Thursday, July 31, 2008
Indonesia Foreign Minister Offers Concepts to End Violence
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda offered concepts from Indonesian perspective to end the violence in conflicts in his keynote address at the third International Conference of Islamic Scholars (ICIS) here Thursday.

President Hosts Public Lecture on Asia's Revival
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Thursday hosted a Presidential Lecturer's function featuring a public lecture on Asia's revival by prominent public policy expert Kishore Mahbubani from Singapore.

Oceans to Take Center Stage at International Climate Conference
The first world conference in Manado next year will address the impact of climate change on oceans and the degradation of marine resources, an official says.

Third TNI Contingent Leaves for Lebanon
A company of Indonesian military police personnel left Thursday for Lebanon to serve under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

Indonesia’s Oil Output Reaches 979,602 bpd
Jakarta, July 31 (ANTARA) - Indonesia’s crude oil and condensate production in the first seven months of 2008 reached an average of 979,602 barrels per day (bpd), the Upstream Oil and Gas Executive Agency (BP Migas) said.

Syafii Maarif Wins 2008 Ramon Magsaysay Award
Former Muhammadiyah chairman Ahmad Syafii Maarif won Thursday the 2008 Ramon Magsaysay Award, Asia's version of the Nobel Price.

Wednesday, July 30, 2008
President: Islamic Countries Must Promote Peace
Jakarta - Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Islamic countries must promote peace and economic building among Muslim countries in the world.

Young Entrepreneurs Asked to Play Greater Role in Energy Sector
Jakarta - Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro asked the country's young businessmen to play a bigger role in the development of the energy, electricity and mining sectors.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008
RI Condemns Deadly Bombings in India, Turkey
Jakarta - The Indonesian government strongly condemns the weekend bombings which claimed 45 lives in the Indian city of Ahmedabad, and 17 in Istambul, Turkey, Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Kristianrto Soeryo Legowo said here on Monday.

RI Loses Critical Economist in the Passing Sjahrir: SBY
Prominent Indonesian economist Sjahrir died in Singapore at 8:50 a.m. on Monday (7:50 a.m in Jakarta) after being treated at Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore almost two weeks for lung cancer.

Indonesia’s Economic Growth Encouraging: Minister
Banda Aceh - Indonesia's economy over the past four years generally grew in an encouraging way, namely at an average of six percent per year, Information Minister Muhammad Nuh said.

Half of Oil, Gas Blocks Offered Fail to Attract Investment
Half of the 21 oil and gas blocks offered by the government last year failed to attract investors due primarily to inaccurate data, unfavorable locations and a lack of technology available to tap the resources, an official says.

Government Considering Scrapping Cost Recovery Scheme
The government is considering eliminating the cost recovery scheme for future oil and gas contracts amid calls for greater transparency in the abuse-prone mechanism.

Indonesia Yet to Quit OPEC Officially: Minister
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia has officially not yet quit the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and will still be a member for the rest of this tear, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Purnomo Yusgianntoro said.

Participants of Islamic International Conference Arrive in Jakarta
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Several Islamic scholars arrived here Tuesday to attend the ICIS (International Conference of Islamic Scholars)III meeting to be held from July 29 - August 1, 2008 at Borobudur Hotel in Jakarta, it was reported here Tuesday.

Monday, July 28, 2008
President: Micro Credit Lessens Impact of Oil, Food Price Hikes
Nusa Dua, Bali Province - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono called for the further development of the government's micro credit programs in order to decrease the number of poor people which was expected to increase as a consequence of the oil and food price hikes.

Government to Lower Assumed Oil Price to $130/Barrel
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The government plans to lower the assumed oil price in the draft 2009 state budget to US$130 a barrel from US$140 a barrel previously.

Government to Streamline Regional Taxation
The central government and the House of Representatives are amending the 2000 Law on Regional Tax and Retribution in an effort to prevent regions from enacting selfish bylaws.

Saturday, July 26, 2008
Indonesia, OECD Agree on 'Enhanced Economic Engagement'
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono agreed Friday to increase cooperation with the Organization of Economic Development (OECD) during a meeting at the presidential office.

Yudhoyono Secures Support of Chinese-Indonesian Group
With the 2009 presidential elections only a year away, a prominent ethnic Chinese community group on Thursday voiced support for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono' administration at a meeting at the State Palace.

