Tuesday, November 30, 2010
RI to Fight For REDD+ Scheme's Adoption at Cancun
Indonesia is resolved to get the Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Degradation Plus (REDD+) scheme adopted at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) conference which opened in Cancun, Mexico, last Saturday. "We are not going to talk about whether or not it should be legally binding. We would be satisifed if the REDD+ scheme could be endorsed (by the conference). After all, the basic concept of REDD+ was purely Indonesia`s idea," Environment Minister Gusti Hatta said, here on Monday. The UNFCCC conference opened in Cancun On November 27 and is to run until December 10,2010. Hatta said the last meeting in Nagoya, Japan, on partnerships in REDD+ cooperation did not result in maximum acceptance so the debate would be taken to Cancun for eventual endorsement. The Cancun conference would be the key to the success of the 17th UNFCCC in South Africa.

US Partnering With Indonesia to Stem Deforestation
USAID is partnering with the government of Indonesia to stem deforestation, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support climate change adaptation, according to the US embassy here on its Website. The USAID Indonesia Forestry and Climate Support (USAID IFACS) project supports the new U.S.-Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership announced during the recent trip by President Barack Obama. The USAID IFACS project will reduce the threats of deforestation and climate change, and help the Government of Indonesia to conserve the country`s tropical forests and wildlife (including orangutans).

RI's Forex Reserves Reach US$ 93 Billion
Indonesia`s foreign exchange reserves reached US$93 billion until the end of November, Bank Indonesia Deputy Governor Hartadi A Sarwono said. "Now they have reached US$93 billion. The exchange reserves have risen by US$43 billion in two years," he said at BNI Economic Outlook 2011 here on Monday. He said the hike was quite an achievement, showing investors` confidence in Indonesia. "I think it is quite good achievement due to investors` confidence to enter Indonesia," he said.

Indonesia Integrated in East Asia Trade
Indonesia as a developing country which has been integrated with the rapidly growing international trade in East Asia, with China as its main driving force, World Bank senior economist Sjamsu Rahardja said. He said that Indonesia as a developing country is playing an important role in this regional trade, as it has many potentials and is located in a stragetically geographical region. "At a time when Indonesia and China are flighting for a market, although some Chinese products are selling well on the world market, some Indonesian products like chemicals, paper, essential oils and even musical instruments, still manage to have a good position on the international market," he said in Jakarta Monday.

RI Well Placed to Mediate Between Two Koreas: Observer
Indonesia could be the right party to mediate between North Korea and South Korea to solve their conflict as the two countries respect Indonesia, an international political observer said. "In its capacity as chair of ASEAN, Indonesia can mediate between the two Koreas by using the cultural approach so that they can accept each other`s positions," said Adriana Elisabeth, head of the international politics division at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), here on Tuesday. In the eyes of the two Koreas, she said, Indonesia was a peace-loving state that had never involved itself in direct support of any alliances or dispatched troops to participate in a war against any particular country. During the war in the Korean peninsula in the early 1950`s, Indonesia did not have troops in the US-led allied forces there.

Indonesians Reported Safe in Korea
Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa confirmed that Indonesian citizens living in North Korea and South Korea, which are at war with each other in the Korea Peninsula, are in safe condition. "Our embassy has opened one telephone line that can be contacted by our citizens at any time," Marty said in Jakarta yesterday. Due to the solid preparations, the government will not evacuate the 30.000 Indonesians residing in the two countries. However, the Foreign Department is ready to anticipate any emergency situation. "But there will be no evacuation."

RI to Fight For REDD+ Scheme's Adoption at Cancun
Indonesia is resolved to get the Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Degradation Plus (REDD+) scheme adopted at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) conference which opened in Cancun, Mexico, last Saturday. "We are not going to talk about whether or not it should be legally binding. We would be satisifed if the REDD+ scheme could be endorsed (by the conference). After all, the basic concept of REDD+ was purely Indonesia`s idea," Environment Minister Gusti Hatta said, here on Monday. The UNFCCC conference opened in Cancun On November 27 and is to run until December 10,2010.

Indonesia's Mount Bromo Activity Slowing but Still On High Alert
After erupting for several days, prompting the government's highest volcano alert status, Mount Bromo has finally started to simmer down, a volcanologist confirmed on Tuesday. "There are many indications that Bromo's activity is becoming relatively calm," Gede Suantika, the head of the Bromo emergency response team at the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Agency (PVMBG), told the Jakarta Globe. Suantika reported that on Monday Mount Bromo was still spewing thick smoke and volcanic ash up as high as 800 meters, but by Tuesday the smoke and volcanic ash only reached 200 to 300 meters from the peak, and had thinned compared to previous days.

Monday, November 29, 2010
US Supporting RI's Anti-Corruption Efforts
The US government is supporting Indonesia in its efforts to fight corruption in the country by helping improve the capacity of its Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) personnel. "Like what President Obama said when he visited Indonesia that the US wished to help Indonesia fight corruption. So cooperation with KPK would be very important with regard to building the capacity of human resources," US ambassador to Indonesia Scot Marciel, said after meeting with KPK leaders here on Monday. He said under the cooperation scheme the US would help train and empower the KPK human resources in carrying out investigation and using technology. "We did not talk about settlement of cases. We are trying to give what KPK would need (to strengthen the capaciity of its human resources)," he said.

President : Peace in Aceh Must Be Safeguarded
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has called for the preservation of peace in Aceh which he said has been created through a long struggle and with a lot of sacrifices. "Do not let any idea from anyone from anywhere tear down the peace that has been created in Aceh through a long struggle and challenges and with a lot of sacrifices," he said here on Monday evening. Yudhoyono said all parties must not waste the long struggle and winding roads that had been taken to materialize peace in Aceh. "For some peace is not the aim but a mere pre-requisite, pre-condition for developing a just and prosperous community," he said. But for the people of Aceh and Indonesia, security, peace and stability are not only a pre-requisite and a pre-condition for developing better economy and welfare conditions for the people but also a goal, he said.

RI President Sends an Anti-Deforestation Message
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono called on all parties to stop deforestation, caused by mismanaged mining activities. "On this podium, I want to tell those who are irresponsible, like cutting trees, and destroy mother nature due to their mismanaged mining activities, please stop doing that," he said here Sunday. Speaking at the Indonesian planting tree day, held in Cibinong village, Jatiluhur subdistrict, West Java district of Purwakarta, Indonesia would suffer long-term losses if its forests were not well managed from this time. "If we keep planting a billion trees and make it our national movement, in which the government is not the only party involving in it, with God`s willing, our country will have a good environment within the coming 30 years," he said.

Government Certain Target of One Billion Trees Planted is Achievable
The Forestry Minister, Zulkifli Lubis, is certain that the government's target of planting one billion trees will be achieved this year. Since October, as many as 610.6 million trees have been planted. There are currently 860 million more seedlings are ready to be planted. "In the rainy season, we are sure that planting can be accelerated," he said in the in Jatiluhur reservoir, Purwakarta, Sunday (28/11). He is confident that the mass plant can contribute significantly towards the reduction of the greenhouse gas effect, preventing floods and landslides and increasing people's prosperity.

PCA Serves as Basis For RI-EU Strategic Partnership
The recently-signed Comprehensive Partnership Agreement (PCA) between Indonesia and European Union served as a basis for the development of bilateral ties towards strategic partnership, a former foreign minister Hassan Wirujuda said. "Both Indonesia and European Union play an increasingly stronger global role so the PCA can serve as foundation for the development of bilateral relations between Indonesia and European Union to move to strategic partnership," the Indonesian embassy in Brussels quoted Wirajuda as saying at a policy briefing on EU-Indonesia: Time to Move to Strategic Partnership. Wirajuda was the sole speaker at the meeting jointly organized by the embassy and the European Policy Center, leading think-tank in Europe, with Shada Uslam, EPC senior program executive, as a moderator, the embassy said in an e-mailed statement on Sunday.

Government Not to Limit but Channel Foreign Capital Inflows: Minister
The government will not impose limits on foreign capital flows into the country but channel them so as to spread them evenly over different sectors, a spokesman said. "We will not in any way put limits on foreign capital inflows but we intend to spread the flows over various sectors of the economy," Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa said at a discussion themed "Indonesian Economic Outlook 2011" here Monday. He said the capital inflows were like "water that flows over an expanse of dry cultivation land." "The capital flows must be managed well so that they do not become unwanted floods in certain cultivation areas. We must use several instruments to make the water spread evenly," he said.

News Focus : Government Gearing Up to Limit Subsidized Fuel Consumption
Indonesia is gearing up to limit the use of subsidized fuels as consumption continues to rise due to the high growth of the number of vehicles in the Southeast Asia`s largest economy. The government is now preparing two options to cut subsidized fuel consumption. The first option will be stopping the sale of subsidized fuels to all private cars, and the second option will be lifting fuel subsidy from private cars manufactured in 2005 and later. Accordingly, only public transport modes, two-wheeled and three-wheeled vehicles, and fishermen will be entitled to subsidized fuels. The two options will be brought to a meeting between the government and the House of Representatives (DPR) early next month. If one of the options is approved it will probably be implemented as of early next year.

Government to Issue Regulation on Downstream Agro Industry Development
The government would soon issue a regulation on the development of downstream agro industry to give added value to farm commodities, a minister said. "God willing, we will have a new regulation early next year to develop the downstream agro industry particularly related to palm oil, cacao and rubber," Industry Minister MS Hidayat said in Bandung, West Java, on Saturday. He said the new regulation would gradually reduce the export of raw materials such as crude palm oil, cacao and rubber. The government would provide incentives to companies supplying raw materials to the domestic industry while at the same time imposing tax on the export of raw materials, he said.

Yahoo Sees Lots of Potential in Indonesia's Burgeoning Internet Market
Global Internet giant Yahoo is gearing up to increase its presence in Indonesia after recently acquiring local location-based service provider Koprol and launching a campaign to attract first-time Internet users. Pontus Sonnerstedst, country manager for Yahoo Indonesia, said that while the country had one of the fastest-growing Internet markets in Southeast Asia, it also had the lowest percentage of active users. These two factors combined, however, offer tremendous growth prospects for Yahoo in Indonesia, he said. While Yahoo is acknowledged as the No. 1 e-mail service provider in Indonesia, Sonnerstedst declined to offer specific numbers.

Should Indonesia Be Worried About the WikiLeaks Cables From Jakarta?
Should Indonesia be worried about what the over 3,000 cables sent out by its diplomats here contain? It depends on how you look at it, according to experts. Of the 251,287 documents WikiLeaks began releasing early on Sunday, the UK's The Guardian newspaper, which received advanced copies, said that 3,059 came from the US Embassy in Jakarta and 167 from the US Consulate in Surabaya. The latest document among the Jakarta files was dated Feb. 27, 2010, while the earliest was sent out on Nov. 19, 1990. Only 14 of the files were sent out during the 1990s, and another 20 from 2000 to 2005. The vast majority were sent out from 2006 to February this year. The embassy cables, which are just a selection of all cables sent out, would be released in stages over the next few months.

Friday, November 26, 2010
RI Remains Balanced on Korea Conflict
Tension in the Korean peninsula rose again last Tuesday when North Korea fired dozens of artillery shells onto a South Korean island , killing two people, setting homes ablaze and triggering an exchange of fire with its southern neighbor. In what appeared to be one of the most serious border incidents since the 1950-1953 war, South Korean troops fired back with cannon. The artillery contact has caused concern around the world that the incident would trigger a new war as both Koreas were allied with big countries : North Korea with China and South Korea with the United States. Russia as one of the members of the Six Party Talk on Tuesday warned against an escalation of tensions after North Korea fired artillery shells onto a South Korean border island, a foreign ministry official told Interfax.

Forex Reserves Strong in Facing Capital Outflow: BI
Bank Indonesia (BI/the central bank) said the country`s foreign exchange (forex) reserves which at present stood at US$91.8 billion could reduce risks of sudden foreign capital outflow. "The amount of the country`s forex reserves has unexpectedly reached US$91 billion, exceeding that of last year which stood at US$66 billion, and this provides confidence for the monetary authorities in the face of possible sudden reversal to the capital inflow," BI Deputy Governor Budi Mulya said. He said that BI and the government would do their best to optimize the benefit of foreign capital inflow because it would provide efficiency for manufacturing industry and investment activities.

Deals Worth $1.88B Set to Secure 2011-12 Gas Supplies
Several local companies on Friday signed agreements worth $1.88 billion with gas producers in Indonesia to meet their fuel demands over the next two years. "These business agreements will fulfill our domestic demand, especially for electricity, and the fertilizer and petrochemical industries," said Raden Priyono, head of BPMigas, the nation's upstream energy regulator. The fuel supply contracts were all finalized on the same day to allow the Energy Ministry to oversee the proceedings.

Basrief Arief Named RI's New Attorney General
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said here Thursday that he had appointed Basrief Arief as the country`s new attorney general. Arief would be sworn in on Friday, the head of state said. Before being named to head at the attorney general`s office, Arief was deputy attorney general. Arief would replace Hendarman Supanji who was officially relieved from his position as attorney general on September 24, 2010.

Busyro Elected KPK Chairman
Busyro Muqoddas was elected chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) at a plenary session of the House of Representatives (DPR)`s Commission III on legal affairs here on Thursday. Busyro Muqoddas who was elected through a voting mechanism won 34 votes of the 55 Commission members while the other candidate, Bambang Widjojanto, got 20 votes. One Commission member abstained in the voting during the plenary which was presided by Commission III chairman Benny K Harman. Benny K Harman, who was accompanied by deputy chairmen Azis Syamduddin, Fahri Hamzah and Tjatur Sapto Edy, offered to the commission members to elect one of the two candidates through voting with one member one vote.

US Praises How RI Handles Merapi Eruptions
The United States has commended the ways in which Indonesia handled the impacts of the recent Mount Merapi eruptions in one of Central Java`s most densely populated rural areas where a minimum number of casualties occurred. The praise was given through the head of the US Volcanological Disaster Assistance Program (VDAP) chief, John S Pallister, and US Ambassador to Indonesia Scot Alan Merciel during a meeting with Vice President Boediono here Thursday, said Yopie Hidayat, the vice president`s spokesman. "The handling (of the impacts) by the government has been rated excellent as thousands of residents around the mountain were saved," Yopie said.

Another 'Small Eruption' at Mount Bromo
Volcanic activity at Mount Bromo in East Java showed a significant rise as a small eruption reportedly took place at 5:17 p.m., an official said. Mt. Bromo Emergency Response Center chief Gede Suantika said the volcano spit ashes and billowed smoke up to 1,000 meters into the air. "We recorded tremors with amplitudes as narrow as 15 millimeters before the eruption. As the tremors got stronger, we were unable to record the volcanic activity anymore," Suantika said. The eruption took place in the area around the crater, he said.

