Indonesia News Blog

Citi names new transaction head for Indonesia

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 00:01:00 +0000

Citi has appointed Sanjeev Jain as its new head of global transaction services (GTS) for Indonesia. Jain joined Citi in 1998 and was previously GTS regional head of public sector for Asia-Pacific, responsible for structuring solutions, deepening relationships, developing strategic partnerships with the bank’s public sector clients and driving the sales strategy for the public sector client base. He has also been regional corporate payments head and held other key roles in Citi’s cash management and trade businesses in India.

In his new role, Jain is based in Jakarta and reports to Tigor Siahaan, managing director and chief country officer for Citi in Indonesia, and Anthony Nappi, managing director and regional head of GTS for Asia-Pacific.

“Indonesia is a vital part of Citi’s franchise and global transaction services growth strategy in Asia-Pacific,” said Nappi. “Having proven his leadership capabilities both as regional head of public sector and as regional corporate payments head, I am confident Sanjeev will build on our business’s success in Indonesia and take the business to new heights.”

Indonesia awards BP new exploration contracts

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:56:00 +0000

The Indonesian government has awarded BP two oil and gas production sharing contracts (PSCs) for 100 percent interest in the offshore West Aru I and II PSCs in the Arafura Sea, Indonesia.

"In the past two years BP has deepened its position in Indonesia through access to four coalbed methane PSCs in Kalimantan and three conventional gas blocks in Papua," said William Lin, BP's Regional President for Asia Pacific. "These two new blocks are strong additions to this portfolio and will benefit from BP's expertise in deepwater exploration.

"We appreciate the continued support and confidence of the Government of Indonesia," he said.

The West Aru I and II PSCs are located approximately 500 kilometres southwest of the BP-operated North Arafura PSC and 200 km west of the Aru island group, in the Maluku province of Indonesia.

The West Aru I PSC covers an area of approximately 8,100 square kilometres and the West Aru II PSC covers an area of approximately 8,300 square kilometres.

The two blocks have water depths ranging between 200 metres and 2,500 metres. BP expects to commence seismic operations in these blocks in the near future.

ENI WINS NEW EXPLORATION CONTRACTS IN INDONESIA

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 09:46:00 +0000

ENI Indonesia has won two new inshore and offshore production-sharing exploration contracts in eastern Indonesia.
In Papua West Province (Eastern Indonesia), Eni won the complete contract for Arguni (5386 square km), in the onshore and offshore Bintuni basin. The block is located 10 km east of the Tangguh LNG plant. The work programme includes 2D and 3D seismic surveys and the drilling of two wells in the first three years of exploration.
In the eastern offshore of Kalimantan province, in the Kutei Basin, ENI, as part of a consortium with Niko Resources (North Ganal) Ltd, North Ganal Energy Ltd (a wholly owned subsidiary of Black Platinum Energy Ltd), Statoil Indonesia North Ganal AS and GDF SUEZ, has won the North Ganal contract block (2432 square kilometres), of which Eni will be the operator. The North Ganal Block is adjacent to the discoveries at Jangkrik and Jangkrik North East. The North Ganal agreement involves drilling a well and the performance of 200 km of 2D seismic surveys in the first three years of exploration. The Bontang LNG plant is located about 80 km west of the North Ganal area. As operator of the Muara Bakau contract, ENI presented a development plan for the Jangkrik field to the Indonesian authorities. This should be operational in 2015, thanks to a rapid development plan. GDF SUEZ is ENI's partner in the joint venture. . .

40% of foreign workers in Taiwan from Indonesia

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 03:37:00 +0000

Indonesians make up the majority of foreign workers in Taiwan — up to 40 per cent of the record number of 420,0931 people reported last month — the Council of labour Affairs (CLA) said Sunday.

The high of 172,000 Indonesians working in Taiwan is followed by the Vietnamese, at 93,000; Filipinos come in at number three with 82,000 foreign hires while Thai workers round up to 72,000.

Whereas Filipinos and Thais used to dominate Taiwan's foreign worker market in earlier years, the CLA said several factors had influenced the shift in worker nationality. The rapidly aging Taiwanese population saw the number of foreign hires working in social services as nursing personnel increase in tandem. The result is an influx of Indonesian and Vietnamese workers, who appear to specialise in the social service sector.

Indonesian workers are largely represented in both nursing and manufacturing services, causing the collective number of emigrant workers from Indonesia to soar to the top; of the 194,000 total foreign hires as nursing personnel, an overwhelming 75 per cent (14,4000 people) come from Indonesia.

The CLA said the decline of foreign workers from Thailand can be traced to the country's rapid economic growth, which in recent years created many jobs domestically and diminished the need for Thais to seek employment overseas.