Trade Minister: WTO Negotiations not Transparent
Jakarta - Indonesian Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu, who was also acting as coordinator of the Group 33 (G-33), a group of 44 developing countries, said the negotiation process in the WTO (World Trade Organization)'s Doha Development Agenda (DDA) were not transparent and not open.

President: Cultural Approaches Effective Way to Solve Problems in ASEAN
Magelang, C Java - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said he believed the cultural approach conducted by some ASEAN member countries could become an effective way to solve problems arising among them.

Friday, July 25, 2008
RI's Exports Expected to Fall Short of Target Over Global Slowdown
Jakarta - Indonesia's non-oil/non-gas exports are expected to grow 8.98 percent this year, falling short of the target of 13.5 percent due to low demand in export destination countries such as the United States, Europe and Japan, an economist said.

RI Needs More Liberalization: OECD
Indonesia must raise ownership ceilings for foreign investment and liberalize state-owned monopolies to resolve infrastructure bottlenecks, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has said.

Opposition to ASEAN Charter Grows Following Lee's Remarks
The government is facing even stronger opposition to the ratification of the ASEAN Charter, with more factions in the House of Representatives rejecting the charter following remarks by Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

KPU Faces Voter Registration Glitches
With only a few months left before a finalized voter list is announced, the General Elections Commission (KPU) is struggling to overcome registration problems that could lead to invalid voter data in the 2009 elections.

Lampung to Hold 18th Krakatoa Festival 2008
Bandarlampung - Lampung's provincial tourism and cultural office is to organize the 18th Krakatoa Festival from August 23 to 31, 2008.

Thursday, July 24, 2008
U.S. Praises RI-Timor Leste Solution
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday expressed her appreciation over the findings of an joint government investigation into human rights abuses in the former East Timor.

President: Government Seriously Striving to Attain Food Self-Sufficiency
Subang, West Java - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the government was seriously striving to attain food self-sufficiency through various agricultural development programs such as research on hybrid paddy seeds and renovating agricultural infrastructure.

World is Taking ASEAN Seriously: Secretary-General
Despite his busy schedule, ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan recently gave an exclusive interview to The Jakarta Post's journalists Tony Hotland and Kornelius Purba in Singapore. The following are excerpts from the interview.

Minister: Technological Innovations Now Playing Strategic Role in RI's Agriculture
Subang, West Java - Agriculture Minister Anton Apriyantono said technological innovations in the agricultural sector were currently playing a strategic role in increasing food production as the country's farmland area was continuing to shrink.

Banks Planning to Raise Interest Rates on Time Deposits
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Domestic banks are planning to raise their interest rates on time deposits following Bank Indonesia (central bank/BI)`s decision to increase its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 8.75 percent recently, a banker said.

RI Needs $728m in Financial Aid to Fight Climate Change
Indonesia needs at least US$728 million in assistance to address climate change, including dealing with extreme weather events linked to global warming and helping local farmers boost crop production, a report says.

Wednesday, July 23, 2008
RI to Have Additional Potential to Absorb 2.4 Million Tons of Carbon
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia will have an additional potential to absorb 2.4 million tons of carbon if the government is successful in its efforts to mobilize the people to plant 100 million trees by the end of 2008, Forestry Minister MS Kaban said.

Yudhoyono Says Bizmen Must be Able to Create Opportunities
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said businessmen should not only seek but also be able to create opportunities.

No Financial Support From State Enterprises for Political Parties
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - State Enterprises Minister Sofyan Djalil said he was sure state enterprises (BUMNs) would be neutral toward political parties and not give them any financial assistance.

VP Stresses Importance of Human Resources Development
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Vice President M. Jusuf Kalla said the yawning gap of income and technology between developed and developing countries had to do with the question of human resources development.

Pertamina to Increase Fuel Imports to Compensate for Refinery Repairs
State oil and gas company PT Pertamina will raise its fuel imports by 60 percent for a month starting August to compensate for a pause in production at its Cilacap refinery in Central Java.

AGO Finds Corruption is Rife in Postal Firm
The Attorney General's Office (AGO) has found corruption is rife in the state postal company PT Pos Indonesia, even though the company has been made to struggle to survive.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Government Policies Still Consistent with Initial Orientation of Economic Growth, Equality: President
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono says that all government policies are consistent with the government's initial orientation on economic growth, unemployment reduction and poverty reduction.