Scientists Find Eyeless Cave Fish in Indonesia's Papua
Eyeless cave fish and a frog that carries its offspring on its back are among the new species a team of scientists have discovered in Indonesia's eastern Papua region. The researchers from the Institute of Research and Development (IRD) in Montpellier, southern France, studied caves, underground rivers and jungles in the remote Lengguru area of New Guinea island. "In terms of discoveries almost everything remains to be done in this area, which is very difficult to access but which has exceptionally rich biodiversity," IRD scientist Laurent Pouyaud told AFP.

Wednesday, November 24, 2010
President Hopes Two Koreas to Refrain From Further Hostilities
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has expressed hope that both South and North Korea will restrain themselves and refrain from engaging in further hostilities. The head of state also expressed his regret over the incident which claimed casualties, Teuku Faizasyah, presidential spokesman on international relations, said at the Presidential office here Wednesday. "The president continuously follows the developments in the two Koreas and asks for continued reports from our representatives there," he said. On Tuesday (Nov 23), Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa said in a press statement that Indonesia had expressed deep concern over the armed clash between North Korea and South Korea on Yeonpyeong island.

Temporary Shelters for Mentawai Tsunami Survivors Ready in December
Construction of temporary shelters for last October 25's tsunami victims in Mentawai Islands, West Sumatra, will be finished next December, a minister said. "The shelters are located around 30-40 meters from the coastline. So, if a tsunami occurs again, people will be safe," Social Affairs Minister Salim Segaf Al-Jufri said here on Tuesday. In the late evening of October 25, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck the Mentawai Islands, off the western coast of Sumatra, triggering a tsunami alert. Within minutes, waves of up to 4 meters high crossed the coastlines of the Mentawai islands and rushed up to 400 to 600 meters inland. Also a number of magnitude-5.0 aftershocks were registered in the hours immediately after the first quake.

Government Preparing Energy Conservation, Gas Emission Reduction Strategy
Industry Minister MS Hidayat said his office was preparing a grand strategy on energy conservation and reduction of green house gases in the industrial sector that will be implemented in 2010-2020. "The program for the implementation of CO2 emission reduction in the industrial sector is a follow up to the government`s commitment stated at the G20 summit in Pittsburgh in 2009 on reduction of green house gases," Hidayat said at a ceremony marking the start of industrial energy conservation and CO2 reduction implementation program, on Tuesday. Hidayat added that the program is compatible with the ministry`s vision on bringing Indonesia to be a strong industrial state in the world in the year 2025. In addition, the program is in line with the country`s long-term development concept on sustainable development.

Pertamina Develops Geothermal Electricity
The Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE) is developing 765 megawatt (MW) of potential geothermal energy. The project, said Zainal Ilmie Bachrun, the Planning and Development director of PGE, is part of the geothermal energy long term development to produce 1.342 megawatt by 2014. The projects are in Ulubelu I and II (110 MW), Lumut Balai I and II (110 MW), Lahendong IV (20 MW), Lahendong V and VI (40 MW), Hulu Lais I and II (110 MW), Kotamobagu I and II (40 MW), Sungai Penuh I (55 MW), Karaha I (30 MW), Kamojang V (30 MW), Ulubelu III and IV (110 MW), and Lumut Balai III and IV (110 MW). In addition, Pertamina has yet to produce the plans to develop 307 megawatt of geothermal energy.

Thirty-Four Countries Eyeing RI's Capital Goods Market
Some 34 countries are currently eyeing Indonesia's capital goods market, the production machinery market in particular, in line with the country's improved industrial performance, a promotion buusiness executive said. "As many as 2,000 companies from 24 countries are to exhibit their machinery products worth one billion dollars," Astied Julias, marketing director of PT Pamerindo Indonesia, said here on Tuesday. They will show their machines at the Manufacturing Indonesia Series 2010 exhibition at the Kemayoran JiExpo Jakarta on December 1-4, 2010.

BI Preparing Blueprint for Sharia Banking
Bank Indonesia (the central bank/BI) is preparing a blueprint for the development of sharia banks in the country to boost them to grow at a fast and sustainable pace, its deputy governor said. The blueprint would carry a number of long-term policies to develop sharia banks in the world`s biggest Muslim country from 2011 to 2015, Halim Alamsyah said at a seminar on the sharia banking industry here on Wednesday. "We are in the middle of finalizing it (the blueprint)," he said.

Indonesia Regional Infrastructure Budget Gets 35% Boost
Recognizing the growth potential of Indonesia's far-flung reaches, the government has increased its infrastructure budget by 35 percent for regional administrations. The Public Works Ministry increased the regional development allocation for 2011 to Rp 6.05 trillion ($677.6 million) to help local administrations spur economic growth. As of November, the ministry had allocated only Rp 25 trillion of its of its total Rp 37 trillion budget. Realization of infrastructure projects is only at 71.5 percent.

VP Calls For Continuous Bureaucratic Reforms
Vice President Boediono has reminded all government officials in key positions to continuously make bureaucratic reforms because their performance was the object of constant public scrutiny. "All government officials should continue to make bureaucratic reforms and give optimal service to the public," the vice president said in his directives at a state administrative reform coordination meeting here on Wednesday. Present at the meeting were State Minister for Administrative Reforms EE Mangindaan and a number of central and regional government officials. On the occasion the vice president said there should be a reward and punishment for the government officials who have and have not rendered the best possible service to the public.

UNICEF Extends Program in Aceh
Aceh province is part of a priority program of cooperation between the Indonesian government and UNICEF under a 2011-2015 Country Programme Action Plan (CPAP) in improving the health of mother and child in the region. Head of the Unicef representative office in Aceh Hindarmanto said here Tuesday that while a lot of progress had been reached in many fields, the status of child nutrition is still posing a problem and mother`s death rate is still high. "Therefore it was necessary to make a more comprehensive analysis of the underlaying causes of these problems for the formulation of beneficial programs in raising the welfare of mother and child," he said.

Secretary Locke Meets with Indonesian Ambassador to Strengthen Bilateral Ties
U.S.Commerce Secretary Gary Locke met with the newly-appointed Ambassador of Indonesia, Dr. Dino Patti Djalal, to discuss U.S.-Indonesia commercial relations. The meeting follows up on the U.S.-Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership formalized during President Obama's visit to Indonesia on November 9-10, as well as the clean energy trade mission led by Secretary Locke in May, 2010. During the meeting, Locke reinforced the U.S. commitment to building better commercial relations with Indonesia. Locke and Ambassador Djalal discussed ways to make Indonesia a more appealing destination for U.S. investments and underscored Indonesia's importance in helping President Obama reach the National Export Initiative (NEI) goal of doubling U.S. exports by 2015, supporting 2 million American jobs.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Japan Grants US$ 10 Million for Climate Change Program
Japan, through the Jakarta International Cooperation Agency (JICA), will provide a US$ 10 million assistance for climate change programs in Indonesia. According to JICA chief representative, Motofumi Kohara, Japan supports Indonesia's plan to reduce 26 percent emission by 2020. "Climate change is not only an Indonesian and Japanese problem. This is a global problem so partnerships are needed," he said in Jakarta yesterday. Syamsidar Thamrin, head of the Climate and Weather Sub-directorate, said that the aid would not be in the form of fresh funds. Japan will help with a capacity building program to manage climate change issues. The project will run for five years, starting in 2010.

Government Preparing Energy Conservation, Gas Emission Reduction Strategy
Industry Minister MS Hidayat said his office was preparing a grand strategy on energy conservation and reduction of green house gases in the industrial sector that will be implemented in 2010-2020. "The program for the implementation of CO2 emission reduction in the industrial sector is a follow up to the government`s commitment stated at the G20 summit in Pittsburgh in 2009 on reduction of green house gases," Hidayat said at a ceremony marking the start of industrial energy conservation and CO2 reduction implementation program, on Tuesday. Hidayat added that the program is compatible with the ministry`s vision on bringing Indonesia to be a strong industrial state in the world in the year 2025. In addition, the program is in line with the country`s long-term development concept on sustainable development.

Indonesia to Host UNESCO Convention in 2011
Indonesia will host the sixth UNESCO Inter Governmental Committee for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2011. "On November 19, 2010, Indonesia has been elected to host the sixth Inter Governmental Committee for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Herirage (IGC-ICH) in Bali in 2011," Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik said here Monday. The Unesco IGC-ICH meeting will discuss an important agenda for the future implementation of the Intangible Cultural Conservation Convention. The discussions will cover the nomination of various intangible cultural subjects forwarded by the country holding the convention to Unesco and more effective procedures for the nomination of consultative board in processing the nominations.

Coal Production Predicted to Climb in Sunnier 2011
Indonesia's coal producers are expected to increase output by 13 percent in 2011, thanks to predicted better weather. An extended rainy season this year saw coal production reach 300 million tons, below target. The Indonesian Coal Mining Association (APBI) had earlier targeted coal production to hit 320 million tons this year. With better weather, coal production should reach 340 million tons in 2011, a 4.1 percent increase over the government's estimate. Higher coal production coupled with near record-high prices will translate into better earnings for coal companies in 2011, according to market analysts. The country's second-largest coal company, Adaro Energy, aims to produce 48 million tons next year, an increase of just 0.6 percent from this year.

Interfaith Food Fight Brings Lombok's Muslims and Hindus Closer Together
A war between the faithful of two religions is never a good thing - except in Lingsar village in West Lombok district, where an annual tradition serves to promote rather than quash interfaith harmony. For the war that takes place here is no more than a food fight, and is called Perang Topat (Ketupat War), after the steamed rice cakes that participants hurl at one another. The warring factions are the village's Hindu and Muslim communities, who face off during the full moon of the seventh month of the ancient Sasak calender, which this year fell on Sunday. The battleground was the Lingsar temple complex, which uniquely houses the Hindu Gaduh temple and the Kemaliq Mosque side by side.

VP: Human Resources Quality to Determine Nation's Progress
Vice President Boediono said that the progress of a nation was determined by the quality rather than the quantity of its human resources. "We are lucky to have plenty and rich natural resources, but they will utltimetely deplete whereas human resources will be timeless," he said here Monday. Speaking in a dialogue with the Indonesian contingent to an International Astronomy Olympiad, Boediono said that in every nation`s history, the quality of human resources was very important in its progress. "The quality of human resources is a nation`s main asset which will never run out, is timeless and continuous. So, we should all increase the quality of our human resources for the sake of the nation`s development," Boediono said.

President Launches Women Plant Tress Campaign 2010
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono launched a "Women Plant and Cultivate Trees Campaign 2010" at the Manggala Wanabhakti auditorium here Tuesday. Present on the occasion were also First Lady Ani Yudhoyono, Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hassan, Marine and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad and a number of foreign ambassadors in Jakarta. The Women Plant Trees Campaign is a yearly activity which was started four years ago with different themes and formats of activity each year. In 2010, the program was focused on the activity of planting trees such as Ketapang and mangroves in coastal areas. It is expected that the program will improve the people`s economy and boost their awareness to preserve forests in coastal area.

Mount Bromo's Status Raised to "Alert" Level
Mount Bromo in East Java is showing signs of increasing activity prompting the authorities to raise its status to "alert" level as of 8am on Tuesday, a local official said. The administrations of all areas around the mountain have been informed about its mounting activity, M Yahya, head of Pasuruan district`s communal unity and safety office, said here Tuesday. He said he had received information about the mountain`s increased activity from the East Java energy and mineral resources office. According to the results of monitoring by the Geological Disaster Mitigation and Vulcanology Center`s monitoring post in Ngadisari, Cemorolawang, Probolinggo, deep and shallow volcanic earthquakes were happening in the mountain continuously.

Monday, November 22, 2010
Government to Disburse Rp 500B for Reconstruction of Wasior, Mentawai
The government will disburse a total of Rp 509 billion (approximately US$57 million) for rehabilitation and reconstruction activities in disaster-struck Wasior in West Papua and the Mentawai archipelago in West Sumatra. Secretary to the Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Indroyono Soesilo said Monday the government would allocate Rp 141 billion for Wasior and Rp 368 billion for Mentawai. Wasior is recovering from a crippling flash flood, while the Mentawai Islands are dealing with the impacts of a powerful tsunami. Both disasters occurred last month. "The funds will come from the state and regional budgets. We will start to move on January 1," Indroyono said after a Cabinet meeting at the Vice Presidential Office held to discuss disaster relief in Wasior, Mentawai and around Mount Merapi.

President Acknowledges Developmental Progress in Papua
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said he highly appreciated the developmental progress Papua province has achieved despite the complex problems it has had to deal with. "Papua has faced complex and fundamental problems. Yet, every time I come here, I see developmental progress," he said at Cendrawasih University here Monday. Yudhoyono said Papua would advance even faster if the people worked harder and had the desire to develop their province which is also called "Bumi Cenderawasih" (the Land of the Bird of Paradise).

Indonesia Investment Grade in Sight, But More Work Still Needed
Indonesia must look beyond its sovereign debt achievements and attract foreign investment in the real economy if it wants to finally achieve an investment-grade rating next year. Although Indonesia is poised to win an upgrade to investment grade from Fitch Ratings, the agency is looking for a commitment to improving structural economic weaknesses in governance, infrastructure and competitiveness, according to Andrew Colquhoun, Fitch's director of Asian sovereign ratings. "We'd like to see people coming in to build factories, start businesses and so forth. Historically, Indonesia has not done as well as many of its neighbors in getting in that kind of capital," he said.

RI Has Potential to Build Over 30 Nuclear Reactors
Indonesia has the capability to build more than 30 nuclear reactors given its geological conditions and adequate material supplies, an expert said. "Every province in Indonesia has potential to develop a nuclear reactor because there are ample material stocks and appropriate geological support," Dr Wawan Purwanto, an expert staff of the National Nuclear Energy Agency (BATAN), said here Monday. Currently, Indonesia has tree nuclear reactors, respectively in Serpong (Tangerang, Banten), Yogyakarta (central Java), and Bandung (West Java) with a total capacity of around 90 MW.

World Bank Approves New Financing for Priority Reforms in Indonesia
The World Bank approved two new development policy loans (DPLs) last Thursday worth a combined $800 million to continue its support for an Indonesia-driven priority reform program, the World Bank said in a media release over the weekend. Part of an annual series of DPLs that started in 2004, these efforts have led to better investment conditions, improved public financial management and greater spending on infrastructure, helping to lay the foundation for strong and inclusive growth in Indonesia. Of the two new loans, the Seventh Development Policy Loan (DPL 7) worth $600 million, deepens the reform efforts supported by previous DPLs in reducing uncertainties for investors to invest; strengthening the management of public finances; and enhancing poverty alleviation and service delivery.

