Friday, February 27, 2009
Malaysia and Indonesia to Voice Out Rohingyas Issue
Hua Hin, BANGKOK (ANTARA News/Bernama-OANA) - Malaysia and Indonesia will raise the issue of stateless Rohingyas Myanmar at the ASEAN Summit, said Foreign Minister Dr Rais Yatim Thursday.
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Investment in Oil, Gas May Reach US$17.7 Bln
Pekanbaru - Investment in the oil and gas sector in Indonesia may reach US$17.706 billion this year, an official from the country's upstream oil and gas regulator BP Migas said here on Thursday.
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Elections to Proceed in Relatively Safe Ways: Legislator
Jakarta - The upcoming general elections will proceed in relatively secure ways so people can participate in the democratic exercises without worry about their safety, a legislator said here Wednesday citing an intelligence prognosis. "The State Intelligence Agency (BIN) only foresees the possibility of sectoral disruptions but no signs of possible disruptions of unconstitutional nature," Yuddy Chrisnandi, a member of the House of Representatives (DPR)'s Commission I (security, information and foreign affairs) said.
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Stimulus Can Absorb 3M New Workers
The government expects its stimulus package to absorb an extra 3 million workers amid large scale layoffs from companies hit by the global economic downturn.
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Rupiah Strengthens Past Rp12,000 per Dollar
Jakarta - The rupiah strengthened past Rp12,000 per dollar in the Jakarta interbank spot market late Wednesday on investors' confidence in the government's constant efforts to maintain the local unit's stability.
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Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Nobel Laureate Warns Polls Could Ruin Aceh Peace
Nobel laureate Martti Ahtisaari warned that a hard-won peace in Indonesia's westernmost province of Aceh could unravel if upcoming elections are plagued by violence or cheating.
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Investment Jumps 61% in January
The global financial crisis has yet to derail flows of investment into Indonesia, as foreign investment in January jumped by 61 percent from a year earlier.
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Stimulus Package Approved, Raised
Legislators approved late on Tuesday a provision in the 2009 state budget that enables the government to unleash its much-needed stimulus package, and even increased it by Rp 2 trillion (US$176 million) to help shield the economy from the global economic meltdown.
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Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Aceh Peace Must Hold, Demands SBY
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has warned against disrupting the peace in Aceh, following years of conflict and the devastating tsunami.
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Martii: No Clause on Referendum in Aceh Peace Agreement
Jakarta - Crisis Management Initiative (CMI) Chairman Martti Ahtisaari said the Helsinki peace deal between the Indonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM0 contained no clause on a referendum or the possibility of Aceh independence.
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President: Aceh Growing Rapidly
Banda Aceh - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was impressed by the development of Aceh province four years after the tsunami disaster.
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BI: Banking Sector Still Safe from Crisis
The Indonesian Central Bank (BI) revealed Tuesday that the state of national banking is generally good and will be strong enough to endure the repercussions of the global financial meltdown because of sizeable capital and sound credit.
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BI: Credits to Grow 15.6 Percent
Jakarta - Bank Indonesia deputy governor Mulyaman D Hadad said credits had been projected to grow 15.6 percent this year according to bank business plans received by the central bank.
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Editorial: Beefing up Rupiah Defense Line
The Indonesia-Japan agreement Sunday to double their currency swap deal to US$12 billion will send a strong signal to the market that Bank Indonesia has enough ammunition to defend the rupiah against currency speculators amid the global financial uncertainty and credit crunch.
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Compulsory Education to Achieve 98 Percent in 2009
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - National Education Minister Bambang Sudibyo is optimistic that the nine-year compulsory education program will achieve 98 percent of the target of the 2005-2009 National Education Development’s strategic plan coverage this year.
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Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Clinton Arrives in Jakarta
Jakarta - US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton aboard a Boeing 757-200 airplane arrived at Halim Perdanakusuma airport at 4.08 pm local time here on Wednesday to start her two-day visit in Indonesia.
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US Seeks Support from Indonesia on Myanmar
The United States plans to seek more advice from Indonesia to effectively dealing with the military-ruled Myanmar, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said Wednesday in Jakarta.
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Clinton Seeks to Improve US Image with Muslims
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is continuing the Obama administration's efforts to rehabilitate America's image abroad, especially with Muslims, during a visit to Indonesia that began Wednesday.
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RI, US Strategic Partner: Din
Jakarta - Din Syamsuddin, the chief of one of Indonesia's largest Muslim's organizations Muhammadiyah, said that the upcoming visit of US secretary of state Hillary Rodham Clinton to Indonesia was US recognition and appreciation to the country as its strategic partner.