Government Sets Economic Growth of 6.2 pct for 2009
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The government has set an assumed economic growth rate of 6.2 percent in the 2009 draft state budget (RAPBN) and hoped it could maintain the momentum of domestic economic growth amidst the looming global economic slowdown.

Industries Must Use 5 Pct Biodiesel in 2010
Jakarta - The government would require industries and other commercial establishments to use a minimum of five percent of biodiesel for its fuel oil starting from January 2010.

Analysts Call for Adoption of Oil Windfall Tax
Activists and energy analysts continue to pile pressure on the government to issue a special tax on windfall profits reaped by oil and gas companies.

Government Recommended 2,000 Bylaws to be Canceled
The central government has recommended the cancellation of about 2,000 regional bylaws on tax and retribution, in an attempt to simplify the management of local economy and to create a conducive investment climate, says the finance minister.

Errant Taxpayers to Face Fines, Jail
In a bid to amend the country's drastic ratio of registered tax payers to eligible tax payers, the tax office will impose fines and prison sentences upon those who fail to apply for tax identification numbers (NPWP) by the end of the year.

Monday, July 21, 2008
TNI and US Army Hold Joint Tsunami Respond Exercise
Padang (ANTARA News) - The West Sumatra administration together with the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) and the US Army are holding a joint tsunami response exercise in Padang from July 21 to 25.

RI, U.S. Navies Hold Joint Exercise
The Indonesian Navy and the US Navy began a joint exercise Monday as part of bilateral cooperation, an official said.

Asean FMs Urge Utmost Restraint Amid Thai-Cambodian Border Tensions
Singapore, (ANTARA News) - The Foreign Ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Sunday night urged Thailand and Cambodia to exercise utmost restraint and resolve peacefully their border dispute.

President Can Issue Decree If Amended Constitution Puts State in Jeopardy
Jakarta - The President has the right to issue a decree to save the state, if the implementation of the revised 1945 Constitution may place the state in jeopardy.

Veep Believes State Earning Will Increase by Rp200 Trillion in 2010
Nusa Dua - Vice President Yusuf Kalla believed that the state's earnings would increase by Rp200 trillion in 2010.

Income Tax Overhaul Offers Rate Cuts and Business Incentives
The government and the House of Representatives last week finalized an amendment to the income tax law, which, when enacted next month, will cut taxes and offer incentives to businesses.

Poll Watchdog Questions Minister's Role in Campaign
The General Elections Supervisory Board (Bawaslu) has questioned the attendance of Social Services Minister Bachtiar Chamsyah in a walking event on Sunday, calling it a violation of campaign rules.

Friday, July 18, 2008
President : 2009 Polls Should not Become Source of Public Worry
Medan, North Sumatra - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said he hoped the upcoming general elections would not become a source of public worry and therefore the polls must be carried out in the best way possible.

RI Legislator Condemns Attempts to Arrest Sudan President
Jakarta - Mutammimul Ula, a legislator of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), criticized efforts being made by International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutors to seek an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir for alleged genocide.

Kalla : Golkar Needs to Pursue Special Ways to Win 2009 Polls
Palu - Golkar Chairman M Jusuf Kalla called on regional Golkar Party leaders to change their approaches in seeking the people's sympathy to win the 2009 general elections.

Taxpayer Money to Go to Mudflow Victims
The government will issue a revised presidential regulation to compensate more villages devastated by the Sidoarjo mudflow, with the money to come from the state budget rather than mining company PT Lapindo Brantas Inc.

Women Empowerment, Gender Issues Top Development List
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Thursday reiterated the government's commitment to prioritizing women's empowerment and gender issues in development programs, and called on Indonesian women to develop their potentials.

UN Urges RI Bids in $1.8b Renovation Project
The UN is offering procurement projects valued at up to US$1.8 billion for the renovation of its headquarters in New York -- and urging Indonesian firms to take part.