US Supports Creation of RI's Seven Marine Protected Areas
The US government supports Indonesia in establishing seven marine protected areas at critical places along Indonesia`s coasts, according to a US embassy press release here on Monday. US Ambassador to Indonesia Scot Marciel joined the Indonesian Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad in launching the first Marine Protected Area in Indonesia on Sunday (Nov 21) in Nusa Penida, Bali, it said. The US Agency for International Development (USAID) through its Marine Resources Program is supporting the Indonesian government to establish seven Marine Protected Areas at critical places along Indonesia`s coasts. The five year program valued at 10 million dollars aimed to help the Indonesian government in restoring and enhancing the productivity of marine ecosystems, ensure biodiversity and resilience for food and economic security.

FAO Rates RI as World's Fourth Biggest Shrimp Producer
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has placed Indonesia in fourth position on its list of shrimp producing countries in 2010 after China, Thailand and Vietnam, a fisheries ministry official said. The ministry`s Chief of Statistic and Information bureau Soen`an H Poernomo said Indonesia was in fourth position after China was in the first position with a production 1.3 million tons, Thailand in second position with 560,000 tons and Vietnam in third position with 370,000 ons. Marine and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad said last August 2010, the government had initially set the country`s shrimp production target for 2010 at 400,000 tons. But due to a disease that had infected shrimps, the figure had been revised downward to 350,000 tons.

Mixed Reviews for Indonesia's Private Universities
Motorbikes deliver students - some with helmets over their head scarves, others with laptops slung across their shoulders - down the wide, tree-lined boulevard, past the mosque's gold dome, around a fenced-off excavation site where a ninth-century Hindu temple was uncovered this year, and onto the campus of the Islamic University of Indonesia. It is the oldest private university in the country, and its alumni include national leaders of business and law. It was established by political figures in 1947 in Jakarta before being moved to Yogyakarta, the city in central Java known as the hub of Indonesia's higher education sector. Thousands more private institutions have followed, creating a burgeoning private sector that is credited with improving access to college education in the country with more Muslims than any other.

Solo Seeks to Attract Two Million Tourists in Next Four Years
The Surakarta Government plans to increase the number tourists coming to the area to two million in the next four years. To achieve that target, they will establish the Surakarta Tourism Promotion Board. "We also plan to have tourists stay in Solo for two days, up from 1.4 days on average," said one of the promotion board member, Bambang Montosih, last Saturday. Meanwhile, tourism business companies at the Association of the Indonesia Tours and Travel Agencies Surakarta (Asita), plan to do their campaigning in Bali. They want to inform tourists that Surakarta has not been affected by the eruption of Mount Merapi.

Friday, November 19, 2010
Indonesian Ambassador's Visit to San Francisco, 17-19 November 2010
Indonesian Ambassador to the US, Dr. Dino Patti Djalal and his wife, Mrs. Rosa Rai Djalal visit San Francisco, on November 17-19 2010. During his visit, Ambassador Dino speaks in front of around 300 audiences at Cal Asia Night. In a separate meeting, the Ambassador also meets with several businessmen and leaders of private companies. Ambassador Dino makes a stop at Stanford University to have a discussion with the students there. To conclude the visit, the Ambassador will meet with the Indonesian community in bay area at Indonesian Consul General's residence in San Francisco.

Mt Merapi Emergency Response Period to End November 24
The Indonesian government is to end the emergency response period for the Mount Merapi eruption disaster on November 24, a cabinet member said. "We will maintain the emergency response period until November 24. Whether the period will be extended or not will depend on the situation," Social Welfare Minister Salim Segaf Al-Jufri said. Speaking to newsmen on when visiting Magelang district on Thursday, he said Mt Merapi evacuees could return home after the volcano`s "beware" status had been lowered. During his working visit, Minister Salim Segaf Al-Jufri met with Magelang district chief Singgih Sanyoto and observed activity at a kitchen for Mt Merapi evacuees.

Mt Merapi Eruptions Cause Huge Economic Losses
The fatal eruptions of Mount Merapi have claimed several hundreds of lives and crippled the people`s economy in the volcanic disaster-hit areas. The Mount Merapi`s deadly eruptions that occurred on October 26 and November 5 were expected to have caused economic losses with total worth of Rp3.4 trillion in Sleman district, Yogyakarta Province. According to Head of Sleman district, Sri Purnomo, the losses were caused by ruins of such business sectors as tourism, culinary, commercial accommodation, agriculture, plantation, and livestock. "The total economic losses are caused by the deaths of our people`s economic sectors, such as commercial accommodation, tourism, culinary, agriculture, plantation, and livestock," he said.

Mt Merapi Evacuees Relieved Volcano Has Calmed Down
A resident of Babadan I hamlet in Paten village, Magelang district, Central Java, said he was relieved that Mount Merapi had calmed downi. Salamun, 44, told ANTARA here Thursday his relief was shared by lots of Paten villagers. Therefore, many of them now wanted to leave their refugee shelters and return to their homes. "We are relieved (Mount Merapi has calmed down) but because the government has yet to permit us to go home, most of us are still staying in their refugee shelters," Salamun said. Due to the absence of the government`s permission, only a small number of the Mount Merapi eruption refugees in Magelang district, Central Java, had returned to their villages, he said.

News Focus: Angklung Receives World Recognition
Angklung, Indonesia's traditional bamboo musical instrument, which has been frequently played before international audiences in Indonesia as well as overseas, has finally received world recognition. Angklung was one of 47 nominations from 29 countries, which had been examined by the UNESCO Inter-Governmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (IGC-ICH) in its fifth session in Nairobi, Kenya, on Wednesday (Nov 17), for inscription into the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. "The inclusion of angklung in the Intangible Cultural Heritage list will contribute positively to the preservation (of angklung) nationally and regionally," Tjetjep Suparman, director general of film, art and cultural values at the Culture and Tourism Ministry, said in a press statement, Thursday.

RI Uses Only Four Percent Of Its Geothermal Reserve Potential
Indonesia has a geothermal energy potential of 28,543 MW but only four percent of it has been developed, a state oil company Pertamina official said. "We are only using four percent of our geothermal energy potential," Slamet Riyadhy, Pertamina vice president for business development, said here Thursday. There was still much geothermal potential under Indonesia`s continental shelve slab which stretched from eastern side of Sumatra Island to the southern side of Java Island and Sulawesi island, he said. Indonesia had some 28.543 MW of potential geothermal reserves but an installed production capacity of 1.189 MW, and as long as there was rainfall the alternate energy source could be developed to help meet domestic need for energy.

Government Wants Capital to Flow Into Strategic, Productive Sectors
The government will not stop capital inflows but wants the funds to flow consistently into strategic and productive sectors, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Radjasa said. "As a matter of principle, we will not hinder or hold up capital inflows but wish the funds will go to strategic and productive sectors," Hatta said here on Thursday after a meeting with Bank Indonesia (BI, the central bank)`s board of govornors. He said the foreign capital flowing into the country should help the development of productive sectors such as infrastructure and this was why the government had raised the idea of issuing an infrastructure bond. "We wish to push the capital inflows into more productive sectors such as infrastructure long-term bonds and others," he said.

Indonesia Votes Against Condemning Human Rights Abuses in North Korea
A United Nations committee on Thursday passed a resolution condemning human rights in North Korea, but the communist government rejected the action as "confrontational" and said it would not change. China, Indonesia and Malaysia were among 18 countries to vote against the resolution which condemned "torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including inhuman conditions of detention, public executions, extrajudicial and arbitrary detention." One hundred nations backed the resolution put to the UN General Assembly's main human rights committee by the European Union, United States and other western nations.

Indonesian Equities May Rise 20%, Credit Suisse Says
Indonesian stocks may rise 20 percent by the end of 2011 as increased earnings, a potential upgrade in the country's debt rating and a Cabinet reshuffle boost investor confidence, according to Credit Suisse Group AG. The benchmark Jakarta Composite Index may advance to 4,400 next year, Credit Suisse analyst Arief Wana said in a report on Friday. He advised investors to focus on "underperformers and valuations," citing Indosat and Adaro Energy. The index rose 1.3 percent to 3,725.05 on Friday at close. "Structural improvement in return on equity is one of our main reasons," Arief said. Better profit margins and "asset turnover" will remain the "key drivers' boosting the return on equity of shares on the benchmark index by 150 basis points next year, he said, without giving the target rate of return.

Minister: G20 Forms Working Group to Address Global Imbalances
Jakarta - Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo said the group of 20 countries (G20) agreed at their recent meeting in Seoul, South Korea, to form a working group to address global financial imbalances. "There has been an agreement to form a working group responsible for drafting regulatory framework to study the financial positions of all developed countries and emerging nations to address the issue of global imbalances," the minister said here on Thursday. The agreement was one step forward to settle a number of global economic issues including currency war, he said adding countries that suffered a deficit and recorded a surplus in their balance of trade had also agreed on the formation of the working group.

Exporting Indonesia's Written Word
Indonesian best-selling author Andrea Hirata is coming home this week after a three-month cultural research program at the University of Iowa. While Andrea says that he is looking forward to eating his favorite foods once again, he is not leaving the English-speaking world for good. In fact, his international journey has just begun. Andrea, who hails from the remote Belitung Island off the Sumatran coast, is fast realizing his dream of becoming an international author. He is one of only a handful of Indonesian authors whose works have successfully reached a wider global audience.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Government to Speed Up Recovery of Tsunami-Hit Mentawai
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has given directives for speeding up the recovery of Metawai after the recent tsunami disaster, Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono said. The minister made the statement at a press conference here on Tuesday after reporting the results of his visit to Mentawai to the President via teleconference from Minangkabau airport in Padang, West Sumatra, on Tuesday. The head of the National Agency for Disaster Management, Syamsul Maarif, meanwhile had also reported the development of the condition of Mount Merapi in Yogykarta. Agung Laksono, along with Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto, Housing Minister Suharso Monoarfa, West Sumatra Governor Irwan Prayitno and a number of other officials inspected the construction of temporary houses for tsunami victims in Mentawai.

Geologist: Mt Merapi's Volcanic Activity Still High
The intensity of Mount Merapi's volcanic activity has remained high in the past week, a senior geologist said here on Tuesday. "The volcanic activity of Mount Merapi from November 11 to 16 has even been increasing," the head of the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Agency (PVMBG), Surono, said after a teleconfernce with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono from the National Disaster Management Agency command post here. According to the results of Mount Merapi`s seismic activity monitoring, a volcanic activity was recorded to happen once on November 1 but it increased to six on November 12, 26 on November 13, 31 on November 15, 34 on November 15 and 20 times until 12.00 hours on November 16. From November 3 to now, Surono said, the volcano was still defined as still continuously erupting but people in the district of Sleman on the slope of the mountain and in Yogykarta,a city at the feet of the mountain could never be able to see the eruption.

Yogya Tourism Beginning to Recover
Yogyakarta tourism has started to recover following the catastrophic eruption of Mount Merapi. "We are starting to recover," said Tazbir, head of Yogyakarta Tourism Office, yesterday. He said that all parties in the tourism industry have built a media center to provide accurate information about tourist activities in Yogyakarta. According to Tazbir, the Mount Merapi eruption caused the tourism location 20 kilometers from Mount Merapi and Adisutjipto Airport to be closed. As a consequence, the shopping center at Malioboro Street, Keraton (the palace), museums and all tourism places suffered due to a lack visitors. The rain in the last few days helped clean several streets in Yogyakarta's city center from volcanic ashes. The activities of several tourist destinations, such as Malioboro, has returned to normal.

Minister: Huge Mineral Resource Potentials in RI's Forest Areas
Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan said the energy and mineral resource potentials contained in forest areas in Indonesia were still huge. He said here on Tuesday if they were managed responsibly without causing environmental destruction, the potentials could support the government`s goals of improving the welfare of the people. "There are a lot of energy and mineral resource potentials in the forest areas such as geothermal energy source, coal, iron ore, silver and others. However we must be very careful when we wish to exploit them," he said when receiving the Energy and Mining Editor Society members. Zulkifli said coal potentials in the areas in Kalimantan, Bengkulu, Jambi, South Sumatra and Sulawesi could reach 93.4 billion tons.

Twenty Countries Agree to Invest in Alternative Energy
Indonesia and 19 other countries have agreed to invest in the large-scale use of renewable energy, such as solar, wind and geothermal energy through the Climate Investment Funds (CIF). The 20 countries are divided into two groups, with the first group of 14 countries planning a radical change in the use of energy from high emission sources to clean and positive energy, the Funds said in a press statement issued on Tuesday. The Clean Technology Fund (CTF) Commission under the aegis of the CIF warmly welcomes the trend, the statement said. Based on the CTF operational report the first phase of renewable energy project which will cost an estimated US$2.4 billion will be implemented to realize a plan to finance the supply of 4,255 megawatts with a potential scale of up to 39,200 megawatts.

President Orders Quick Response to Torture Case in S Arabia
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Tuesday ordered the foreign affairs and manpower and transmigration ministries to respond quickly to the case of an Indonesian maid tortured in Saudi Arabia. In remarks opening a cabinet meeting , the president said the Indonesian authorities concerned must handle the torture case by taking diplomatic and legal actions. Sumiati binti Salan Mustapa (23) who hailed from Dompu, West Nusa Tenggara NTB), was found hospitalized last November 8 for serious injuries on her body believed to have been inflicted by her employer in Medina, Saudi Arabia. President Yudhoyono expressed his concern over the ill-treatment received by Sumiati from her employer. He also ordered the sending of a team to saudi Arabia to make sure that the poor maid was getting the best possible medical help to recover from her injuries.

Business Is Good, but Could Be Better, Says US Envoy
US President Barack Obama's quick trip to Indonesia last week helped cement warm ties between the two countries on a number of different levels, the new US ambassador said. But trade and investment ties, while growing, may be held back by protectionist measures that could dampen the appetite of US investors, he conceded. Ambassador Scott Marciel told the Jakarta Globe in an exclusive interview this week that while Washington was enthusiastic about stronger commercial ties with Jakarta, he was in discussions with local officials about measures that were seen to be hampering trade. Obama "stressed that we have a huge stake in Indonesia's success and that Indonesia is playing a bigger role not only in the region but globally," Marciel said.

The Indonesian Soup Obama Loved as a Child Gets Worldwide Attention
President Barack Obama carried a message of unity and tolerance during his visit last week to Indonesia, but it was his love of meatball soup that made for worldwide headlines. "Bakso, nasi goreng ... semuanya enak!" or "Meatball soup, fried rice ... it's all delicious!" Obama said during a state dinner in Jakarta. The president spent four years of his childhood in Indonesia. Bakso, a savory soup of meatballs and noodles often garnished with bok choy, wontons, tofu, crisp fried shallots and hard-boiled egg, is a go-to dish sold from pushcarts to hungry students, midnight revelers and just about anybody who wants a satisfying snack any time of day. "When people hang out at night and they feel hungry, they go for bakso," says Djoko Supatmono, executive chef at Satay Junction, an Indonesian restaurant in New York.