Cold Lava Flood Strikes From Indonesia's Mount Merapi

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 03:09:00 +0000

A cold lava flood has flowed from Indonesia's Mount Merapi on Sunday, hitting Jurang Jero village of Magelang regency of Central Java province, reported China's Xinhua news agency.

Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, head of the Data Center, Information and Public Relation at the National Agency of Disaster Management (BNPB) said that the cold lava flood was triggered by heavy rainfall on the top of the volcano.

In a statement, he said that there were no casualties reported during the flood that hit at 14:15 local time (0714 GMT). Only two trucks used to mine volcanic sand were washed away by the flood.

He added that the authorities and volunteers has faced difficulty to search and rescue due to strong flood current

In a statement, Sutopo said only two trucks used to mine volcanic sand were carried by the flood, and authorities and volunteers has faced difficulty to evacuate the trucks due to strong flood currents.

As much as 90 million meter cubics of cold lava are threatening people living around Mount Merapi that erupted in 2010

China rebuffs US pressure

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 03:24:00 +0000

China pushed back yesterday against a week of US pressure to resolve a rancorous dispute over territorial claims in the South China Sea, a crucial, mineral-rich commercial shipping lane at the heart of growing tensions among Asian leaders.
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao chastised President Barack Obama for raising the issue during an Asia-Pacific leaders summit, hours after Obama told Wen the US wants the sea lanes kept open and peaceful, capping two weeks of Sino-US tensions.
Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei all have claims to parts of the sea lanes, while China claims large parts of the region, which might hold rich deposits of oil and gas.
Obama ended a nine-day trip with a meeting with Wen where, according to US officials, he raised US concerns over festering economic issues such as China’s currency policy, after huddling with Asian leaders in a concerted effort to court the world’s fastest-growing region.
US lawmakers have long argued Beijing keeps the value of the yuan down to help drive the country’s exports engine, a stance they say costs American jobs.
Wen defended Beijing’s currency stance, stressing that from late September to early November, offshore foreign exchange markets showed “expectations of a depreciation in the renminbi exchange rate” and that China will also strengthen the renminbi’s trading flexibility in either direction, without elaborating.
But it was Obama’s comments on the South China Sea, a possible flashpoint in Asia, that drew Beijing’s ire.
Wen said the South China Sea issue should be resolved directly among related sovereign countries “through friendly consultation and negotiation”, state-owned news agency Xinhua reported, a comment that suggests US exclusion from the dispute.
He added that the East Asia Summit on the Indonesian island of Bali, where Obama met with 17 Asia-Pacific leaders in three days of talks, was not “a proper occasion” to discuss the issue.
Still, a briefing by a US official said 16 leaders present at the summit addressed maritime security. Indeed, the bulk of the discussions were a “very robust” conversation on maritime security and the South China Sea, the official said.
“The Chinese will come away from the meeting believing that a heavy-handed approach on the south china sea will backfire badly,” said the official.
But Xinhua, in an English language commentary, warned that “any attempt by outside forces to internationalise the issue will only make it more complicated and undermine peace and stability in the region”, in a veiled reference to the US.
Tensions flared earlier this year with often tense maritime stand-offs in the sea that carries some $5tn a year in world trade. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton earlier this week warned claimants against using intimidation to back their claims, an indirect reference to China.
An Australian think tank warned in June that risk-taking behaviour of the Chinese military, the resource needs of the fast-growing economy and its greater assertiveness raised tensions and could spark a conflict that could draw in the US and other powers.
China wants to hold bilateral talks with other countries that claim parts of the South China Sea as their territory, but the Southeast Asian claimants, the US and Japan are pushing for a multilateral approach.
The US had been “quite direct with the Chinese about our strategy”, said Tom Donilon, Obama’s top national security adviser.
Beijing understood that Washington was serious about sustaining a more active presence in the region to help its stability and peace, he said.
“Our partners and allies look to us for that reassurance. They want to know that the US is going to play the role it has played with respect to security and reassurance and balancing and stability here,” he said.
Still, he said Washington was pursuing deep engagement with China to manage a range of US-Chinese issues.
“We have a very complicated and quite substantial relationship with China across the board,” he said, adding that while the US does have “economic issues” with Beijing, “our relationship with China has in the main been productive and constructive”.
The summit capped two weeks of a hard diplomatic push by Obama to reassert America’s footprint in the Asia Pacific, which will fuel China’s fear of being encircled, or contained by the US and its allies.
However, Obama on Thursday acknowledged China’s unease, pledging to seek greater co-operation with Beijing. And Clinton told America’s ABC television: “It’s not about countering anybody else’s power. It’s about asserting our own position as a Pacific power.”