Thursday, July 17, 2008
Discourse: World Community Should Back RI on CTF Report
The Indonesia-Timor Leste Commission for Truth and Friendship (CTF) on Tuesday submitted a report on the 1999 carnage in East Timor (now Timor Leste) to the presidents of the two countries. The report blamed the Indonesian government, military and police for gross human rights violations during the violence that destroyed East Timor before, during and after the 1999 independence vote. Although Indonesia accepted the report, it refused to launch legal action against the perpetrators. The Jakarta Post's Abdul Khalik talked to Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda after the report's submission in Nusa Dua, Bali, about possible international reactions.

UNESCO Names Indonesia’s "Kris" World Heritage
Denpasar - UNESCO (UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) has named Indonesia's "kris", a wavy-bladed ceremonial dagger, as a world heritage, Neka Ubud Museum director Pande Wayan Suteja Neka said here on Thursday.

Government Seeks Extra Rp 2t in Budget Cushion Amid High Oil Prices
The government and lawmakers are working on accumulating an extra Rp 2 trillion (US$218.98 million) in a budget cushion to anticipate high crude oil prices.

Government Prepares Insurance Scheme for Disasters
The government is preparing a public-private partnership with local insurance firms to help reduce state budget liabilities for damage to infrastructure caused by natural disasters.

Megawati Pleased About Results of Recent Public Opinion Surveys
Jakarta - Indonesian Democracy Party-Struggle (PDIP) leader Megawati Soekarnoputri said she was pleased to learn that a number of public opinion surveys had rated her popularity on top of those of other national figures, including President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

RI Students Grab 5 Gold Medals in HK International Math Contest
Eight elementary school students representing Indonesia in the 12th Po Leng Kuk Elementary International Contest for Math, held in Hong Kong from July 12-15, grabbed five gold medals.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008
RI to Fight for Developing Countries in Doha Talks
Indonesia will next week represent the interests of developing nations in negotiations on the Doha Development Round framework during the upcoming World Trade Organization's (WTO) ministerial meeting.

Golkar Remains Favorite, SBY Less Popular
Golkar and the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) remain the most popular political parties ahead of next year's national elections, while incumbent President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's popularity has dropped below that of predecessor Megawati Soekarnoputri, according to a new survey.

BI Denies Its Intervention Plays More Dominant Role in Rupiah's Rise
Jakarta - Bank Indonesia (the central bank/BI) has denied an allegation that its market intervention is playing a more dominant role than a capital inflow in strengthening the rupiah's exchange rate against the dollar.

Poor Bureaucracy Shackles RI Trade
Indonesia has low tariffs to encourage trade but fails to provide good bureaucratic procedures and law enforcement, a World Bank report says.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008
RI Deplores East Timor Violence
Nusa Dua - Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has expressed his deepest sympathy over the gross human rights violation prior to and after the 1999 referendum in East Timor.

Palestine Conference Ends with Aid Commitments
The Ministerial Conference on Capacity Building for Palestine ended here Monday with nearly 60 countries committing to providing technical assistance to development projects expected to benefit more than 10,000 Palestinians.

Fuel Price Hikes Dent Indonesian President's Re-Election Hopes, Say Opinion Polls
Fuel price rises have further hit the popularity of Indonesia's president, with a new opinion poll Tuesday showing him struggling to win re-election next year.

Foreign Investment in First Half of 2008 Up by 160 pct
Jakarta - Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) M Lutfi said realization of foreign investment in the January-June period this year increased 160 percent to US$6.56 billion.

Semester 1 Investment Grows 56.2 percent
Realized investment in Indonesia grew 56.2 percent in the year's first half compared to in the same period last year, with robust foreign investments offsetting a domestic decline, the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) says.

Monday, July 14, 2008
Yudhoyono : UNSC Membership Must be Changed
Jakarta - Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has said the membership of the UN Security Council (UNSC) should be changed and adjusted with present developments in the world.

President Opens Ministerial Conference on Palestine
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono officially opened the Ministerial Conference on Capacity Building for Palestine organized under the New Asia-Africa Strategic Partnership framework at the State Palace here on Monday.

RI Remains Committed to Supporting Struggles for Sovereign Palestinian State
Jakarta - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has asserted that Indonesia would continue to support the creation of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state in accordance with Annapolis 2007 agreement.

RI President Calls for Concrete Support for Palestine
Jakarta - Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has called on international community to give concrete help and support, instead of merely expressing sympathy, to Palestinians.