Monday, November 15, 2010
Eruptions Of Mount Merapi Decreasing
Mount Merapi has been erupting continuously from November 3 to 8, and has become calmer since the end of October, chief geologist said. "Now, the energy within Merapi is no longer as high as when it first erupted from October 26 to November 3," R. Sukhyar, geology agency chief at National Agency for Disaster Mitigation (BNPB) said here on Sunday. Mount Merapi has been in an intensity stage of eruption since the first eruption followed by a series of subsequent eruptions that have claimed over 200 lives and displaced over 350,000 people in the three regencies of Central Java and Yogyakarta provinces. Sukhyar added that the decreasing energy within the 3,000 meters high volcano was why the government has reduced the disaster area in four regencies surrounding the volcano.

Evacuees Data Collection Must Be Done Immediately
Central Java Governor Bibit Waluyo on Monday called for the immediate collection of data on Mount Merapi evacuees who had returned to their homes located within a radius of five kilometers from the volcano`s crater although the volcano`s activity had not yet ceased. "The provisional data collection must be done as fast as possible and should not wait until the actual data can be gathered because then it may be too late," to governor after a coordinating meeting with the government chiefs of three districts located closes to the Mt Merapi`s top. Bibit said that if the data collection was done after Mt Merapi`s activity had decreased, it would mean hardships for the village residents` concerned. Up to 53,000 people used to live in settlements lcoated within a radius of five kilometers from the Merapi`s top but now they were homeless because the eruption had destroyed their homes.

All Sleman Area around Merapi Vulnerable
The area around Mount Merapi slopes in the Sleman Regency is still considered to be a vulnerable zone, which is no less than 20 kilometer of the peak. "Avalanches and hot clouds tend to head south, including the Sleman area," said the head of Geology Agency, Energy and Mineral Resources Department, R. Sukhyar, yesterday at the National Agency for Disaster Management National Post, Yogyakarta. The Geological Agency announced that the distance of disaster-prone areas around Merapi has been reduced in several areas except for Sleman. The radius of disaster prone zones in Magelang regency is now 15 kilometers, in Klaten regency 10 kilometers, and in Boyolali regency 10 kilometers. But the Mount Merapi is still on alert status. Merapi activities show a tendency of to slowing down, but remaining tremors show there is still high magma movement in the belly of mountain.

RI Community in Houston Raises Funds For Disaster Victims
The Indonesian community in the US city of Houston and environs, supported by the local Indonesian consulate general, organized a charity bazaar to raise funds for victims of natural disasters at home. The bazaar to help victims of the Wasior flash flood, the Mentawai earthquake and tsunami, and the Mt Merapi eruptions in Central Java was held on the premises of the Indonesian consulate general on Saturday (Nov 13), according to Indonesian Consul General in Houston Al Busyra Basnur in an e-mailed message to ANTARA Monday. The event attracted around 1,000 people, both Indonesians and Americans, especially those grouped in "Friends of Indonesia." The bazaar managed to collect donations amounting to US$20,204 which would be sent to Indonesia. Consul General Al Busyra Basnur in his opening remarks expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the Indonesian community in Houston and surrounding areas for their concern and efforts to help disaster victims in Indonesia.

Ministry Condemns Torture of Female Worker in Saudi Arabia
The Foreign Ministry has condemned a case of torture recently experienced by an Indonesian female migrant worker at the hands of her employer in Saudi Arabia. Sumiati binti Salan Mustapa (23) who hailed from Dompu, West Nusa Tenggara NTB), was found hospitalized last November 8 for serious injuries on her body believed to have been inflicted by her employer in Medina, Saudi Arabia. "The Foreign Affairs Ministry strongly condemns this inhumane treatment. In fact, Minister Marty Natalegawa this afternoon summoned the Saudi Arabian ambassador to Indonesia to express the government`s objections to the ill treatment received by Sumiati," the ministry`s spokesman, Michael Tene, said here on Monday.

Bapepam Prepares Scheme for Investment Security
The Capital Market Supervisory Agency & Financial Institution (Bapepam-LK) has not found the best scheme to form an investor protection fund (IPF). "We are still carrying out comprehensive studies on the problem," said Bapepam-LK Chief Ahmad Fuad Rahmany said in Jakarta last weekend. IPF is formed to be similar as the Deposit Insurance Agency (LPS) for capital market investors. Different from customers saving money in the bank, investments in the capital market is not yet guaranteed. IPF's form cannot just copy that of LPS because the characteristics of the capital market and banks are different.

Dirgantara Indonesia Needs US$80 Million to Develop Business
State-owned aircraft maker PT Dirgantara Indonesia (DI) needs US$ 80 million to develop its business and build new planes, a company executive said. Dita Ardonni Jafri, PT DI`s corporate secretary, said Monday the company was hoping to earn fresh funds through the sale of 20 N219 planes to regional administrations. "We have approached some regional administrations to sell them N219 planes. The money from the sales will be used to finance our next projects," Dita said adding that N219 planes were priced four million US dollars each. He said regional governments could buy the planes under an installment system with the assistance of foreign investors. In fact, subject to certain conditions, the regional governments were allowed to use the planes for commercial purposes.

APEC Bogor Goals Relevant Despite Needs For Adjustments, VP Says
Indonesian Vice President Boediono said leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum are of the opinion that the 1994 Bogor Goals are still relevant today despite the need for adjustments to changes in today`s global economic constellation. "The Bogor meeting was a milestone for APEC. At the time APEC was structured before the (1997) crises and it has sustained with its functions remaining important," Boediono said in a press gathering with Indonesian media in Tokyo, on Sunday. In the first retreat of APEC summit in Yokohama, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said that the forum would better remind the Bogor Goals. This request has been accommodated at Yokohamo meeting as embodied in the APEC Yokohama Declaration, in which it also says the significance of the Bogor Goals.

For Indonesia, Doha Talks Come First
Indonesia's priority is to wrap up the long-running Doha round of global trade talks rather than joining a US-led Asia-Pacific free-trade initiative, said Mari Pangestu, the trade minister of Southeast Asia's largest economy. Mari also said that differing speeds of currency appreciation in emerging Asian economies was a source of anxiety for Indonesia and raised questions over how to manage large capital inflows into the country. "For Indonesia, we think the best thing to do is to conclude the Doha round," she said when asked about joining the US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership, which would in principle eliminate all tariffs within the zone it covers.

Investors Want Something Concrete from Aceh Business Summit
Business circles expressed hope that the Aceh Business Summit organized by the regional government would lead to concrete actions. "We hope our meeting would not be a mare ceremonial event but must give birth to a concrete action by the government to invite investors into Aceh," Fakhrizal Murphy, a businessman who attended the event, said. Fakhrizal, who is also chairman of the Aceh branch of the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs (HIPMI), said that the summit which was attended by diplomats and foreign and domestic businesses would be meaningless if it was limited to ceremonial event. Therefore, the local government should make concrete efforts and develop communications with various sides, particularly with investors attending the summit.

Friday, November 12, 2010
Indonesian Red Cross Helps Reconstruction Of 516 Houses in Mentawai
The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) is to help realize the reconstruction of 516 houses in Mentawai , West Sumatra, which were heavily damaged in the Oct 25 tsunami, the organization`s chief said. PMI Chairman Jusuf Kalla said here on Thursday his organization would provide the 516 families with building materials and tools for reconstruction of their houses such as sand, hoes and saws. "PMI will also give them cash money at a rate of Rp 5 million per family. I hope they can use the money to rebuild their houses and meet their daily needs," Kalla said. Kalla who was vice president in the 2004-2009 period also said he would assign a PMI team to distribute the humanitarian aid among needy Mentawai families.

Disaster Reserve Funds Remain Rp 930 Billion
Deputy Finance Minister Anny Ratnawati said disaster reserve funds still remained Rp930 billion. "Unspent disaster reserve funds still amounted to Rp930 billion," the deputy minister said here on Thursday. She said that disaster reserve funds were set at the revised 2010 state budget at Rp3.79 trillion. Anny said that a total of Rp650 billion had been allocated for disaster handling in West Sumatra and West Java several months ago. Of the allocated funds, Rp350 billion were for the handling of disaster in West Sumatra, Rp200 billion for West Java and Rp100 billion for on-call funds. She said that the government had also channeled Rp150 billion to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) in the second stage allocation.

Official Proposes Disaster Education in Schools
The government needs to make education about natural disasters part of the school curriculum, an official said on Friday. "Including knowledge about natural disasters in the school curriculum is one way to help reduce casualties when a disaster strikes," said Safri Baharuddin, chief of information at the Coordinating Ministry for People's Welfare. He said that many Indonesians did not know what to do in the event of natural disasters, like earthquakes or tsunamis. This often adds to panic during such situations. "People, especially those living in disaster-prone areas, must be taught what they must do during a disaster. Conducting disaster drills may help, but such exercises are not regularly done," Safri said.

Indonesia Volcano Death Toll Rises Past 200
he death toll from a series of eruptions at an Indonesian volcano has risen to 206. Mount Merapi began unleashing torrents of hot gas, rock and other debris more than two weeks ago after years of dormancy. The most significant blast came last Friday, the deadliest day at the mountain in decades. The National Disaster Management Agency said Friday that the toll had gone up from 194 to 206 - after counting additional people who died from respiratory problems, heart attacks and other illnesses related to the eruptions.

Merapi Spewing Big Hot Clouds Again
Mount Merapi in Central Java spewed a big cloud of volcanic materials for more than an hour at 5.38pm on Friday. From a CCTV camera installed in Deles village, Klaten, a high column of clouds were seen coming out of the mountain`s top followed by a quite big molten lava at around 6.45pm. "We still declare Mount Merapi under highest alert status although the intensity of its seismic activity has dropped," head of the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Agency, Surono, said here on Friday. He said the flow of hot clouds for more than an hour was quite dangerous because the condition of the path in Merapi was now like a toll road as no obstacles such as trees were found.

Hundreds Of Mt Merapi Refugees Mentally Stressed
Three hundred and thirty survivors of Mount Merapi eruptions being sheltered at Maguwohardjo sports stadium here are suffering from mental stress, a psychologist said on Thursday. "We have recorded that, until November 10, there were 330 refugees who were suffering from mental stress. Their number is likely to increase because we have not yet counted them all," Retno Kumolohadi, a psychologist, said. Retno, coordinator of Maguwoharjo Refugee Center's psychology unit, said that as a result of the mental stress, lots of refugees could not sleep at night. "Lots of them continue to worry about their livestock, houses, and properties that they had left behind when they evacuated," she said.

RI Urged to Benefit From Global Economic Changes
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Indonesia should be able to use the momentum of world`s economic changes for strengthening its economic capacity. In such a situation, Indonesia should also be able to promote itself as an important player in the global economy, the head of state told journalists on his way from Jakarta to Seoul on Thursday. Garuda Indonesia`s aircraft that brought President Yudhoyono and First Lady Ani Yudhoyono landed at South Korea`s Incheon International Airport on Thursday night. The Garuda aircraft arrived at 8:15 PM Seoul time or 6:15 PM Jakarta time. President Yudhoyono would attend a G20 Summit here on Friday morning.

RI Government to Announce National Development Master Plan
Early in 2011 the Indonesian government will announce a blueprint on national accelerated and increased development for equal national development of the country. "In January, God willing, I will prevent a master plan on accelerated and increased national development including the provinces outside Java island," President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said when speaking to the press on his way to South Korea Thursday. The head of state said the blueprint will cover what the government will do in the economic field, including special economic sectors and economic clusters. The head of state giving example pointed to increase in per capita income in the last six years since 2004 from 1,186 to 3,000 US dollars.

International Conference On Papua Culture Ends With Several Recommendations
An international conference on Papua`s cultural diversity in Indonesia`s cultural mosaic was concluded on Thursday with a number of recommendations. Participant from UNDP, Tuan Wisnu, who acted as deputy chairman of drafting team said here on Friday that a number of important recommendations were produced in the four-day conference that took place on November 8-11, 2010. "The drafting team, made up of academics, researchers, experts, and some participants of the conference, formulated a number of important recommendations," Tuan Wisnu said. He said the recommendations covered among others the importance to respect and fully support Papua provincial government`s effort to conduct a conference of Papua cultural diversity, to encourage the local government to facilitate and inventorize Papua culture, and to develop Papua cultural heritage through a research and documentation, to encourage the local people including youth and women participation in cultural preservation, and to encourage the central government to preserve Papua cultural diversity.

Government Encourages Development of Defense Industry
Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said he will encourage the strengthening of the defense industry to create a national defense force for the future. This will be done by forming a Committee for Defense Industry Policy, involving the ministries of State-owned enterprises, Industry, the Research and Technology, the Police, and the Indonesian Armed Forces. "We are still developing the road map, but the implementation will be hand in hand with the road map discussion," he said at the Indodefence event yesterday. Improvements in the defense industry is ensured by the maximum use of domestic capability. "If we can't do this yet, we will try to include local content in collaborative industries," he said. As such, there must be some technology-transfer activities before Indonesia can become the exporter of defense industry equipment.

Indonesia Sends 26th Peacekeeping Force to Lebanon
Indonesia sent its 26th peacekeeping force to Lebanon on Thursday. Indonesia`s defense forces (TNI) commander Admiral Agus Suhartono said when seeing off the Garuda Contingent at the TNI Headquarters that the sending of the force was proof of the country` strong commitment to promoting world peace. "For TNI the assignment is a mandate of the constitution which is one of the nation`s goals and ideals," he said. He said the assignment as part of the United Nations peacekeeping force had become part of the long tradition of TNI`s service to the world.

Indonesia-US Geothermal Joint-Venture Planned
The government is preparing a clean energy and geothermal energy scheme in cooperation with the US government. This is a follow-up on the bilateral agreements mentioned by US President Barack Obama in his speech yesterday. The Director General of New and Renewable Energy, Luluk Sumiarso, said that technically, his department is ready even before Obama's arrival in Indonesia. Indonesia has received assistance from USAID in developing clean energy, coordinated by the Coordinating Department of People's Welfare. But Luluk could not mention the amount of the aid. But the Department of Energy and Mineral Resources is still waiting for the Foreign Ministry's guidance as the main coordinator. "What are the substances, how do we follow up on them?. There should be technical procedures," he said.

RI A World Class Country: President
Indonesia is a country whose people have self-esteem and is growing into a world class country, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said at Incheon airport here Thursday (11/11). "Indonesia is a world class country since joining G-20 in 2008, which represented top 20 countries in the world. And we may not realize that we have a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) which increased in the last five to six years," President Yudhoyono said. Yudhoyono said the country should abandon its inferiority complex and waiting for somebody`s help to achieve an advanced country playing an import role in the world. "Let`s throw away our inadequacies, we are people with a self-respect and honor, and if we manage them well, we will be a class country in the next 15 years," the President said.