Indonesia Not in A Hurry to Join Obama's Trans Pacific Partnership: SBY

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 03:14:00 +0000

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Indonesia would not as yet join the Trans Pacific Partnership free trade cooperation (TPP) scheme initiated by the US.

"If I were asked about Indonesia’s position, I will say we choose not to be in a hurry to join the TPP," he said at a press conference at the end of the 19th ASEAN Summit and the 6th East Asia Summit here on Saturday.

He said the TPP issue was discussed intensively at recent world meetings such as the APEC Summit in Honolulu and the G-20 meeting in France but not at the ASEAN Summit, the ASEAN Plus Summit and the East Asia Summit here in Bali.

He stated the TPP actually was not binding on ASEAN members. "ASEAN as an entity can indeed cooperate with non-ASEAN countries in the Pacific region. But Indonesia still needs to study the TPP scheme and weigh carefully whether joining it will benefit our real sector," he said.

US President Barack Obama at the APEC Summit in Honolulu on Nov 11 formally called on countries in the region to join the TPP. The TPP was initiated by nine countries, four of which are members of ASEAN, namely Brunei Darussalam, Singapore, Malaysia and Vietnam.

President Yudhoyono said before joining any international cooperation scheme, Indonesia always must see if it would benefit trade, investment and employment. "If it has done all that and concluded it will bring benefit, we will say ’okay, we will join TPP’."

Trade Minister Gita Wirjawan had earlier also said that Indonesia would not join TPP yet because it was not yet ready and it would take time before it would do so. So far Indonesia has not yet been able to measure if the TPP would benefit Indonesia.

In principle Gita said Indonesia had already taken a stand and voiced it although the call was made by a big country. He said achieving a certain degree of competitiveness would take quite a long time because Indonesia was not like advanced countries that had started industrializing 200 years ago.

The chairman of the Indonesian Employers Association, Sofjan Wanandi, had said Indonesia still needed a ’lot of homework’ before it could decide whether or not it would join the TPP.

"We must first eliminate all of our domestic economic obstacles before we can open our market completely. If Indonesia was not yet ready for TPP, it should not join although it was proposed by the US."

President Yudhoyono receives UN award

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 13:20:00 +0000

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on behalf of Indonesian people received "Global Champion of Disaster Risk Reduction" award from the United Nations on Saturday.

"On behalf of Indonesian people, I am very honored to receive this award," President Yudhoyono said when the award was presented to him by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon in a ceremony at Bali International Convention Center (BICC) in Nusa Dua, Bali.

The Indonesian head of state said the Global Champion of Disaster Risk Reduction award was as a recognition of the determination and hard work of all Indonesians in responding to the challenges of natural disasters.

According to the president, Indonesia was the most vulnerable country to natural disasters, and therefore coping with disasters has become deeply implanted in the national mindset.

After receiving the award from the UN chief, President Yudhoyono asserted that Indonesia would continually strive to minimize the impact of any disaster.

The president expressed hope that Indonesia would continue to do its best and to develop cooperation with the United Nations.

In the ceremony, attended by among others Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto, Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono, and Coordinating Minister for Economy Hatta Rajasa, Ban Ki-Moon said President Yudhoyono deserved the Global Champion of Disaster Risk Reduction award because of his outstanding leadership.

Regionally, Indonesia has spearheaded various initiatives for disaster preparedness, such as joint regional exercises and adopting early warning system.

In Southeast Asia, ASEAN strive to attain common vision of disaster resilient nations by 2015.

At the global level, through the United Nations, Indonesia has fostered greater coordination and cooperation in disaster management.

The award should have been presented to President Yudhoyono in the Global Platform for Disaster Reduction in Geneva, Switzerland, on May 10, 2011, but the head of state was absent and represented by National Agency for Disaster Management (BNPB) Chief Syamsul Maarif.

Gunmen kill Freeport guard, wound 2 men near mine

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 14:44:00 +0000

Police say gunmen killed a mining company guard and wounded two policemen in a patrol car near the large Freeport-McMoRan gold mine in eastern Indonesia.

Papua province police spokesman Col. Wachyono said unidentified gunmen attacked a patrol car carrying the victims Friday from the mining town of Tembagapura to Kuala Kencana.

The guard killed was driving the car. The passengers included another officer and another guard.

The mine in remote Papua is un by a subsidiary of the Phoenix, Arizona-based Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.

Most of the mine's 12,000 workers have been striking since Sept. 15 to demand higher salaries.

Last month, two workers were shot by police trying to control a crowd and three were killed by unidentified gunmen.

Chinese premier makes four-point proposal on ASEAN Plus Three cooperation

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 14:38:00 +0000

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao put forward a four-point proposal Friday on ASEAN Plus Three (10+3) cooperation.