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Do Yudhoyono and Kalla Have the Guts to Divorce?
While the presidential election is still five months away and the preceding legislative elections have not even been held yet, discourse and public debates concerning the race that will determine the country’s leadership for the next five years has begun to heat up.
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Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Wirayuda-Clinton Talks to be Limited to Bilateral Issues
Jakarta - Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirayuda said his talks with his US counterpart, Hillary Clinton, during the latter's upcoming visit here would be limited to efforts to improve the two countries’ bilateral relations.
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Clinton's Visit And A New Level of Cooperation
This first visit by her to Indonesia as US Secretary of State, together with visits to Japan, China and South Korea, is a harbinger for closer and higher levels of engagement and cooperation between Indonesia and the US.
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Golkar to Shoot Unfair Deals
If it takes the most votes in this April's polls as it did in 2004, the Golkar Party will seek to revise "unfair" energy contracts to better serve the country's strategic interests, says its chairman.
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ADB May Guarantee RI's Debts
In addition to providing loan commitments, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) may guarantee bonds and loans issued by the government.
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Monday, February 16, 2009
US Offers Strategic Partnership to RI: Minister
The United States Foreign Affairs Minister Hillary Clinton offered a strategic partnership with Indonesia and would need further discussions to follow up the plans, Indonesia Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirajuda has said.
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Indonesia Should 'Maximize Benefits' From Clinton Visit
Hillary Clinton is scheduled to visit Indonesia on Feb. 18-19 as part of her maiden overseas trip as US Secretary of State. Besides Indonesia, Clinton will visit Japan, South Korea and China on the week-long excursion. The Indonesian government claims her visit is attributable to Indonesia's new status as an emerging economy and analysts say the visit has something to do with US President Barack Obama’ s intention to boost his country's relationship with the Muslim world; others believe Obama's "emotional link" with the archipelago is the inspiring factor. University of Indonesia international relations observer Hariyadi Wiryawan talked with The Jakarta Post's Erwida Maulia about this issue on Saturday. The following is an except.
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Expect SBY-JK to Run Again, Experts Say
The Golkar Party will ultimately "tie the knot" with the Democratic Party in backing President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President Jusuf Kalla in the presidential race, despite mounting calls within Golkar for an end to the coalition, experts say.
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House Seats for Women Could Decline
Female legislative candidates and activists remain pessimistic that their representation at the House of Representatives could drop drastically.
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Hambali Not Likely to be Discussed With Clinton
Jakarta - The case of Hambali, an Indonesian terror suspect being held at the US Guantanamo detention camp, is not likely to be discussed with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton when she visits here next week.
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President Commends Post-Tsunami Development in Aceh, Nias
Jakarta - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono commended the work of the Aceh-Nias Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Board (BRR) following the devastating 2004 tsunami, and called for continued accountability and transparency in the two regions' further development.
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Government to Sign Free Trade Agreement
TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:The government stated that it will go ahead and sign the ASEAN free trade agreement (FTA) with Australia and New Zealand on February 27. “So far, there has been no changes,” said Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu yesterday.
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Insight: The State of Our Democracy: Disheartening and Alarming
It has been a little over 10 years since we chose to adopt a democratic system of government. This deliberate choice has given us remarkably positive international exposure. Indonesia is now highly regarded as the third largest democratic country after India and the United States. In a somewhat similar tone, Indonesia is also applauded as a current example of how Islam and democracy can work and relate quite amicably.
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President Asks KPK to Also Help Prevent Corruption
Jakarta - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has asked the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to combine its graft-fighting activities with efforts to prevent corruption, the commission's chairman, Antasari Azhar, said here Thursday.
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Thursday, February 12, 2009
Democratization to Involve More People: Political Strategist
Jakarta - The democratization process was more dominant in Indonesia compared to election campaigns in the United States, a strategist of the democratic party, Joe Hansen said in a public dialog "How Barack Obama Won the Election" here Tuesday.
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Minister: Miangas Island Belongs to Indonesia
Jakarta - Marine and Fisheries Minister Freddy Numberi said Miangas Island in North Sulawesi belongs to Indonesia and had already been registered with the United Nations as one of the country's outermost islands. "The Philippine claim over the island is unilateral. We have already submitted a list of islands including Miangas that are part of Indonesian territory to the UN," he said after a meeting with House Commission IV members.
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RI Holds WOC Preparatory Meeting
Jakarta - Indonesia which will host a World Ocean Conference (WOC-09) in May held a WOC preparatory meeting at the UN Headquarters in Geneva last Monday.