LAPAN Developing Rockets to Put Satellites in Orbit
The National Aeronautics and Space Agency (LAPAN) is building a rocket named RX-550 with a cruising capacity of more than 200 kilometers in the initial phase of a project to make one capable of putting a satellite in orbit, a spokesman said. LAPAN spokesman Soewarto Hardhienata said here on Thursday the RX-550 rocket would undergo a static test in December this year and a flight test in 2012. "This one, which will consist of four stages, will be part of an RPS-01 rocket to put a satellite in orbit," Soewarto said. He said LAPAN had earlier successfully tested the flights of RX-320 and RX-420 rockets whose components would be used to build a RPS-01 rocket to carry a satellite to an orbit around earth.

Embassy Confirms Two Indonesian Hostages in Nigeria
The Indonesian Embassy in Nigeria has confirmed that two Indonesians were among seven hostages held by a militant group in Nigeria. Reza Abdul Rozak, an embassy spokesman, said that they were working closely with Nigerian officials in connection with hostages taken by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta from an offshore oil rig operated by contractor Transocean Ltd. The two Indonesians came from a nearby support ship operated by Century Energy Services. "We are cooperating with the company where our citizens work and also the Nigerian security officials, but we have not received any contact from the abductors," Reza said.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Indonesian Volcano Death Toll Rises to 191
Indonesia's Mount Merapi volcano has killed 191 people since it began erupting late last month, with more than 340,000 people living in makeshift camps, an official said on Wednesday. "The death toll from Merapi has reached 191. More than 340,000 people have fled their homes," a disaster management official said. The official, who refused to give his name, said the sharp increase in the death toll from 151 was likely due to rescuers recovering more bodies in the central Java area where the volcano is located.

Mt Merapi Emits Poisonous Gas
Mount Merapi which has been repeatedly erupting and rumbling since Tuesday (October 26), was at 11 am on Tuesday reported to be also emiting poisonous gas. "Merapi has been emiting poisonous gas since Sunday (Nov 7) and some of it reached an ORARI monitoring post in Dompol, Kemalang Sub-district, Klaten District, around 12 kilometers from the mountain`s peak," Karyono, a member of ORARI (Indonesian Amateur Radio Organization)`s Klaten branch, said here Tuesday. Merapi was on Tuesday continually spewing hot clouds and producing rumbling sounds from 03.00 a.m. until 05.00 a.m. local time, Karyono said, adding that the volcano`s rumbling noises could be heard until 11.00 a.m. local time.

Obama Says US to Help Victims Of Natural Disasters
Visiting US President Barack Obama expressed sympathy for Indonesia on Tuesday and pledged to send humanitarian aid to victims of Merapi eruptions in Yogyakarta and Central Java and tsunami in Mentawai. "We will keep supporting. The United States of America would continue to collect humanitarian aid in everyway possible ," he said at a joint press conference with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono here Tuesday evening. Obama said Indonesia was facing difficult times recently due to a number of natural disasters that came one after the other. He praised President Yudhoyono that had worked hard to help his people that had become victims of the natural disasters.

Norway Gives $1M to Tsunami and Merapi Victims
Norway announced US$1 million of assistance recently for the emergency relief efforts in disaster-affected areas. "In this hard time of challenges and suffering, the Norwegian government and people want to reach out to a good close friend and demonstrate our strong solidarity," Royal Norwegian Ambassador to Indonesia Ambassador Eivind S. Homme told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday. Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere, who visited Indonesia recently, said that the tsunami that struck Mentawai Islands, West Sumatra, on Oct. 25 and the Mount Merapi eruptions had led to a great need for humanitarian assistance. "Norway is therefore contributing $1million, which is being channeled through the Norwegian Red Cross to its Indonesian sister organization," said Stoere in Jakarta on Monday.

'Awesome' Obama Shines in Jakarta
"Awesome," "amazing," "wonderful" and "great" were just four of the numerous reactions posted on the Jakarta Globe's Facebook profile in response to United States President Barack Obama's speech in Jakarta on Wednesday. Shinta Purnama Sarie summed up the overwhelmingly positive response to Obama's speech at the University of Indonesia, saying the address had left her speechless and that she admired him "so bad." She said it was amazing that the charismatic president, who she labeled as the best public speaker besides Martin Luther King, could pack so much content into a speech, covering development, democracy and religion in just 30 minutes. Elizabeth A Matteson-Siregar wrote that as an American, she was "very impressed."

United States President Barack Obama's Full Speech from the University of Indonesia
Thank you for this wonderful welcome. Thank you to the people of Jakarta. And thank you to the people of Indonesia. I am so glad that I made it to Indonesia, and that Michelle was able to join me. We had a couple of false starts this year, but I was determined to visit a country that has meant so much to me. Unfortunately, it's a fairly quick visit, but I look forward to coming back a year from now, when Indonesia hosts the East Asia Summit. Before I go any further, I want to say that our thoughts and prayers are with all of those Indonesians affected by the recent tsunami and volcanic eruptions - particularly those who have lost loved ones, and those who have been displaced. As always, the United States stands with Indonesia in responding to this natural disaster, and we are pleased to be able to help as needed. As neighbors help neighbors and families take in the displaced, I know that the strength and resilience of the Indonesian people will pull you through once more.

Soldiers Found Guilty of Papua Torture Recorded in Video, Sentenced to Four Months In Jail
Army Second Lieutenant Cosmos, commander of Kolome Post in Illu District, Papua has been found guilty of torturing civilians and sentenced to four months in prison. The sentence will include his detention period. Cosmos was charged with torturing a number of people living in Puncak Jaya, Papua, last March. Meanwhile, Private FC Sahminan Husain Lubis, Private Joko Sulistiono and Private Dwi Purwanto, have been sentenced to three months jail time for the same offence. In the military court in Jayapura, yesterday, prosecutors Lt. Col. CHK Edi Imran and Maj. CHK Sumantri explained that the suspects violated Chapter 103 and Chapter 55 of the Military Criminal Code on disobeying an official order by maltreating civilians, exceeding instructions, and influencing other soldiers to disobey instructions. "I am ready to face my punishment," Cosmos said.

News Focus: Obama Admires Religious Tolerance in Indonesia
United States President Barack Obama admired Indonesia as an example of religious tolerance to a tense age of colliding cultures. Obama made the statement in his public speech before thousands of people at the state University of Indonesia (UI) in Depok, some 30 kilometers south of Jakarta, on Wednesday morning. "Even as this land of my youth has changed in so many ways, those things that I learned to love about Indonesia is the spirit of tolerance written into your constitution, symbolized in your mosques and churches and temples, and embodied in your people still lives on." Pointing out the Indonesian national motto of "Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity), Obama said that was the foundation of Indonesia`s example to the world, and that was why Indonesia would play such an important role in the 21st century.

Obama Praises RI's Bhinneka Tunggal Ika Motto
US President Barack Obama praised Indonesia's motto of Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (Unity in Diversity) during his general lecture at the University of Indonesia (UI) on Wednesday. "Various races, religious beliefs and cultures in Indonesia have lived side by side peacefully and become a plus values of this country. The Bhinneka Tunggal Ika philosophy makes Indonesia a strong country," Obama said. The president said other countries must learn from Indonesia in terms of remaining united in diversity and maintaining a peaceful life. "There are three things which the US will study and develop with Indonesia, namely development, democracy and religious tolerance among people," he said.

Indonesia's Krakatau Steel Soars on Its Debut, Raising Questions of Pricing
Krakatau Steel on Wednesday made a stellar debut on the Indonesia Stock Exchange, soaring 49.4 percent on the back of strong local buying before trading of the shares was temporarily suspended. The stock closed at Rp 1,270, compared with its opening price of Rp 850. Total transaction value was Rp 2 trillion ($226 million). Krakatau's big first day of trading, however, fueled talk of graft. There has been speculation that the stock's price was intentionally set low for its initial public offering last week, despite strong demand at home and abroad. Juniman, an analyst from Bank Internasional Indonesia, said the stock's soaring price following its debut was proof that the IPO share price was too low, especially considering the strong prospects projected for the steel industry.

US Waiting to See Indonesia's Role For Myanmar Democratization
The United States is waiting for Indonesia's role as chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations for 2011 with regard to democratization in Myanmar. At a joint press conference with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono after a meeting here on Tuesday, visiting US President Barack Obama said one of the challenges being faced by ASEAN and also the world was democratization in Myanmar. "One of the challenges being faced by ASEAN and the world is Myanmar and I am waiting for Indonesia`s role in defending the Myanmarese and their rights," he said. Obama said the general elections staged by Myanmar were obvioulsy not free and unfair.

RI, Austria Agree to Encourage Democracy in Myanmar
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Indonesia and Austria have agreed to encourage Myanmar to realize its self-declared democratic pledge. "When it comes to Myanmar we have agreed to encourage Myanmar to build democracy on its own," Yudhoyono said following bilateral talks with Austrian President Heinz Fischer at the Merdeka Palace here on Tuesday. The two leaders touched on the question of Myanmar when they discussed latest developments in the Southeast Asian region. Myanmar held the first general elections in 20 years on Sunday. Fischer who arrived here on Tuesday for a three-day visit said he took advantage of the visit to seek Indonesia`s views on Myanmar as a fellow ASEAN member state.

Indonesia Reviews Grant of 24 Old US F-16A Jets
The Defense Ministry is reviewing the offer for 24 used F-16A jets from the US. These airplanes will be granted under the condition that Indonesia retrofits them. This was conveyed by the Defense Ministry's spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Wayan Midhio, contacted yesterday. Wayan said the Defense Ministry is considering two options; accepting the US' offer or buy six new F16As. "The price range is the same. Six new airplanes are worth 24 retrofitted old ones," he said. Seeing Indonesia's current need, he said, accepting the 24 used planes are more suitable than buying new ones. "We need many planes, especially when many of the ones we have are broken. Due to this limitation, it is better to take the 24 planes," he said.

Obama Says "Indonesia is Part Of My Life"
US President Barack Obama wrapped up his less than 24-hour visit to Jakarta on Wednesday by declaring that Indonesia was part of his life. "Indonesia bagian dari diri saya," President Obama said in his address at the University of Indonesia (UI) Campus in Depok, on the outskirt of Jakarta, in fluent Bahasa Indonesia. His words were greeted warmly by the audience. In his address, Obama touched on his sweet memories during a four years of his childhood period in Jakarta. He said he first came to Indonesia when his mother, Stanley Ann Dunham, who married to an Indonesian, Lolo Soetoro, moved to Jakarta and lived in Menteng Dalam in the late 1960s.

Yudhoyono Bestows "Bintang Jas" to Obama's Mother
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono bestowed the Bintang Jasa Utama medal to Stanley Ann Dunham, mother of US President Barack Obama, posthumously, for her services in her research work on the role of women. "To remember and appreciate her for her dedication and love for Indonesia, the Indonesian government decided to bestow her the Bintang Jasa Utama, President Yudhoyono said in a banquet entertaining President Obama at the State Palace Tuesday night. President Yudhoyono said Ann Dunham, an American, conducted research at the Gajah Mada University in Yogyakarta on the role of women and socio-economic empowerment. "She conducted the research with full dedication and sacrifice," he said.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Government Preparing Blueprint For Mentawai Reconstruction
The government is preparing a blueprint for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of tsunami-devastated Mentawai Islands to allow local people to lead a life as before, a minister said. "Hopefully, the blueprint can be completed at the end of the first week of December this year, while the rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts can be started in 2011," Minister of National Development Planning/Head of the National Development Panning Agency (Bappenas) Armida Alisjahbana said following a meeting at the vice presidential palace on Monday. Also present at the meeting led by Vice President Boediono were Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa, Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo, and Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto.

Rp 9 Billion Spent on Food Allowance
Central Java province, since the October 26 Merapi eruption, has spent Rp 9 billion on food allowance. Central Java Governor, Bibit Waluyo, said that the total funds allocated came to Rp. 21 billion. But with the increasing number of refugees, he is worried that the food allowance will not last long. "It will be worse if the Mount Merapi disaster does not stop soon," he told journalists in Boyolali yesterday. Right now there are around 204.000 evacuees in Boyolali, Klaten and Magelang. Every person gets a food allowance of Rp.5000 per day so every day the government spends around Rp 1 billion. "In the past, the number of refugees was about 20.000 people. We only spent Rp. 10 million a day," he said.

Volunteers Serve as Lifeline for Indonesia's Mount Merapi Evacuees
Tuginem lives in Selorojo village in Boyolali district, Central Java, just a kilometer from an evacuation camp in Kemiri village. She normally cooks for weddings and other gatherings, but lately she has been cooking on a daily basis for far bigger crowds. Tuginem is a volunteer at the Kemiri camp, working from 3 a.m. to 7 p.m. to feed around 1,700 people there who fled their homes on the slopes of the still-erupting Mount Merapi. "I'm glad I can help," the 50-year-old says, adding that being able to help out gives her a good feeling. "Besides, cooking is my forte," she said.

Mt Merapi Eruptions Damage 867 Hectares Of Forest
Mount Merapi eruptions have damaged 867 hectares of forest on the volcano`s slopes in Sleman District, Yogyakarta, with the losses estimated at Rp33 billion. The damaged forest areas consisted of Mt Merapi National Park, community forests and local people`s plantation areas, Kardina, secretary of the Yogyakarta forestry office, said here Monday. The Mt Merapi National Park in Cangkringan sub district has been closed temporarily due to the volcano`s eruptions. Around 310 hectares of the national park area have been damaged with total losses estimated at Rp17 billion, she said. "The Merapi eruptions since October 26, 2010, have forced animals to migrate and burned Javanese eagle`s nests existing in the area," she said.

Fears for Missing Children in Indonesia Volcano Chaos
Rescuers in Indonesia voiced fears on Tuesday for missing children lost in the chaos of a mass exodus after a series of killer eruptions from the nation's most dangerous volcano. About 320,000 people are living in cramped temporary shelters after being ordered to evacuate from a 20-kilometer "danger zone" around Mount Merapi, which has been spewing ash and heat clouds since late October. "We're concerned about children who are yet to be united with their parents," said Makbul Mubarak, a coordinator for volunteers who are trying to reunite separated families.

US Investment in RI Expected to Hit $1 Bln
The Industry Ministry has projected US investment in Indonesia will hit a record high of US$1 billion in the next few years following President Barack Obama`s visit to the country on Nov 9-10. "US investment in Indonesia is relatively small compared to that of other Asian countries, such as Japan and South Korea. I hope it could increase following Obama`s visit," Industry Minister MS Hidayat said here on Monday. He said the government would encourage US companies to invest in heavy-duty equipment and machinery industries. A number of US companies had so far invested in the heavy-duty equipment industry including Caterpillar Inc.