Speaking at the 14th ASEAN Plus Three Summit, Wen lauded the important role of 10+3 cooperation in successfully navigating the international financial crisis, maintaining fairly fast economic growth and financial stability and deepening economic integration in East Asia.

However, East Asian countries, to varying degrees, faced the arduous task of adjusting economic structures, improving people's lives and enhancing the capacity for sustainable development, he said.

In order to enhance cohesion, increase internal growth momentum and deepen cooperation to improve the ability to defuse risks and raise the economic competitiveness of the region, Wen proposed taking the following steps:

First, the 10+3 should accelerate trade liberalization and facilitation in East Asia, he said.

China was ready to accelerate the process of building the East Asia Free Trade Area and the Comprehensive Economic Partnership for East Asia in a pragmatic way and looked forward to the support of all parties in this endeavor, Wen said.

Second, the 10+3 needed to raise financial and monetary cooperation to a higher level.

"We should make the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralization more effective and expand its function from crisis rescue to crisis prevention," the Chinese premier said.

The 10+3 should actively promote the building of the Asian Bond Market, facilitate the issuance of local currency-denominated bonds and carry out more research on new areas, such as settlement of regional trade in local currencies, he said.

His third proposal was to increase input in East Asia connectivity to lay the foundation for East Asia integration.

As his fourth point, Wen urged the 10+3 countries to shift the growth model and promote sustainable development in East Asia.

The 10+3 process should enhance cooperation in science and technology, new energy, energy conservation and environmental protection, food security and health, he said.

East Asian cooperation was "at a crucial stage," and it was in the interest of all the 10+3 countries to "uphold ASEAN's centrality, pursue the goal of development, mutual benefit and win-win outcomes and continue to promote East Asian integration with 10+3 as the main vehicle", Wen said.

Other 10+3 state leaders present at the summit were of the opinion the grouping had weathered the tests of the international financial crisis, demonstrating its enormous vitality as well as a broad prospect for its future development.

They voiced the belief the 10+3 countries would boost practical cooperation, implement the consensus they had reached, improve their ability to defuse risks and promote sustainable development so as to benefit all peoples in the region.

Bank Indonesia Wants E-Money Watchdog

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 02:45:00 +0000

As Indonesians increasingly use their cellphones to make purchases and conduct banking transactions, Bank Indonesia is calling for regulators to monitor the industry and guard consumer safety, the central bank said on Thursday.

More mobile-phone operators, from Telkomsel to Indosat and XL Axiata, now allow users to make transactions with their phone credits.

“In theory, this trend is good for the economy,” said Ronald Waas, an accounting and payment director at the central bank. “It boosts bank transactions.”

The problem, he said, is how people tend to think about the transaction.

“I’m concerned about the way people see it,” he said. “[Phone credits] can’t replace money; there is a rigid definition of what we call money.”

“People who make payments with mobile phone credits are bartering. We have to be careful how we should regulate it.”

E-money is not a new concept in Indonesia. Since 2006, banks have offered electronic savings systems that allow customers to transfer money, shop in certain stores and pay for bills, tolls, airport taxes and even parking.

Bank Mandiri, Bank Rakyat Indonesia, Bank Central Asia, Bank Negara Indonesia and Bank Mega have implemented such systems.

The number of e-money users has surged from 400,000 in 2007 to about 11.3 million in August, up 43 percent from a year earlier.

Lion air makes largest ever order from Boeing

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 00:17:00 +0000

The United States has announced a massive order for Boeing jets from Indonesia's largest domestic airline, Lion Air, to be showcased as US President Barack Obama winds up an Asia-Pacific tour.
The sale of 230 short-haul 737 jets, worth $US21.7 billion at list prices, is the largest commercial order in Boeing's history, toppling a previous record set just days ago as the industry taps in to relentless demand in emerging economies.
The order is also a boost for Boeing's efforts to develop a revamped version of its best-selling 737 to compete with a model produced by its European rival Airbus.

The deal from Lion Air, Indonesia's largest private carrier, included orders for 29 Next-Generation 737-900 extended range planes and 201 of Boeing's new 737 MAX, an updated version of its best-selling model.
The company said the 201 orders for the 737 MAX were included in previously announced commitments for 700 of the planes, which are due to enter service in 2017 equipped with fuel-efficient engines.