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Government Proposes to Increase Fuel Subsidies
The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry is proposing a Rp 37 trillion (US$3.1 billion) in subsidies for the distribution of subsidized fuels, an increase of 46.8 percent on the initial commitment.
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IDX to Introduce New Trading System
JAKARTA: After two delays, the Indonesia Stock Exchange (IDX) will next month run a new trading system that will enable it to record more transactions in a day.
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Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Indonesia Urged to Encourage OIC to Create Peace in Mideast
Jakarta - The British Government believed Indonesia is able to play a crucial role in Islamic world especially in pushing members of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) to create peace in the Middle East.
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RI Can Help Solve Gaza Conflict, British Minister Says
Jakarta - Indonesia is playing an important role in efforts to solve the conflict in the Gaza Strip between Palestine and Israel, Minister of State at the United Kingdom (UK) Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Bill Rummel, said.
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Government Spending Key to Growth, Will Be Well-Directed: Kalla
While remaining optimistic Indonesia’s economy will grow fairly well against the backdrop of the global economic meltdown, the government will ensure its spending is directed to support businesses and the people, Vice President Jusuf Kalla said Monday.
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Lower Economic Growth Necessitates Domestic Focus
Nearly half way into the first quarter, we now believe that the global economic outlook for the first semester will be worse than previously expected, particularly as the Obama stimulus has not even taken shape.
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New MA Chief to Speed Up Improvements in Judicial System
Jakarta - The Supreme Court (MA)'s new chairman, Harifin A Tumpa, promised to speed up efforts to improve the country's judicial system, including the handling of court cases and transparency in the administration of justice.
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Obama's Asia Policy: Old Wine in a New Bottle?
No country can match the breadth and depth of American power in Asia. The United States has five treaty allies, the Pacific fleet, 80,000 troops, major military exercises, and billions of dollars of trade and investments. But over the last decade, the signals of US disengagement from the region have become at least as strong as the assets that prove its commitment. For countries in Asia, the key issue is whether they can rely on the US for the next 50 years in the same way they relied on it for the previous half century.
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RI May Prefer Lead Role in Oil, Gas: Kalla
Indonesia will gradually improve the roles of local energy companies and will not let foreign firms control the country’s energy resources, Vice President Jusuf Kalla says.
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Banks Begin Lowering Credit Interest Rates
Jakarta - Banks have begun lowering interest rates on their credits after Bank Indonesia (BI/central bank) lowered its benchmark rate (BI Rate) three times by 125 basis points to 8.25 percent, a banker said.
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Loan Defaults Ring Alarm Bells
Soaring loan defaults in some economic sectors has raised questions over the severity of the impact of the global economic crisis on Indonesia.
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Monday, February 9, 2009
SBY Leaves Kalla, Golkar in Lurch
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has declined to announce his running mate for the upcoming presidential election, sparking speculation that he wants to keep his options open rather than limiting himself to Vice President and Golkar Chairman Jusuf Kalla.
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Veep: Shell Ready to Move to Indonesia
The Hague - Vice President Jusuf Kalla said here on Sunday that Shell Royal Dutch oil company had expressed its readiness to move its oil processing operations to Indonesia.
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NGO Advises Government to be Cautious Over FTA with Aus, NZ
The Indonesian government should act “wiser and more cautious” before signing a new free trade agreement (FTA) with Australia and New Zealand this month, a local non-government economic watchdog insisted during a press conference in Diponegoro, Central Jakarta Monday.
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Friday, February 6, 2009
Kalla Meets Biden, SBY Awaits Clinton
Vice President Jusuf Kalla spoke briefly with his United States counterpart Joe Biden in the first top level meeting between the two nations since President Barack Obama took office two weeks ago.
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VP: RI Awaiting Obama's Further Steps
Washington DC - Vice President M Jusuf Kalla said Indonesia was waiting for US President Barack Obama's further steps affecting his country's relations with the Muslim world and for the improvement of the world economy.
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President: People’s Purchasing Power Has Risen
Jakarta - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said here Monday, the Indonesian people's purchasing power in the 2004-2008 period had risen at a higher rate than the prices of basic necessaries.
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Obama And the Muslim World: So Far So Good
Change is seriously underway in the United States. President Barack Obama immediately went into action after he was inaugurated as the 44th president of the United States. Promises that he made during his campaign have now begun to be implemented.
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Regions Seek Forest Conversions
The Forestry Ministry has said it has received a mounting number of requests from local administrations for permits to convert Indonesia’s dwindling forests into plantations, mostly due to uncertainty surrounding the spatial planning law.
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BI to Toughen Rules on Derivative Products
With banks already exposed to the high risk posed by derivative transactions, the central banks have decided to tighten regulations on derivative and other structured products.
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