Obama : RI New Rising Economic Power
Visiting US President Barack Obama said he believed Indonesia was a new rising economic power in the region as well as in the world. "I believe Indonesia is not only a rising regional power but also a global power," he said at the opening of a bilateral meeting between the two countries` governments at Merdeka Palace here on Tuesday evening. The meeting was attended by a number of ministers and officials concerned of the two countries. President Obama said he had already held talks several times with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. He said he had already had wonderful talks with President Yudhyono.

Obama: US Sincerely Tying to Cooperate with Muslim World
US President Barack Obama said the US government had been sincerely striving to cooperate with the MUslim world through various approaches. Regarding the US government`s outreach to the Moslem world the visiting US president said that it was sincere adding the US could not just forget the trust that had long existed and he thought that its efforts were already on the right track. He made the statement at a joint press conference with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the Merdeka Palace here on Tuesday evening.

RI, US Form Working Groups On Comprehensive Partnership
The Indonesian and United States governments have set up working groups to achieve the goals of their comprehensive partnership agreement, an Indonesian official said. "Both countries have set up working groups for their comprehensive partnership," Indonesian Ambassador to the United States Dino Patti Djalal said here on Tuesday. He said the presence of the working groups was an indication that the comprehensive partnership between Indonesia and the United States was already operational. The partnership is already in the stage of implementation, according to the ambassador. "It is already operational and it will be inaugurated during Obama`s visit" Dino said.

Obama: Progress in Ending Mistrust with Muslims
President Barack Obama said Tuesday he is making progress toward ending the misunderstanding and mistrust between Muslim countries and the United States, but the effort is incomplete. The president, at a news conference in the world's largest Muslim country, also criticized Israel's plans to build new apartments in disputed East Jerusalem. "This kind of activity is never helpful when it comes to peace negotiations," Obama said. The president said his efforts to improve the relationship between Muslims and the West have been "earnest" and "sustained." Still, he said the progress is "incomplete" and there is more work to do.

Federal Reserve Boost Drives Jakarta Composite Index to a Record
International bullishness drove the Jakarta Composite Index to a record close on Tuesday, as another round of US government stimulus prompted investors to bet on emerging markets and commodities. The JCI rose 38.22 points, or 1 percent, to 3,737.48. About 6.4 billion shares valued at Rp 6.9 trillion ($773 million) changed hands. Gainers outnumbered decliners 116 to 94. "The rally in Indonesian stocks may continue until the end of the week. Investor appetite remains high after the dollar weakened and commodity prices rose," said Praska Putrantyo, an analyst from Infovesta Utama. He said state-owned Krakatau Steel's initial public offering last week - expected to raise Rp 2.68 trillion - should fuel positive sentiment in the stock market.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Hopes for Maintenance of US-China Relations
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono hoped for continued close normal relations between China and the United States amidst the current world economic situation. "Any bad reaction by the two countries will have far-reaching effects," the President said in a joint press conference with his American counterpart Barack Obama after a bilaterial meeting at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta Tuesday. President Yudhoyono hoped US-China economic relations remain smooth in the current geopolitical developments and the two countries also hoped to contribute to the East Asia region currently involving the US in the East Asia Summit (EAS) forum involving ten Southeast Asian countries, Japan, China, South Korea, Russia and the US.

Istiqlal Mosque Preparing For US President's Visit
The biggest mosque in South East Asia is preparing itself for a visit by US President Barack Obama on Wednesday. "The mosque will be sterilized from any activity at 6.00 a.m. local time on November 10 for the president`s visit," the Istiqlal`s security chief, HM Subakir. said here Monday. The mosque`s security service would cooperate with both the Indonesian and US presidential security guard forces, Subakir said. He said Indonesia`s Presidential Security Guard Force had already conducted an on-the-spot rehearsal of their mission at the Istiqlal Mosque during Obama`s visit. Some of US officials had earlier monitored the area around the mosque to analyze the perimeter, he said.

US Investment in RI Soars to $871 Million Until Q3
US investment in Indonesia grew rapidly to US$871 million until the third quarter of this year, a minister said. "Until the third quarter of 2010 (US investment) reached US$871 million, meaning that US investment outside the oil and gas sector grew rapidly," Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa said here on Tuesday. The US investment in Indonesia stood at US$157 million in 2008, rose to US$171 million in 2009 and further moved up to US$871 in 2010 up to September, he said. He expressed hope that US investors would invest in the country`s renewable energy. "We want a transfer of technology in the field of renewable energy. We hope there will be US investment in the management of renewable energy," he said.

Obama: US Wants to be RI's Biggest Trade Partner
Visiting US President Barack Obama said the US wants to become Indonesia`s biggest trade partner and investor. He made the statement at a joint press conference with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono after holding a bilateral meeting at the Merdeka Palace here on Tuesday. Right now the US was Indonesia`s third biggest trade partner and investor with trade between the two countries reaching US$21 billion in 2008. "Just now President Yudhoyono said we are the third biggest trade partner and investor. We do not like to be number three. We want to be number one, and will do anything we can to become number one," he said.

Obama's Childhood Memories Flood Back in Jakarta
More than 40 years have passed since US President Barack Obama came to Indonesia for the first time, but the memories of his former childhood home came flooding back during a state visit to Jakarta on Tuesday. Obama received a warm welcome from many locals after spending four years in Jakarta as a child, when his mother married an Indonesian man, though when asked how it felt to be back he said things had changed a lot. "When I first came here, it was 1967. People were on becaks, which - for those of you who aren't familiar - is a bicycle-rickshaw thing," he said, in a description of a vehicle now rarely seen on Jakarta streets packed with new sports utility vehicles and Toyota sedans.

US Economic Dominance Motivated Obama's Visit to RI: Observer
US President Barack Obama's visit to Indonesia was probably motivated by the superpower`s efforts to maintain its economic dominance, an economist said. "The superpower`s efforts to maintain its dominance in capital ownership, foreign investment or market widening were triggered by its economic crisis," Ahmad Ma`ruf said here Tuesday. Due to the on-going impacts of the global financial crisis that had weakened the US economy, Obama needed the markets of such potential countries as India and Indonesia, he said.

RI Preparing ISPO Certification For Oil Palm Plantations
Indonesia is preparing an Indonesian Sustainable Palm Oil (ISPO) certification as a guideline for environmentally friendly oil palm plantations in the country. "Indonesia is currently preparing a guidance for developing sustainable oil palm plantations in line with the existing regulations in Indonesia," Mukti Sarjono, director of the agriculture ministry`s estate crops, said here Tuesday in his opening speech at the Annual Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) 2010. ISPO would be mandatory to oil palm producers in Indonesia.

Monday, November 8, 2010
News Focus: Government to Write Off Disaster Victims' Credits
The government is expected to write off debts it has provided under the small-holder`s credit (LUR) scheme for the victims of flash floods in Wasior, West Papua, Mt Merapi eruption in Central Java and earthquake/tsunami in Mentawai Islands in West Sumatra. "We will do our best to write off their KUR debts. The victims of natural disasters in Wasior, Merapi and Mentawai must be freed from their KUR debts," Minister for Cooperatives, Small and Medium-Scale Enterprises (UKM), Sjarifuddin Hasan, said here on Sunday. The ministry of cooperatives and UKM will therefore directly take stock in the field of the number of KUR debtors and conduct a cross-check in its data base to ensure the number of KUR recipients who needed to be freed from repayment obligations.

President: Merapi Evacuees 10 Times Larger
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the number of evacuees since Mount Merapi erupted on Oct 26 is ten times higher than that in the volcano`s previous eruptions. "The Mount Merapi eruptions this time has led to a surge in the number of evacuees in Yogyakarta and Central Java. Up till now their number has reached 283,000 compared to 190,000 the day before. They are all being sheltered at evacuee camps," he said when visiting evacuees sheltered at Maguwoharjo Stadium here on Sunday. The 283,000 evacuees came from Sleman, Magelang, Klaten and Boyolali districts which are close to Mt Merapi, he said.

BPPTK: Merapi Never Sends Hot Clouds 60 Km From Crater
The Yogyakarta Volcanic Technology Development and Research Center (BPPTK) denied rumours on Sunday that Mount Merapi would shoot clouds of hot ash as far as 60 km from its crater. "We ask the public to remain calm. In its history, Merapi has never sent clouds of hot ash that far," Subandrio, the centre's head, said. The rumors were totally unfounded, he said. He asked the public to follow the instructions issued by the authorized agencies such as the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Centre (PVMBG) of the Geology Board and the Volcanic Technology Development and Research Centre (BPPTK).

Rescue Workers Among Mt Merapi's Fatalities
Indonesian social welfare minister Salim Segaf Al Jufri expressed his deep condolences to the families of two voluntary rescue workers (Tagana) who died of Mount Merapi`s hot clouds of ash and lava during their humanitarian operations. "The minister has expressed his deep condolences," Social Welfare Ministry`s Expert Staff for Media Relations and Good Governance Affairs, Sapto Waluyo, said here Sunday evening. Despite the fatal accident, the minister encouraged the Tagana members being deployed to the disaster zones in Yogyakarta and Central Java, Mentawai district (West Sumatra), and Wasior (West Papua), to keep doing their best, he said.

Corpse Found, Tsunami Death Toll in Mentawai Now 448
The corpse of a tsunami victim in Mentawai was found by a resident at Pagai Utara sub district, Sunday (7/11) evening, Paulinus, spokesperson of an Emergency Response Post, said here Monday. "Another dead body was found by a resident of Munte Baru Baru village in Pagai Utara sub district on Sunday evening," he said. He said the corpse found on Sunday (7/11) cannot be identified pending coordination with related parties. With the discovery of the corpse, the death toll in the tsunami in Mentawai Islands on Monday reached 448. Paulinus added that the number of missing people reached 56, while at the emergency hospital at the Sikakap Health Centre, 325 injured people including 173 seriously.

End Of Mt Merapi Eruptions Hard to Predict: Expert
Indonesia`s chief geologist said it was difficult to predict when Mount Merapi` eruptions will cease because the volcano is now still holding a huge amount of energy. The amount of energy spewed by the volcano from Nov 3 to 7 was much bigger than that on October 26, 2010, R. Sukhyar, head of the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry`s Geological Agency, said here Sunday. The volcano`s activity on Sunday was still high and local authorities had kept the radius of the danger zone at 20 km from Merapi`s peak. The volcano had now formed a 400-meter crater and was continuing to emit cold mudflows and hot ashes that moved down the mountain`s slopes toward the Gendol river.

Many Flee Mt. Merapi Amid Fears of Eruption
Frightened residents abandoned their homes in a bustling city of 400,000 at the foot of Indonesia's rumbling volcano Monday, cramming onto trains, buses and rented vehicles as authorities warned Mount Merapi could erupt again at any time. A mass burial late Sunday for many of the 141 people killed in the last two weeks served as a reminder of the mountain's devastating power that culminated in its deadliest blast in 80 years, sending hot clouds of gas, rocks and debris avalanching down its slopes. With the closest airport closed by ash, rail traffic leaving Yogyakarta has doubled in recent days, as residents - many of them students from the city's universities - tried desperately to get out.

Merapi Ground Heat Forces Indonesia to Halt Search for Bodies
Indonesian rescue workers were forced to abandon efforts to retrieve bodies of victims from the Nov. 5 eruption of Mount Merapi in central Java, as increasing ground temperature and volcanic instability made it unsafe to continue. Rescuers had been using wooden boards to walk on in areas where the soil reached temperatures higher than 70 degrees Celsius, Oka Hamid, a spokesman at Red Cross Indonesia's Yogyakarta branch, said today. "We found five bodies at Glagaharjo village, but only one was removed," Hamid said by phone. "We are coming down now because the ground there is too hot and Merapi is unstable."

News Focus: RI Aims To See 15 Pct Investment Growth Next Year
Indonesia expects investment next year to grow by 15 percent of the target of Rp160.1 trillion for this year but critics suggest much needs to be done to improve the investment climate. The lengthy licensing procedures, the inadequate number of infrastructure facilities, a lack of transparent taxation system, restriction on foreign investment, limited access to land and poor protection of investment are likely to remain obstacles to investment. The Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) recommends in its new report issued early this month that Indonesia continue to simplify the business licensing process to attract more foreign direct investment into the country.

A US President Whose Unique Story Can Help Reshape Bilateral Relations
As an American who has been living in Indonesia for 33 years, I am delighted about President Barack Obama's visit. While Indonesia-US relations basically have been very good for a long time and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono also had an excellent relationship with Obama's predecessor, George W. Bush, no American president has been as warmly received into the minds and hearts of the average Indonesian as Obama. This puts him in a unique position to broaden, deepen and elevate a relationship that has often performed at subpar levels since the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis dramatically reduced the American business presence here. The two-day visit will be full of practical, pragmatic politics and vivid symbolism.

China to Plow $6.6B Into Indonesian Infrastructure
A high-level Chinese trade and investment delegation wrapped up a four-day visit to Indonesia on Monday by signing an agreement to invest $6.6 billion in various Indonesian infrastructure and development projects. Coming on the eve of US President Barack Obama's state visit, the news emphasized growing ties between Beijing and Jakarka in recent years. The timing seemed an attempt to upstage the American president.

President's Trip Will Inspire American Firms to Target Indonesia: US Chamber
US President Barack Obama's visit to Indonesia this week will encourage more American businesses to explore opportunities in the country, says Joe Bartlett, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Indonesia. Bartlett said that over the past six months, several US companies had come to Indonesia to check out the opportunities. The country's prominent standing as a member of the G-20 and the chair-in-waiting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) next year had raised its profile significantly in the United States, he said.

Central Sulawesi's Cultural Festivals Highlight Peace
Before I left Indonesia to finish my degree abroad 13 years ago, I met an artist from Palu, the capital of Central Sulawesi, during the Nur Gora Rupa art festival in Surakarta, Central Java. He invited me to his hometown. I didn't go simply because the place existed beyond my imagination. More than a decade ago, Sulawesi was not on the map of the Indonesian contemporary art scene. Today, the situation is quite different. Over the past several years, a few local artists have traveled outside the island to study or do internships at the studios of prominent artists such as Bagong Kussudiardjo in Yogyakarta and Nano Riantiarno in Jakarta.

Obama's Visit Should Be Beneficial: Academic
US President Barack Obama`s visit to Indonesia should be beneficial for the country, an academic from the University of Indonesia (UI) said on Monday. In a sort text message to Antara, Prof Hikmahanto Juwana of the university`s faculty of law said there were two categories of advantages Indonesia could gain from Obama`s visit. "The two categories are a practical advantage when Indonesia is facing seemingly endless natural disasters, and an advantage in the two countries relations," Hikmahanto said.