House Supports Indonesian Stance on UN Resolution on Zimbabwe
Jakarta - The House of Representatives (DPR)'s Commission I here on Saturday expressed support for the stance of the Indonesian delegation to the United Nations Security Council in abstaining in the vote on a resolution on Zimbabwe.

TNI Chief Ready for Consequences of KPP's Report
Jakarta - National Defense Forces (TNI) Chief Gen Djoko Santoso said he was ready to face the possible consequences, if it was true that the Indonesia-Timor Leste Truth and Friendship Commission (KPP) had declared the TNI institionally responsible for human right violations in East Timor in 1999.

Income Tax on Micro, Small and Medium Businesses Slashed by 50 Percent
The House of Representatives and the government have agreed to reduce income tax tariff by 50 percent of normal tariffs for micro, small and medium businesses which have legal entities.

Indonesia’s June Consumer Confidence the Lowest Since October 2005
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia’s consumer confidence index (IKK) in June 2008 hit the two-and-a-half-year lowest since October 2005 when the government doubled fuel oil prices, according to a consumer survey conducted by Bank Indonesia (BI).

Friday, July 11, 2008
RI's Anti-Money Laundering, Counter Financing of Terrorism Rating Up
The Asia Pacific Group (APG) at the closing of its 11th annual meeting here Friday said Indonesia had improved in its enactment of 49 recommendations of the Anti Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

RI Seen Avoiding Impact of U.S. Slowdown
Indonesia has managed, at least for now, to avoid grave impacts from the U.S. economic slowdown, as it is less dependent on the United States and has diversified its non-oil and gas exports, a report revealed Thursday.

BI Optimistic It Can Control Inflation
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Bank Indonesia (the central bank/BI) said the country’s inflation rate has not reached an alarming level and expressed optimism it can be lowered using the available monetary instruments.

Government to Ask Newmont for Compensation for Failure to Divest
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian government will ask for compensation from PT Newmont Nusa Tenggara (NTT) for state revenue losses suffered due to the company’s failure to divest its shares since 2006, a spokesman said.

Most Political Party Leaders not Known by Public : Poll
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - A poll conducted by the National Survey Institute (LSN) recently has shown that most Indonesians have little knowledge about the leaders of the country`s major political parties.

Study Finds Myanmar, Indonesia, Thailand Face High Risk from Arsenic Contamination
Myanmar's cyclone-devastated Irrawaddy delta and Indonesia's Sumatra island face high risks of arsenic contamination in groundwater that could cause cancer and other diseases in residents, according to a study released Friday.

Thursday, July 10, 2008
RI Stresses Importance of Realizing G-8 Summit Commitment
Toyako, Hokkaido - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono told UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon that the ministers of countries attending a G-8 summit needed to hold a meeting to follow up the commitment their leaders had reached in the G-8 summit here. "The ministers of G-8 countries and eight other nations attending the summit needed to meet to follow up the commitment their leaders have reached in the Hokkaido summit," the president was quoted by his spokesman Dino Patti Djalal as saying here on Wednesday.

Biofuel Use Soon to Become Mandatory
The government will impose a new regulation in October demanding manufacturing companies use at least 2.5 percent biofuel in their fuel consumption to reduce their dependency on fossil fuel.

Constitutional Court Rejects Electoral Threshold Article
The Constitutional Court (MK) on Thursday issued a verdict in favor of seven political parties to review the electoral threshold article in the 2008 Election Law.

House Speaker Worried About Possible Population Explosion
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Failures in the implementation of family planning programs in the country over the past few years have given rise to worries in the House of Representatives (DPR) about the possibility of a population explosion occurring in years to come, the House’s leader said.

KPK Looks Into Report of Missing Oil Revenues
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is examining reports over the alleged misappropriation of oil and gas revenues that may have cost the state some Rp 200 trillion (US$22 billion) in losses.

Government Aims to Free 22,000 Children From Forced Labor
The government hopes to remove as many as 22,000 children from hard labor and provide assistance to 2,000 poor families by 2011, under the second phase of a program launched here Wednesday.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Climber From Indonesia Collapses During Hike on Mount McKinley in U.S.
A hiker from Indonesia hiker has died at Denali National Park, the second person within a week has to collapse and die shortly after successful summits of Mount McKinley, park officials said Tuesday.