The Lion Air deal includes options for another 150 aircraft valued at $US14 billion, bringing the potential total value to $US35 billion, although big plane orders tend to come with significant discounts.
Boeing said the Lion Air order, when finalized, would be its largest ever "by both dollar volume and total number of airplanes."
The plane maker said strong customer demand was driving its plans to raise production over the next three years. "As a result of that increase, we will definitely be adding many more jobs," Boeing spokesman Doug Alder Jr. said without giving a specific figure.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/business/world-business/boeing-secures-largest-ever-commercial-order-20111118-1nlxu.html#ixzz1e0m42Avy

SBY launches ASEAN Summit in Indonesian

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 09:46:00 +0000

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono officiated the ASEAN Summit at Nusa Dua, Bali on Thursday at 9 a.m. local time.
"Peaceful greetings and prosperity," President Susilo Yudhoyono said, speaking in Indonesian.
Earlier, the President had highlighted the need for solidarity among ASEAN countries to settle problems in the region using peaceful negotiations.
Indonesia is the chair of ASEAN this year.
The ASEAN Summit and the ensuing gathering of the ASEAN Dialogue Partners will be held from Nov. 17-19, 2011, in Bali.
Indonesia has played host to ASEAN Summits three times: in 1976, 2003 and 2011.

Witchcraft blamed for nails found in girl

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 00:25:00 +0000

Doctors in Indonesia have removed the last of 28 nails found embedded in a three-year-old girl's legs and back in a horrific case some residents and officials blamed on witchcraft.
Doctors in Makassar on Sulawesi island have already removed more than two dozen 10-centimeter rusty nails, broken syringe needles and aluminum rods from the girl's legs before removing a nail lodged dangerously close to her spine.

"The girl is recovering from the operation and is generally in good condition. She is already playing again," the girl's surgeon Kamaruddin said yesterday.

South Sulawesi governor Syahrul Yasin Limpo blames witchcraft.
Doctors said scars on the girl's legs showed the nails were inserted over a six-month period. Her parents deny knowledge of how they got there.

New US military base in Indonesia’s backyard

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 00:16:00 +0000

Indonesia has questioned the motive behind the United States’ move to turn Darwin, the Australian city closest to Indonesia, into a de facto US military base, warning that it could create mistrust among countries in the region.

“What I would hate to see is for the agreement to provoke a reaction and counter-reaction that would create a vicious cycle of tensions and mistrust,” Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa told a press briefing here on Wednesday.

US President Barack Obama and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Wednesday unveiled plans to deepen the US military’s presence in Asia-Pacific, by establishing a US base equipped with 2,500 US marines in Australia’s Northern Territory.

“With my visit to the region, I am making it clear that the United States is stepping up its commitment to the entire Asia-Pacific region,” Obama said in a joint conference with Gillard in Canberra, Reuters reported.

From next year, US troops and aircraft will operate out of Darwin, which is only 820 kilometers from Indonesia, from where they will be able to respond quickly to any humanitarian and security issues in Southeast Asia, where disputes over sovereignty of islands in the South China Sea are causing rising tensions.

“We have been informed by Australia on the matter. We’re not unaware. But it’s very important when a decision of this type is taken that there is transparency for the scenarios being envisaged, and that there is no misunderstanding and tension as a result,” Marty said.

Observers said the US was making a statement aimed at China — that it had a strong military presence in the area.

Hariyadi Wirawan of the University of Indonesia said that the US’ move was untimely and counterproductive when ASEAN, including Indonesia, had been working hard for years to create a more peaceful region.

“We will expect a reaction from China, while ASEAN countries that have problems with China, such as Vietnam and the Philippines, will welcome the move, possibly tearing ASEAN apart,” he said.

Lawmaker T.B. Hasanuddin said the US base in Darwin would create new tensions, and called on Obama to explain his motive to ASEAN.

Four ASEAN countries — Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Vietnam — have territorial disputes in some areas in the South China Sea.

Eight ASEAN heads of state to arrive in Bali

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 09:04:00 +0000

ASEAN heads of state are scheduled to begin arriving in Bali on Wednesday for the 19th ASEAN Summit and the 6th East Asia Summit in Nusa Dua, Bali.
“Eight heads of state are scheduled to arrive today at Ngurah Rai International Airport,” Ngurah Rai Air Force Base commander Lt. Col.Jumarto said Wednesday, as quoted by Antara news agency.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen will be the first to arrive, followed by Brunei Sultan Hasanal Bolkiah, Malaysian Prime Minister Dato Sri Mohammad Najib Tun Abdul Razak and Philippine President Benigno Aquino III.
Laos Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong, Myanmar President Thein Sein, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong would arrive on Wednesday afternoon, Jumarto added.
Jumarto said security would high as the leaders arrived.
“Air patrols are being carried out twice a day,” he added.

Terror warning linked to Abu Omar

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 00:31:00 +0000

Indonesian police have been ordered to look out for possible terrorist attacks in the country after seven terrorism suspects were arrested.

The men are believed to be linked to the alleged terrorist mastermind Abu Omar.

Omar was arrested three months ago in East Kalimantan and he's alleged to have been involved in terrorism plots since the late 1990's.