Welcome Back to Indonesia, Obama?
Maybe third time's really the charm for US President Barack Obama's visit to Indonesia. After two previous postponements, Obama - the first black president of the United States - is set to arrive in the country today. For Indonesia, Obama is not just any US president. When he was elected in 2008, the Indonesian public felt they were able to relate to him because he lived here from 1967 to 1971 with his mother, half sister and Indonesian stepfather

Friday, November 5, 2010
Government Allocates Rp 20 Bln for Merapi Emergency Response
The government has set aside Rp20 billion in funds to deal with the impact of the Mount Merapi eruption during the emergency response period, a minister said. "The total budget made available is Rp20 billion," Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono said here on Thursday. However, he declined to comment on the amount of budget funds that had been used during the emergency response period which had lasted for a few days. "We have no idea about it because the data are at the National Disaster Mitigation Agency," he said.

Thousands of Evacuees Removed to Safer Places
Thousands of evacuees sheltered 15 km away from Mount Merapi's crater were removed to safer areas on Thursday as the volcano continued to spew lava, ash and hot clouds. They were being sheltered in a number of new evacuee camps including village heads` offices, school buildings and soccer fields. However, not all the evacuees sheltered in the danger zone in the sub districts of Dukun, Srumbung and Sawangan, Magelang district, Central Java, were willing to move to new evacuee camps, an Antara journalist observed. The local geological office of the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry on Wednesday evening ordered the evacuation of people sheltered within a radius of 15 km from the volcano`s crater following intensive large eruptions.

Blast From Indonesia Volcano Raises Deaths to 122
Searing gas avalanched down an Indonesian volcano with a thunderous roar, torching houses and trees and incinerating villagers as they fled Mount Merapi's worst eruption in a century. Dozens of bodies found on Friday raised the death toll to 122. The injured - with clothes, blankets and even mattresses fused to their skin by the 750 degree Celsius heat - were carried away on stretchers following the first big explosion just before midnight. Soldiers joined rescue operations in hardest-hit Bronggang, a village 15 kilometers from the crater, pulling at least 78 bodies from homes and streets blanketed by ash up to 30-centimeters deep.

Government to Buy Up Merapi Eruption Evacuees' Livestock
The government will immediately process the purchase of farm animals owned by Mount Merapi eruption evacuees to ensure their future livelihoods, a chief minister said here on Friday. Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono said the coordination with the governors of Central Java and Yogyakarta where the disaster took place and other officials concerned would be done on Friday evening. "We will do it fast. Tonight we hope we will have coordinated with the two governors and other officials concerned particularly from the agriculture service," he said. In a press conference earlier at the presidential office, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the government would buy up all farm animals of the evacuees in Yogyakarta and Central Java.

BNPB to Coordinate Merapi Emergency Response Operations
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) will soon hold a coordination meeting to follow up President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono`s instruction regarding control of emergency response operations in areas affected by the Mt Merapi eruptions. "BNPB will soon hold a meeting with the local governments, the regional police and military command chiefs," Wisnu Wijaya, director for disaster alertness affairs of the BNPB, told ANTARA News from Sleman through the phone here on Friday. He said the president had instructed that the emergency response operations should be under one command, BNPB head Syamsul Maarif said. BNPB would be assisted by the governors of Yogyakarta, Central Java, chief of the Diponegoro Military Command, the chiefs of Central Java and Yogyakarta Regional Police.

SBY Back to Yogyakarta to Closely Monitor Merapi
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono announces he will closely monitor the situation of Mount Merapi from Yogyakarta as the volcano's three major eruptions early on Friday have brought the death toll to some 100. Yudhoyono said after a coordination meeting with some Cabinet ministers, the Indonesian Military (TNI) chief and the National Police chief at the Presidential Office in Jakarta he would come back to Yogyakarta on Friday evening and may stay in the presidential palace there to lead the disaster mitigation efforts. The president visited Yogyakarta and neighboring Magelang only on Tuesday and Wednesday to meet with people seeking refuge from the disaster. Presidential spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha said the president might move to the Military Academy in Magelang if Yogyakarta was uninhabitable, and that the length of his stay would depend on the development of the situation.

Yogyakarta Airport Closed Due to Volcanic Ashes
The managing authority of Adisutjipto international airport in Yogyakarta has closed the airport until 9 PM due to the volcanic ashes of mount Merapi which are still covering the runway, an official said. "Though we have tried to clean the runway, the volcanic ashes from Mount Merapi are still falling until now so that the whole area is now covered in gray ashes. Therefore, we have decided to close the airport until the end of working hours today or 9 PM," the airport`s general manager, Agus Andriyanto, said here on Friday. Earlier in the morning, the airport`s management announced the runway was closed for three hours from 6 to 9 AM. Later the time limit was extended to 12 AM since the airport`s management believed the volcanic ashes would endanger flights.

Up to 40,000 Merapi Evacuees Now in Yogyakarta City
Around 40,000 evacuees are now staying in Yogyakarta, following a huge eruption of Mount Merapi in Central Java early on Friday, Yogyakarta Governor Sri Sultan Hamgengku Buwono X said. "The number is still being recorded but for the time being it has reached 40,000 or rising almost 100 percent after the danger zone is expanded to a radius of 20 kilometers away from the crater," he said here on Friday. He said the evacuees were only the ones accommodated at Maguwoharjo Stadium and Youth Center in Sleman. "We do not know the number of evacuees in the other parts of the province or the city. It is still being recorded," he said.

Merapi Spits Out 'Worst Eruption' in a Century
Mount Merapi showed no signs of abating on Thursday, shooting clouds of hot ash 10 kilometers into the sky. Volcanic activity on Thursday led authorities to recommend the evacuation of 32 villages near Merapi in four regencies in Central Java and Yogyakarta. Seventeen of the villages are in Magelang, four in Klaten and three in Boyolali in Central Java. Eight villages are in Sleman, Yogyakarta. "This is Merapi's worst eruption in the last 100 years," Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry geology chief R. Sukhyar, referring to the scale of activity and the size of the volcano's exclusion zone.

Search for Tsunami Victims Ended
The intensive search for tsunami victims in Mentawai has ended seven days after the disaster struck. But a period of emergency response status will continue until November 7. "Right now we are focused on health care, the refugees' recovery, keeping them healthy and provide temporary housing," said the Head of the Center of Operational Control of West Sumatra Disaster Management Agency, Ade Erward, yesterday. Ade said that information technology facilities for disaster management was transported yesterday to Sikakap via an Ambu-Ambu ship. "Yesterday (last Wednesday) we departed, but we returned after 15 minutes because of the storm," said Ade. The facility is a car equipped with video conference internet satellite to optimize the work of disaster management posts in Sikakap. The tsunami hit the Mentawai Islands on October 26 , resulting in 428 deaths, 74 missing and 15.097 persons evacuated.

Indonesia's GDP May Reach US$ 1 Trillion in 2014
Indonesia's gross domestic product may reach US$1 trillion in 2014, due to the country`s economic development prospects, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Radjasa said here on Thursday. He said he was optimistic the level would be achieved because right now the country`s GDP had already reached US$700 billion. He made the statement when presenting awards to the operators of integrated services for capital investment at the office of the Capital Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM). He said he was optimistic the country would achieve the level as the country`s GDP had now already reached US$700 billion.

Government Creates 2.3 Million Jobs in 2010
The government has since early this year created more than 2.3 million jobs to help lower the country`s unemployment rate which currently reaches 7.41 percent, a minister said. "The United Indonesia Cabinet II, with all its endeavors and policies, is determined to keep down the unemployment rate to 5.1 percent by 2014," Manpower and Transmigration Minister A Muhaimin Iskandar said when opening a job fair and the launch of unemployment control movement here on Thursday. He said the job fair and unemployment control movement was one of the solutions to manpower problems to create more jobs and thereby it had an important and strategic meaning to empower the people, improve the basic capability and skill of unemployed persons or job seekers both in urban and rural areas through effective technology and entrepreneurship trainings.

RI to Seek More Educational Cooperation With US
Indonesia would use the upcoming visit of US President Barack Obama as a momentum for seeking increased cooperation in the educational field with the US, Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said. "Increased educational cooperation will be one of our targets," he said when met at the presidential palace compound here on Thursday. He said the cooperation in the educational field between the two countries had declined in the past ten years, as shown by the drop in the number of Indonesian students in the US. "For the past ten years, the number of Indonesian students in the US had dropped sharply from 14,000 to only 7,000," he said.

RI's Economy Grows 5.82 Pct in Q3
The Indonesian economy in the third quarter of 2010 grew 5.82 percent from the same period last year or 3.45 percent from the previous quarter, the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) said. Compared to late December 2009 the economy expanded 5.9 percent, BPS Deputy Head for Balance Sheet and Statistic Analysis Slamet Sutomo said on Friday. "During the months of July, August and September we had domestic activities, such as the fasting month, post-fasting month festivities and holidays. These activities, coupled with the improving global economy helped boost the domestic economy," he said. The high absorption of state budget and the increasing amount of investment also contributed to the third-quarter economic growth rate, he said.

RI to Raise Development Issue at G-20 Meeting
Indonesia would raise development issues at the G-20 meeting on November 11-12 in Seoul to represent the interests of developing nations outside the grouping, a trade official said. "President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will be a keynote speaker at the G-20 meeting and raise the issue of development. This is to show that Indonesia really is serious about having the G20 talk not only about financial issues," Deputy Trade Minister Mahendra Siregar said here Thursday. He said Indonesia had two targets for the G-20 meeting, namely encouraging the coordination of member countries` currency management policies and getting G-20 meetings to also discuss development issues.

NY's AL-Farah Mosque Leader Preaches at State Palace
New York's Al-Farah mosque leader Feisal Abdul Rauf held a public lecture at the State Palace here on Friday attended by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. The lecture which started at 9.30 am Friday was also attended by cabinet ministers and other invitees including chief news paper editors. Before delivering the lecture, Feisal Abdul Rauf, the founder of the American Society for Muslim Advancement (ASMA) was received by President Yudhoyono at the presidential office. On the occasion the head of state extended his gratitude and high appreciation to Feisal for his time to visit Indonesia and for sharing his knowledge during the general lecture.

South Sulawesi Expected to Supply 20 Percent of the World's Cocoa
The world's demand for South Sulawesi cocoa in 2020 is expected to increase to 20 percent of total world's need. "We provide recommendations on how the government can prepare regulations to support farmers in producing certified cocoas," said Ross Jaak, the Operation Officer of International Finance Corporation (IFC) World Bank Group, in Makassar yesterday. According to Ross, the IFC plays the role of the provincial government's partner in analyzing regulations and provide recommendations on investing in cocoa. "The world's demand for cocoa has now reached 3.6 million tons a year, but I do not have the exact information," said Ross after discussing the report and the IFC team recommendation with South Sulawesi Governor Syahrul Yasin Limpo.

JCI Posts Second Straight Day of Gains; Rupiah Bolstered by GDP Growth in Q3
The Jakarta Composite Index extended gains to a second day on Friday as the US Federal Reserve's decision to buy $600 billion in Treasury bonds continued to drive up commodity prices. The JCI advanced 26.26 points, or 0.7 percent, to 3,665.31 by close of trading. About 5.6 billion shares worth Rp 52.2 trillion ($5.85 billion) changed hands. Gainers outnumbered decliners 120 to 85. Mining stocks led the day's gains with International Nickel Indonesia, the nation's biggest nickel producer, rising 0.5 percent to Rp 4,750, and Aneka Tambang, the second biggest miner of the metal, closing up 3 percent at Rp 2,600. Nickel futures jumped 4 percent on Thursday to $24,500 a metric ton in London.

Thursday, November 4, 2010
Merapi Emits 50 Million Cubic Meters of Volcanic Materials
Mount Merapi in Central Java has spewed around 50 million cubic meters of volcanic materials since its first eruption on October 26, according to the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. "In the eruptions on October 26 and October 30, Mt Merapi sent out up to 11 million cubic meters of volcanic materials but since the eruptions still continue to happen, the materials produced may have now reached around 50 million cubic meters," Head of the agency, R Sukhyar, said here on Thursday. He said the volume was huge and had the potential of causing the threat of lava flows on the slopes of the mountain and therefore anticipation had to be made especially when rain occurred around the mountain.

Indonesia Volcano Erupts Again; 75,770 People Seek Shelter
In its biggest eruption since Tuesday evening, Mount Merapi ejected volcanic ash and other material over a 2 kilometers radius early on Thursday morning. Surono, head of the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Agency (PVMBG), said the ash was being blown in a westerly direction toward Magelang in Central Java. "We warned the aviation authorities to divert flights to Adi Sutjipto Airport, Yogyakarta," he said. Heavy rain overnight Wednesday triggered lahars that cascaded down the Kuning, Gendol, Woro, Boyong, Krasak and Opak rivers on the slopes of the volcano.

Tsunami Cash Aid Already Reached Rp 2.5 Billion
West Sumatra's Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) said it had received a total of Rp2.5 billion worth of cash aid in the past ten days after the tsunami. "The total cash aid received by BPBD until November 2 has reached Rp2.5 billion. On Wednesday we received more cash aid but it has not yet been updated," BPBD chief, Harmensyah said to newsmen here on Wednesday. He said all the aid that came through BPBD would always be updated every day so that the public could see it through the internet. The aid that came on November had not indeed been updated but had been recorded including Rp100 million from state electricity company PT PLN and Rp275 million from PT Sabang Merauke Raya Air Charter.

Government to Build Temporary Housing For Tsunami Victims
The government plans to build temporary houses for tsunami victims in Mentawai which are expected to be ready before Christmas. West Sumatra`s vice governor Muslim Kasim said here on Wednesday "we hope before Christmas the tsunami and quake victims will have been able to stay there." He said building materials such as wood, roofs and nails have already been sent to Sikakap by boat. "The funds for building the houses come from aid sent by various parties," he said.

Merapi Volcanic Ash Reaches Tasikmalaya, W Java
The volcanic ash spewed by Mount Merapi reached Tasikmalaya, West Java, on Thursday at 1 a.m.local time. "At first the residents did not notice the kind of ash. However, they started to figure it out as a lot of ash covering the pools` surface," a resident of Kawalu Village, Tasikmalaya, Jajang (30) said here Thursday. The volcanic ash of Mount Merapi blanketed the ponds and trees in the village but not too thick, he said. The volcanic ash blanketing the region attracted the attention of the local residents as they observed the surroundings covered with ash when they were going to the market in the morning, Jajang said.

A Thousand Army Officers Build Wasior Barracks
At least 950 Army personnel have been sent to Wasior, Wondama Bay, West Papua, to help building a temporary housing for flash flood victims. About 468 personnel, coming from Zipur Battalion Kodam V/Brawijaya arrived at the town last Monday. "Last Saturday, 288 personnel were carried by three Hercules planes, followed on Sunday by 180 soldiers," said Edward Sitorus, the Coordinator of Wasior Disaster Management, yesterday.