Indonesia Now Safe for Foreign Visitors, US Envoy Says
Nusa Dua - Indonesia is now safe for foreign visitors, US ambassador to Indonesia Cameron Hume said here on Wednesday.

UNDP Provides US$15 Million Grant for RI`s General Elections
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as the coordinator of international donors is providing a US$15 million grant for Indonesia’s General Election Commission (KPU) through the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas) in support of the country’s 2009 polls.

Greenpeace Urges President to Remind G8 of Commitment to Protect Environment
Jakarta - Greenpeace has urged President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who is attending the G8 Summit outreach session in Hokkaido, Japan, to remind the developed countries of their commitment to protecting forests and the global climate.

Bank Indonesia Governor Says Inflation Rates May Have Peaked
The governor of Bank Indonesia said Wednesday that inflation rates hovering at 11 percent may have peaked and could drop to between 6.5 percent and 7.5 percent by next year.

Energy Subsidy May Hit Rp 300 Trillion Next Year: Minister
The government may spend Rp 300 trillion (US$32.55 billion) on energy subsidies next year, or close to a 50 percent rise from this year, assuming oil prices average $140 per barrel, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said Tuesday.

Government Urged to Ratify Convention on Migrant Workers
Jakarta - The National Commission for Women (Komnas Perempuan) hailed Tuesday Human Rights Watch (HRW)'s latest report on the condition of Indonesian migrant workers in Saudi Arabia and urged the Indonesian government to soon ratify the Convention on Migrant Workers and Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

News Focus: RI Must Still Work Hard to Attract Seven Million Tourists
Jakarta - Indonesia which in January addressed an invitation to people around the world by proclaiming 2008 as "Visit-Indonesia Year" still has to work hard to achieve its target of attracting seven million foreign tourists this year.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008
G-8 Endorses Halving of World Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2050; Critics Say It Falls Short
Leading industrial nations on Tuesday endorsed halving world emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050, edging forward in the battle against global warming but stopping short of tough, nearer-term targets.

KPU Announces New, Old Parties Pass Verification to Join General Election
Jakarta - The General Election Commission (KPU) announced here Monday night that 18 newly established parties and 16 old parties passed the factual verification process enabling them to join the 2009 general election.

President Yudhoyono Calls on D-8 Countries to Step Up Trade, Partnerships
Kuala Lumpur- Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Developing Eight (D-8) countries should step up their trade relations and partnerships, building on the potentials of their collective market of 900 million people, in the face of the current global crisis.

U.S. Firm Mulls Building Geothermal Power Plant from Sidoarjo Mudflow
A U.S.-based consortium Vlocity Holding Inc. said it plans to build a 2000-Megawatt (MW) geothermal power plant from the Sidoarjo mudflow.

Many RI Migrant Workers in Saudi Arabia Treated Cruelly: HRW
Many Indonesian migrant workers in Saudi Arabia endured serious human rights violation and horrendous cruelties, according to the latest report of Human Rights Watch (HRW) released here Tuesday.

Foreign Tourist Arrivals in First Semester Estimated at 3.1 Million
Jakarta - Culture and Tourism Minister Jero wacik said the number of foreign tourists who arrived in Indonesia in the first semester of 2008 was estimated at 3.1 million.

Monday, July 7, 2008
Two Indonesian Diplomats Injured in Kabul Suicide Bomb Attack
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Two Indonesian diplomats were injured in a bomb suicide attack outside the Indian embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, on Monday, a foreign ministry spokesman said.

RI Could Become Effective Mideast Peace Broker: Envoy
Indonesia is in a better position to become a peace broker in the Middle East than any other country in the world, Pakistan's ambassador to Indonesia said.

Yudhoyono Supports Efforts to Empower Indonesians Overseas
Kuala Lumpur (ANTARA News) - Visiting President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said he fully supported efforts to empower Indonesian nationals overseas so that they too could contribute to their country’s progress, his spokesman said.

SBY Told to Push G8 on Climate
With climate change high on the agenda at the G8 summit in Japan this week, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono should use the opportunity to push forward the Bali road map on climate change, experts say.

Indonesia Aircraft Component Industry to Pass Global Standards in 2009
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian government hopes that the aircraft component industry in the country, including its design engineering would have to meet global standards in 2009, an official said.

