  which he pressed the button to start this year’s  trading.
The IDX is expected to be among the markets that will remain bullish this year due to the country’s strong economic fundamentals at a time when many economies are still suffering from recession.
The IDX closed the day with a rise of 41.06 points or 1.6 percent to stand at 2,575.41, the steepest increase since Nov.16, Bloomberg reported.
Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said that stock market positive performance was achieved due to the government’s responsive actions to cushion the impacts of the global economic downturn.
Mulyani said the government’s measures in handling the crisis last year had succeeded in maintaining market confidence.
“As a result, we experienced a stable economy in 2009 which placed Indonesia as one of the very few countries in the world which were able to post positive growth despite the [global] crisis,” she said.
Indonesian economic conditions are stabilizing after the market collapse and turbulence as a result of the global financial crisis, which reached its peak by the end of 2008. The inflation rate in 2009 reached 2.78 percent year-on-year in December, the lowest inflation rate in a decade, while the rupiah remained stable at between Rp 9,400 and Rp 9,600 to the US dollar.
Low inflation may give the BI room to keep its benchmark interest rate at a record-low 6.5 percent when policy makers meet on Wednesday.
Chatib Basri, an adviser to the finance minister said the inflation rate was likely to reach 6 to 7 percent in 2010 assuming the rupiah remained stable at 9,800 to the dollar.
The economy would receive a boost from the expected rebound in exports which were expected to recover from a 15 percent fall in 2009 by the middle of the year, he said.
“Exports have begun to recover but still at a slow pace. The global economic crisis has eased but it will take time to impact on investment and export rates,” Chatib said.
Unlike exports, the investment rate has already regained ground and demonstrated positive growth.
“Investment is already going up, albeit slowly,” he said.

Source : 
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2010/01/05/sby-eyes-66-average-annual-growth-rate.html

Aceh Sharia forbids Chinese dance of the lions

Indonesians of Chinese descent are in revolt against the decision of the

Religious Affairs Office of Aceh, which has banned the popular barongsay(the dance of the lions, ed) during the commemorations of the fifth anniversary of the tsunami. The authorities explain that it is clearly extraneous to local culture and they want to "maintain religious harmony." The descendants of the Chinese replicate by describing the decision as "ridiculous".

Kim, an Indonesian of Chinese descent in North Jakarta, speaks of a "ridiculous and shameful" decision, in open violation of the five basic principles (the Pancasila) that "ensure full respect for cultural diversity." They are the five pillars of secular nationalism, on which the country has built its history since independence in 1945. "The decision to ban the barongsay - he adds - humiliates the various ethnic groups in Indonesia, including the Chinese people of Aceh."

The dance of the lions (pictured) was in program for 26 December next, the fifth anniversary of the tsunami tragedy, which caused hundreds of casualties among the Chinese community in Aceh. Groups coming from the province of North Sumatra were also to have attended the ceremony.

A. Rahman TB, an official of the Religious Affairs Office of Aceh - the most fundamentalist province of the country, where Islamic law is in force - justifies the decision stressing that the dance "has never been represented before” and the desire to maintain" religious harmony among the Muslims of Aceh and other ethnic groups in the province".

"It's stupid" replies Martini, a woman of Chinese origin who lives in Jakarta, based on "completely unfounded reasons". The Chinese community states that thebarongsay has"no religious character”, but is only a" cultural show ". Finally they add that they received all necessary permits from local authorities, including a police permit.

The Chinese community in Indonesia suffered harsh repression during the dictatorship of General Suharto (1967 - 1998). He had imposed a ban on all traditional cultural expressions, including the characters, language and dance of the lions. According to the dictator, the leaders of the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) were responsible for the massacre of a group of army generals in 1965. The ban ordered by Suharto was removed in 2000 by his successor, Abdurrahman Wahid, "Gus Dur", who granted greater autonomy and freedom.

The hostility toward the Chinese ethnic community is also caused by economic reasons. Merchants, bankers, industrialists, they have long controlled the national economy. Moreover, the Chinese – once majority Buddhist – are now increasingly converted to Christianity and have become an ideal target for Islamic fundamentalist fringes in the country.

http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=17172&size=A

Inadequate Hospital Services To The Poor

Prism of the cases experienced by the complaining Prita Mulyasari hospital service level OMNI International, we consider the following a report released by the Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW). Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) said, some hospitals, both government and private sector are still not being friendly to people and the poor patients.

ICW concluded that based on ICW survey conducted in November 2009, which took a sample of 738 poor patients. Samples taken from the patients who holds the Community Health Insurance card (Jamkesmas), Family Poverty (Gakin), and Letter Description Not Able (SKTM). The patient was treated in 23 hospitals scattered and located in Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, and Bekasi.

The patients complained of bad service is a nurse, doctor visits at least in-patients, and duration of the services performed by health personnel (pharmacists and laboratory personnel). patients also complained about the poor quality of toilets, beds, food and the complexity of patient administration and management of high drug prices.

The survey shows, among others as much as 65.4 percent of female patients who undergo inpatient nurses complained of being less friendly and sympathetic to them.patients also complained about the management of complex valued administration (28.4 percent) and has a long queue (46.9 percent). On average, the time management of the administration for one patient could spend as much time as 1 hour 45 minutes.

Hospitals should improve the quality of services to poor patients by increasing the doctor's visit, friendly nurses, health service speed, and increasing the quality of infrastructure facilities and hospitals. In addition, hospitals also must communicate information about patient rights standards related to hospital services, and complaints mechanisms open / complaints and follow up on these complaints in a transparent and accountable according to article 36 and 37 of Law No. 25/2009 on Public Service.