In raids in the capital Jakarta over the weekend, Indonesian counter-terrorism police arrested seven people and seized a cache of weapons.

They said the weapons; including machine guns were brought into Kalimantan through the Philippines, and were to be used against police stations, an un-identified VIP and possibly a foreign embassy.

Eighteen alleged members of the Abu Omar terrorism cell have been arrested since July and police say they expect more to arrests to come.

Tower Bersama to Buy Indosat Cell Towers

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 06:54:00 +0000

PT Tower Bersama Infrastructure, an Indonesian mobile-phone infrastructure provider, agreed to buy some cellular towers of the country’s largest wireless carrier, PT Indosat, to expand the business.
An exclusive, non-binding agreement was signed today between the two companies, Tower Bersama said in an e-mailed statement without providing details of the transaction. Jakarta- based Indosat was planning to sell about 3,000 towers in a deal that may be worth as much as $500 million, two people with knowledge of the matter told Bloomberg News earlier today.
The transaction will provide Tower Bersama additional assets to expand in Southeast Asia’s biggest economy while Indosat will get more cash that may help provide more services, said Chandra S. Pasaribu, an analyst at PT Danareksa Sekuritas in Jakarta. The tower business accounted for about 20 percent of revenue at the mobile-phone carrier in the first half, according to an April filing by Indosat.
“It should be a win-win solution for both companies,” Pasaribu said by phone from Jakarta. “Whatever the number of towers, Tower Bersama could have a portfolio that could be monetized.”
Indosat shares jumped as much as 3.9 percent to 5,300 rupiah as of 12:07 p.m. in Jakarta trading. Tower Bersama was unchanged.

Bali declaration to define ASEAN`s role after 2015 : official

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 03:28:00 +0000

The Bali Declaration which will be one of the products of the 19th ASEAN Summit starting November 13 is going to be considered as the backbone for ASEAN`S future role in the global community, an Indonesian official said, Representative for ASEAN Ngurah Swajaya said here on Monday.

"It is expected that after being a single community in 2015, ASEAN will play a role as one entity in solving global issues that have become a common concern among the organization;s member states," Ngurah Swajaya, Indonesia`s Representative to ASEAN, said.

Post-disaster management and climate change issues would likely be things of the global concern catching ASEAN`s attention, he said.

He said as the ASEAN chair for 2011, Indonesia had already begun thinking about the organization`s future role after becoming a single community in 2015.

Asked about the exact points to be made in the Bali Declaration, Ngurah said he could not yet reveal them to the public as senior officials from ASEAN member states were still negotiating some of the points.

"But 90 percent of the declaration draft has been finalized," he said.

The senior officials of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) began discussing draft documents including the Bali Declaration to be issued by the 19th Asean Summit at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (BNDCC).

The Asean senior officials meeting (SOM) had taken place on November 13-14 and it was held ahead of the Asean Ministers` Meeting (MM) which will be held on November 15, 2011, the 6th meeting of the Asean Council for Political-Security Community on November 16, and the Asean summit and its related summits on November 17-19.

During the two-day meeting, the Asean senior officials were scheduled to discuss four draft documents which will be produced in the 19th Asean Summit and its related meetings.

The draft documents to be discussed are firstly, the Bali Declaration on the Asean Community in a Global Community of Nations.

Secondly is the Declaration of EAS on the Principles for Mutually Beneficial Relations.

Thirdly the Declaration of EAS on ASEAN Connectivity and the fourth the Joint Declaration on Comprehensive Partnership between ASEAN and the United Nations (UN).

In addition, the Asean senior officials will also talk about the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation, the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea, the Asean Common Visa issue and the annual target of the Asean Community Development

President Yudhoyono meets US business leaders

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 03:27:00 +0000

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono received eight US top businessmen at a breakfast meeting at Hotel Sheraton Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii, Sunday morning local time or Monday morning West Indonesia Time.

The meeting which was closed to the media was attended by among others Freeport McMoran president and CEO Richard Adkerson, Caterpillar Group President Richard Lavin, Emery Konig from Cargill, Deb Henretta from Procter & Gamble, Peter Eggleston from Chevron, President of National Center for APEC Monica Whaley, President & CEO of Underwriters Laboratories Inc. Keith Williams, and Sehat Soehardjo and Wili Dai from Marvell Technology Group Ltd.

President Yudhoyono at the meeting was accompanied by coordinating minister for economic affairs Hatta Radjasa, trade minister Gita Wirjawan, industry minister MS Hidayat and Indonesian ambassador to the US, Dino Patti Djalal.

According to Dino President Yudhoyono and the business leaders only held short talks and listened to some of their plans to continue to do business and conduct new investment in the country.