Property Market in RI Almost Opaque to Foreign Investors
Foreign investors are wary about investing in the Indonesian real estate market due to a low level of information transparency and restricted access to the market, a report says.

Suspicious Transactions Spike Ahead of Elections
The Indonesian financial intelligence unit has warned of financial violations and money politics during next year's legislative and presidential elections unless monitoring efforts are enhanced.

Sunday, July 6, 2008
Indonesian Official Says Arrests of Islamic Militants Have Weakened Terror Network
The arrests last week of 10 suspected Islamic militants severely weakened Indonesia's terrorist movement, the country's foreign minister said Sunday.

Thursday, July 3, 2008
Palembang Terror Suspects Linked with Singapore Networks, Noordin M Top: Police
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - National Police Chief Spokesman Insp Gen Abubakar Nataprawira said on Thursday the nine teror suspects arrested in South Sumatra during the past two days had links with terror networks in Singapore and wanted top terror suspect Noordin M Top.

Voters Doubt Parties, Want More Power for Council
The public has lost faith in the House of Representatives, believing its members put their parties' interests first, a recent survey has found.

Government, House Agree to Cut Dividend Tax
The government and the House of Representatives have agreed to reduce tax on companies' dividend payments despite disagreements between House factions on the size of the cut.

RI Facing Food and Energy Shortages and Environmental Degradation
Bogor - Rector of the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) Dr Ir Herry Suhardiyanto M.Sc said the Indonesian people are currently facing food scarcity, energy shortage, and environment-related problems, so that cooperation between all elements of the nation is badly needed.

RI Recognizes State but not Government of Zimbabwe: Spokesman
The Indonesian government recognizes the state but not the government of Zimbabwe after Robert Mugabe's reappointment as the country's president in an election marred by violence and international criticism, a foreign ministry spokesman said.

RI`s Forex Reserves up to $59.5 Billion
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia’s foreign exchange reserves rose to US$59.5 billion until the end of June 2008 due to the issuance of global bonds and high oil prices.

BI Raises Key Rate to 8.75 pct
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Bank Indonesia (BI) on Thursday decided to raise its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 8.75 percent.

Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Yudhoyono Says World Oil Price Could Reach US$200 per Barrel
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhono expressed deep concern about the continuing surge in the world oil price, saying it might well reach US$200 per barrel.

May Exports Boosted by CPO Sales: BPS
Exports in May increased 17.47 percent from the previous month mainly thanks to a higher price and volume of shipped crude palm oil (CPO), the Central Statistic Agency (BPS) reported Tuesday.

Number of Poor Falls by 2.21m, Says Statistics Body
The number of people defined as poor fell by 2.21 million between March 2007 and March 2008, according to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS).

Telkom Signs Deals to Boost Services
PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom), the country's largest telecom firm, signed agreements Tuesday with nine foreign operators to expand its international traffic communications volume.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008
President Calls on All Parties to Maintain National Stability, Security
Jakarta - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has called on all parties in the country to jointly maintain national stability and security so that the government and economy can run well.

Popularity Drop Sends 'A Yellow Light' to President
The latest survey showing a steep decline in President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's popularity indicates the people's frustration with the way the government has handled economic problems, observers say.

House Commission I Supports Asian-African Confab on Palestine
Jakarta - A majority of members of the House of Representatives (DPR)'s Commission I (foreign, political, defense and information affairs) support the government's plan to host an Asian-African Conference on Palestine.

President: Police Must Remain Neutral in 2009 Elections
Jakarta - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has asked the Indonesian Police to remain neutral in dealing with the masses in the 2009 general elections.

House to Pass W. Papua Autonomy Bill
All factions in the House of Representatives have agreed to pass legislation giving a legal basis for the implementation of special autonomy in the new province of West Papua.

All Party Factions to Take Part in House Inquiry Committee
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The House of Representatives (DPR) at a plenary session here Tuesday decided to let all party factions in the House have representatives in the special committee that is to conduct an inquiry into the government’s fuel oil pricing policy.

Indonesia Inflation Accelerates Further in June, Led by Higher Transport Costs
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia's annual inflation in June accelerated to its fastest pace since September 2006, driven by higher transportation costs after the government hiked subsidized fuel prices the month before, the Central Bureau of Statistics said Tuesday.