Among the companies that have expressed their interest to invest in Indonesia but not yet unveiled their detailed plan are Cargill and Caterpillar.

"The others only said that they were postiive towards Indonesia," Dino said.

He said the US business leaders at the meeting expressed their optimism towards the development of business conditions in Indonesia.

"The talks just now were very short. They just expressed their optimism (towards Indonesia)," he said.

After the meeting President Yudhoyono then left for Ihilani Ko Olina Resort to attend the second day of the summit.

At the second day of the meeting the leaders would discuss a declaration to be adopted by 21 APEC member countries.

In his speech before the discussion US President Barack Obama as the host expressed his satisfaction over the progress achieved at the meeting to strengthen regional economic integrity, promote environment-based green economic growth and convergence of regulations in economic cooperation.

Garuda inks deals worth $990m with CFM

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 03:25:00 +0000

Flag carrier Garuda Indonesia and CFM International, an engine supplier and aircraft maintenance provider, inked US$990 million in deals on Sunday to supply the airline with two jet engines and for maintenance work, the airline said in a statement.

Garuda said on Monday that the engines would support the airline’s low-budget airline subsidiary, Citilink, from 2014 to 2018, while the maintenance contract would cover the airline’s Boeing 737-800 NG for up to 15 years.

Garuda president director Emirsyah Satar said the deal was part of the airline’s long-term effort to revitalize its fleet through quality maintenance and efficient operation.

ASEAN+3 to be major channel for East Asia integration: Chinese ambassador

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 09:13:00 +0000

ASEAN Plus China, Japan and Republic of Korea (ROK) (ASEAN+3) should be the major channel for East Asia integration amid the fragile world economic situation, Chinese ambassador to Indonesia Zhang Qiyue said on Monday.
ASEAN+3 share extensive common interests in East Asia integration process and fortifying its major channel status will be conducive to the stability and growth of East Asia, as well as the world, Zhang said in an exclusive written interview with Xinhua.
In recent years, both sides have made great progress in promoting regional integration, as evidenced by deepened cooperation in finance, East Asia free trade zone and food security, she said.
On finance sector, the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralization, a 120-billion-U.S. dollar regional reserve pool to provide emergency liquidity for countries and regions in financial crisis, came into effect in 2010. ASEAN+3 have also set up a macroeconomy research office this year, so they will better monitor regional macroeconomy and ensure the effective implementation of the multilateral currency swap, she said.
On trade, the free trade zones between ASEAN and China, Japan, ROK respectively have boosted the trade and investment growth in the region and two feasibility studies have been finished on establishing the East Asia free trade zone, Zhang said.
The 13 countries (all the ten ASEAN countries and China, Japan, ROK) signed an emergency rice reserve agreement in October, aiming to provide 787,000 tons of rice stock to mitigate the implications of natural disasters on food supply and production. A total of 87, 000 tons will be provided by the ASEAN countries while China, Japan and South Korea will prepare 300,000 tons, 250,000 tons and 150,000 tons respectively.
"The rice reserve is a major step in institutionalizing their food security partnership, helping the East Asian countries to better tackle natural disasters, balance supply and demand as well as strengthening information exchanges," Zhang said.

SBY at APEC Summit: the 21st century belongs to Asia Pacific

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 02:48:00 +0000

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono stated during his speech before the APEC CEO Summit in Honolulu, Hawaii today that the 21st century belongs to the Asia Pacific region.
Yudhoyono added that as a region linking four continents, Asia, Australia and North and South America, the Asia Pacific region could play a significant role in terms of identifying supporting factors for peace and welfare.
“The Asia Pacific region must play significant roles in determining economic growth that is sustainable, balanced and inclusive,” he said Saturday evening in Hawaii, Sunday morning Indonesia time, tempointeraktif.com reported.
He suggested that each country should consolidate their own internal affairs in order to embrace more complex international roles in the future.

Muhammadiyah Bans Smoking

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:11:00 +0000

The country’s second-largest Islamic group has thrown its full weight behind efforts to rid Indonesia of its heavy smoking habit.

After issuing a fatwa in March 2010 to tell its tens of millions of followers that it was religiously unacceptable to light up, Muhammadiyah is now set to declare all of its health and education institutions smoke-free zones.

Muhammadiyah operates some 500 health institutions such as hospitals and clinics, about 15,000 schools from the level of kindergarten to high school and nearly 200 higher education institutions. It also operates 350 orphanages across the country.

“On Monday [today], we are going to launch our nationwide program that, starting now, Muhammadiyah’s offices, enterprises and forums are officially smoke-free areas,” Syafiq A. Mughni, Muhammadiyah’s chairman for health issues, told the Jakarta Globe on Sunday. The campaign will kick off at the Muhammadiyah headquarters in Jakarta.

“This is also meant to protect the young generation from cigarette smoke exposure and to create a healthy living environment,” Syafiq said.

He added that the campaign did not mean Muhammadiyah was telling people to stop smoking or banning tobacco cultivation. “But we want people to smoke in the right place. Not in public facility areas.”

Syafiq, who is a professor at the Sunan Ampel Islamic State Institute (IAIN) in Surabaya, said Muhammadiyah understood there would always be people breaking the rules, but officials would not halt their efforts to enforce the regulation.

When coming out with a fatwa against smoking for its followers last year, Muhammadiyah equated smoking to suicide, something sinful in Islam.

Indonesia hails provisional inclusion of Komodo in new7wonders

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:08:00 +0000

After high-profile efforts to mobilize the Indonesian people`s support and despite a controversy over its participation in the New7Wonders of Nature competition, the Komodo has finally been provisionally shortlisted as one of the winners.

On its official website Friday (Nov 11), the New7Wonders Foundation announced the first count of vote results of the provisional New7Wonders of Nature sites, namely the Amazon, Halong Bay, Iguazu Falls, Jeju Island, Komodo, Puerto Princesa Underground River, and Table Mountain.

The Switzerland-based foundation explained that the provisional New7Wonders of Nature are listed in alphabetical order, not in any position or ranking.

"It is possible that there will be changes between the above provisional winners and the eventual finally confirmed winners," the Foundation said on the website.

The voting calculation is now being checked, validated and independently verified, and the confirmed winners will be announced starting early 2012 during the Official Inauguration ceremonies.

Founded in 1980, Komodo National Park is a home of the endemic Komodo dragon, the world`s only surviving prehistoric giant lizard.

The Park includes the three larger islands Komodo, Rinca and Padar, as well as numerous smaller ones, for a total area of 1,817 square kilometers.

In 1977, Komodo National Park was named a biosphere reserve by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). And in 1991, UNESCO named the island accommodating around 3,000 komodo dragons, a world heritage.

Upon hearing the Foundation`s announcement, Tourism Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said she was very proud that the Komodo National Park has been included in the provisional list of the New World 7 Wonders.

"We , of course, respond to it positively and are proud," she said in Palembang, South Sumatra, which is hosting the 26th SEA Games, on Saturday (Nov 12). A pair of Komodo dragons called "Modo" and "Modi" have been made a mascot of the ongoing SEA (South East Asia) Games.

Although the announcement was still provisional, she said, it had shown that in terms of the votes cast for Komodo, the Indonesian people could be counted upon.

This was what had made the minister proud. It had shown that the Indonesian people were moved to participate in the campaign to have the Komodo included in the New Seven Wonders of Nature list through an a on-line voting system.

"Indonesian people were moved and this proves they have a high sense of nationalism," she said. The Komodo National Park was put on the list of the new seven wonders through a vote done through e-mails and SMS text messages to www.new7wonders. com.

The minister hoped the election of Komodo as one of the new seven wonders of nature would further boost the animal`s image as one of the country`s icons and also increase the country`s popularity in the world.

"Certainly, we at the ministry of tourism and creative economy, have been, will be and are working to further develop the park which has already been recognized by UNESCO," she said.

Mohammad Jusuf Kalla (JK), former vice president who has been named Komodo Ambassador, expressed his happiness about and hailed the inclusion of Komodo in the provisional New7Wonders of Nature.

"Allahmdulillah (Thank God), the result of Komodo as a (provisional) New7Wonders was announced at dawn today ," JK said in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, Saturday.

He said his mission as Komodo Ambassador was not merely taking care of the rare animal, but also dealing with humanitarian issues in NTT in particular and Indonesia in general.

The Komodo dragon was not aware of its inclusion in the New7Wonders of Nature, but the Indonesian people would get the benefit of it because it could boost the tourism industry in NTT and create job opportunities, according to Kalla.

Another official who hailed the announcement regarding Komodo was East Nusa Tenggara Governor Frans Lebu Raya.

"We should like to express our appreciation and respect to the organizing committee which has been able to read the wish of the supporters of one of the 28 finalists of the New7Wonders of Nature," Governor Lebu Raya said here on Saturday.

He said the inclusion of Komodo in the New7Wonders should encourage the people of NTT to create a conducive climate for tourists to visit the province, and Komodo Island in particular.

Sharing borders with Australia and Timor Leste, East Nusa Tenggara Province has a population of around 4.7 million and is one of the country`s poorest regions.

The central government in cooperation with various parties including United Nations (UN) agencies and foreign countries, have been promoting programs to reduce poverty in NTT.

The development of tourism industry is also being boosted to improve the welfare of the people of NTT, which is rich of biodiversity and culture.