Child of Krakatoa Volcano also on Alert Status
Serang: The Child of Krakatoa volcano, located offshore of southern Java, has also been spewing out lava and toxic gas. Its seismic activities qualify it to be on an alert status "If the mountain was located onshore and close to homes, it would definitely be on alert status," said Anton Tripambudi, head of the Child of Krakatoa Volcano Monitoring Post in Cinangka, Serang Regency, yesterday. Anton cautioned on the dangers of the gas being spewed by this volcano. When a person smells the gas, his digestive system could be impacted. "Besides headaches and nausea, the toxic gas can kill," said Anton.

Strong Growth in Investment Sector in January-September Period
Indonesia`s investment sector saw strong growth up to the third quarter of 2010 with investors increasingly tending to operate outside Java which in the past always used to be the preferred location. The cumulative figure of investments realized in the January -September period in 2010 was 149.6 trillion rupiahs, compared to 112.1 trillion rupiahs in the same period of 2009, meaning an increase of 33.4 percent, according to latest data from the Capital Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM). There was a new tendency in the choice of project locations in that there was an increase in the number of investment projects located outside Java. In 2010 37.7 percent (21.4 trillion rupiahs) of realized investments in the January-September period were located outside Java whereas in the same period of 2009 the figure was only 12.9 percent (5.9 trillion rupiahs).

RI Economy Improving : BI
The Bank Indonesia (BI/the central bank) said that Indonesia`s economic performance and prospects are improving. BI Public Relations Chief Difi A Johansyah said here on Thursday that the BI board of governors after evaluating the country`s economic performance and prospects, decided to maintain the bank`s key rate (BI rate) at 6.50 percent.

RI Forex Reserves Amount to US$ 91.799 Billion
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Bank Indonesia (BI/the central bank) said its foreign exchange reserves up to the end of October 2010 stood at US$91.799 billion, or equal to 6.93 months of export/import financing. BI Public Relations officer Difi A Johansyah said here on Thursday that the increase in the foreign exchange reserves was obtained from steady increase of exports and high foreign capital inflows which positively affected Indonesia`s balance of payments (NPI).

Indonesia to Buy Attack Aircraft, Bombs
The government is set to sign a number of memorandums of understanding on defense equipment acquisitions involving a number of domestic strategic and defense companies.Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said the MoUs would be signed on the opening day of the Indo Defense, which is to be held at the Jakarta International Expo in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, on Nov. 10-13. Purnomo said the MoUs included the purchase of two standard squadrons of Super Tucano light attack aircraft to replace the Air Force's aging OV-10 Broncos./span>

Visit South Sulawesi 2012
Makassar: South Sulawesi Tourism Agency is calling on local regencies/cities governments to prepare their agenda for the Visit South Sulawesi 2012 event by the end of this coming December at the latest. "There is only one year left to prepare Visit South Sulawesi 2012," warned the Secretary of South Sulawesi Tourism Agency, Yulianus Batara, in Makassar yesterday. He said the regions that have prepared new tourism activities are Makassar, Gowa, Maros, Bulukumba, and Palopo. "We are still waiting for other regions to submit their the end of the year," he said. Yulianus said that they must it prepare well and all regencies/cities are asked to design activities that can attract foreign tourists. "The prioritized tourism activities must be related to local culture," he said. To support the preparation, the South Sulawesi Tourism Agency proposed a promotion fund on the revised regional budget in the amount of Rp 300 million. "I hope that the legislature approves it," he said.

African Union Supports RI's Candidacy For FAO's Top Post
The African Union supports Indonesia`s bid to fill the post of FAO (Food and Agriculture Orgaization) director general, a spokesman said. The African Union`s support for Indonesia`s candidacy for the the top position in FAO was expressed by the union`s chief commissioner, Dr. Jean Ping, at a meeting of agriculture ministers from OIC (Organization of the Islamic Conference) member countries in Khartoum, Sudan, last October 25, according to a press release issued by the African Union headquarters in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia. Ping said the African Union was ready to support Dr. Indroyono Soesilo from Indonesia as a candidate in the election of a new FAO director general in June 2011.

Understanding Modernity in Today's Indonesia
We all know that Indonesia is currently undergoing significant changes. Under Soeharto's New Order regime, "modernisasi" or "accelerated development" had been the political slogan. This was accompanied by policies of oppressive cultural control under the umbrella of the state ideology Pancasila, which effectively prohibited significant cultural dissent. The end of Soeharto's presidency led to the implementation of "reformasi" in the form of greater regional autonomy, freedom of the media, the resurgence of an Islamic polemic and advocacy of human rights and democracy.

Wal-Mart Seeks Re-Entry Into Indonesian Market
After an absence of over a decade in Indonesia, Wal-Mart, the world's biggest retailer, has reportedly entered the bidding for Matahari Putra Prima's hypermarkets and supermarkets, assets said to be worth as much as $1 billion. Wal-Mart is stepping up international growth after more than a year of declining US same-store sales at its big-box stores. Sources said on Thursday that Wal-Mart had hired Barclays Capital to advise on the deal. Matahari is selling Hypermart, the nation's second-biggest hypermart chain after Carrefour Indonesia, to focus on its core health care and property assets.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Sufficient Number of Medical Personnel in Mentawai Now: Minister
Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedyaningsih said there were already enough medical personnel in Mentawai to help the victims of the tsunami that hit the islands a week ago. "There are enough medical personnel already : more than 130 (doctors) a combined force from the Health Ministry, Provincial and Regional Health Offices close to the affected) area," the minister told newsmen after installing a number of new officials at the ministry here on Tuesday. She said the medical personnel were stationed at Sikakap (a district on one of the bigger islands) where the government was running field hospitals. In addition, there were also public health centers operated by churches or the local government.

President Leads Prayer Service For MT Merapi Fatalities
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono led a prayer service for the fatalities and survivors of the Mount Merapi eruption at Tanjung refugee shelter, Magelang district, on Tuesday evening. The Head of State begged Almighty God`s mercy for normalizing Mount Merapi. "I hope all community members here will pray to beg for Allah`s mercy to immediately normalize Mount Merapi. Let us recite the Suratul Fatihah verses for the sake of our safety," he said. When President Yudhoyono recited the seven verses of Suratul Al Fatihah, the first chapter of the holy Qur`an, several thousands of refugees at the shelter followed him.

Government Capable of Assisting Up to 55,500 Mt Merapi Evacuees
Coordinating Minister for Peoples Welfare Agung Laksono said the government had the capability to take care of up to 55,500 Mount Merapi evacuees. "The government can still handle that number of Mt Merapi evacuees well," he said here Tuesday without mentioning their present number. Agung said the administration would be able to meet the needs of that many refugees with the support of all elements of the community. "The government will also meet all the needs of survivors, even if their number rises to 55,500," he said.

Government to Rebuild Houses Destroyed in Mt Merapi Eruptions
The Indonesian government has vowed to rebuild houses seriously damaged or destroyed by the hot clouds from Mount Merapi eruptions. "The government will help rebuild the damaged and destroyed houses. This matter will be discussed in the reconstruction phase," Social Welfare Minister Salim Segaf Aljufri said here Tuesday. Therefore, the residents need not be too worried about their damaged and destroyed houses, he said during his visit to the Wukirsari refugee shelter in Cangkringan sub-district, Sleman district, Yogyakarta Province.

PMI Reaches 11 Remote Villages in Mentawai
The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) managed to reach 11 remote villages affected by the tsunami in the west coast of North Pagai and South Pagai Islands. The PMI was there since Wednesday last week and stayed until this Tuesday night. Eko Suhadi, West Sumatra PMI communication coordinator, said the 11 villages that received PMI support are Malakopak, Mapinang, Limosua, Limo, Kinombuk, Maonai, Muntei, Tapak Jaya, Bake, Pasapuat and Sabeugunggung. PMI's quick response team with five personnel brought tents, foods, medicines, canes for victims with broken bones, and doctors. The team came in a boat. "After we reported in, logistic aid will be delivered by four PMI helicopters," Eko said by telephone yesterday.

Mt Merapi Spews Hot Ash Clouds One Hour Non-Stop
Mount Merapi in Central Java spewed searing clouds of ash for more than an hour non-stop on Wednesday which was the longest so far. According to a record from the Vulcanology Technology Development and Assessment Agency here, the hot clouds emerged from the mountain`s top at around 2.37pm and continued to flow from then on. Before the activity of the mountain rose as of 00.00 hours to 12.00 hours, marked by 38 flows of hot clouds. From 11.12 hours the flows increased within a short time from each other.

Merapi's Exclusion Zone Widened to Protect Residents
Mount Merapi erupted again on Wednesday afternoon triggering panic and forcing a hurried evacuation, as Indonesian officials extended the exclusion zone around the mountain. At Jalan Kaliurang, Yogyakarta, military officers were helping distressed residents flee the area due to the increased threat of danger. Surono, head of the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Agency (PMVBG) told Metro TV that since 4 p.m. the dangerous fallout exclusion zone had been extended to a 15 kilometer radius.

Papua Torture Case Won't Hamper RI-US Defense Cooperation
The case of Indonesian soldiers torturing civilians in Papua posted on You Tube is not expected to hamper bilateral cooperation in the defense sector between Indonesia and the United States, Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Michael Tene said. "The quick response and transparent investigation by the Indonesian government into the violence have been appreciated by other countries including the US. I don`t think the case will disturb our bilateral cooperation. In fact, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and his counterpart Barack Obama are scheduled to witness the signing of an Indonesia-US Comprehensive Partnership Agreement (CPA) which will also cover defense cooperation," said Tene here on Tuesday.

Finance Minister Optimistic Q3 Growth to Exceed 6.0 Percent
Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo said he was optimistic economic growth in the third quarter of 2010 will exceed 6.0 percent so that the figure for the whole year could be 6.0 percent. "I`m optimistic that it (economic growth in the third quarter) will be over 6.0 percent," he said when asked for his projection on the year`s growth here on Tuesday. Martowardoyo said the government hoped growth in 2010 would exceed the 5.8 percent assumed in the revised state budget and reach even a higher figure than 6.0 percent.

Four Regional Police Commands to Secure Obama's Visit
Four regional police commands will be involved in securing the planned visit of US President Barack Obama on November 9 to 10, National Police spokesman Inspector General Iskandar Hasan said here on Wednesday. "The Jakarta Metropolitan Police will deploy 8,056 personnel and they will be supported by 5,974 personnel from West Java, 849 from Banten and 3,500 from Central Java," he said. The police forces to be deployed to ensure security during Obama`s visit totalled 8,534 men from the Jakarta Metropolitan Police (8,056), the National Police, Special Force` Anti-Terror Unit Gultor (20), Presidential Security Unit 38 and Internal Security Unit Pamdal 409," he said.

Sudan Thanks RI for Support in Darfur Peace Process
Sudan has expressed gratitude to Indonesia for its support for the peace process in the North African country`s troubled province of Darfur. The expression of gratitude was conveyed by Sudanese Ambassador to Indonesia Ibrahim Bushra Mohamed Ali at a meeting with ANTARA News Agency`s board of directors led by Chief Executive Officer Dr. Mukhlis Yusuf here on Tuesday. Ambassador Bushra Mohamed Ali paid a visit to ANTARA to discuss matters related to the planned cooperation between Sudanese news agency and the Indonesian national news agency. Dr. Yusuf was flanked by News Director Saiful Hadi Chalid, Deputy Executive Editor Bambang Purwanto and Expert Staff for International Affairs Aat Surya Safaat.

Lending Picks Up Speed on Optimism Over Indonesia's Economy
Bank loans grew at a healthy rate in October from a year ago on the back of faster economic growth, fueling optimism that the central bank's 20 percent loan growth target is achievable. According to data from Bank Indonesia, the central bank, lending by domestic banks was up 21.1 percent in October from the same period a year ago. From January through the end of October, loans grew 16 percent. The total outstanding loans of banks nationwide as of the end of October was at Rp 1,659.47 trillion ($185.86 billion).

Foreign Inflows Sustainable, Controls Unnecessary: Agus
With billions of dollars pouring into Indonesia's markets, neither Bank Indonesia nor the Finance Ministry seem concerned that the flow could reverse course. Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo told an audience of economists and market players on Tuesday that he did not favor capital controls and that the country's economic fundamentals remained sound. Hartardi A Sarwono, BI's deputy governor in charge of monetary policy and research, said the large inflows from abroad were "in line with the central bank's policy to build up its foreign exchange reserves."

Rupiah Slightly Strengthens Against Greenback
The rupiah slightly gained against the US dollar in the Jakarta interbank spot market here Wednesday morning as investors actively bought the local unit. The Indonesian currency traded Rp8,913-Rp8,923 per US dollar, up 10 points from Rp8,923-Rp8,933 per US dollar at the market`s close a day earlier. Positive factors in the domestic market had boosted the rupiah, Kostaman Thayib, retail banking director of PT Bank Mega Tbk, said.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Foreign Ministry Preparing Obama Visit to Jakarta
The Foreign Affairs Ministry is still preparing the agenda for US President Barack Obama`s upcoming visit to Jakarta on Nov 9-10, an official said. "We are still preparing all the necessary things related to Obama`s visit, " Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Michael Tene said here on Tuesday. He said Obama would arrive in Jakarta on Nov 9 and return to the US on Nov 10. During his stay in Jakarta, the US president was scheduled to witness the signing of an Indonesia-US Comprehensive Partnership Agreement (CPA) the final draft of which was finalized last July. "Some of the articles in the CPA are actually already being implemented such as cooperation in the education, investment and defense sectors," said Tene. He said Obama would also visit the Istiqlal mosque in Central Jakarta.

President Yudhoyono Refuses to be Pressured by Australia
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the investigation over the Papua violence does not need pressure from Australia. "To reinforce justice and discipline, we will carry out our obligations. There is no need for pressure from any other country," he said, during the opening of a cabinet meeting in Jakarta yesterday. Today, President Yudhoyono is scheduled to meet with Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard. At the meeting, some parties are urging Australia pressure Indonesia to investigate the perpetrators of the violence in Papua.

Indonesia, Australia to Work on New Economic Deal
Indonesia and Australia will start negotiating a new economic partnership agreement aimed at liberalizing bilateral trade and boosting investment, the leaders of the two countries said on Tuesday. Indonesia is attracting growing interest from foreign investors eyeing the vast domestic market and stable macroeconomic conditions enjoyed by the economy. Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who visited President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as part of a regional tour, said the new economic partnership would boost trade.

Thirty-Five Countries Expected to Join Aceh Investment Summit
Thirty-five countries are expected to attend Aceh Investment Summit scheduled for November 13-14 in Banda Aceh, capital of Aceh province. "We have extended invitations to representatives of the 35 countries to participate in the meeting as part of the Aceh government`s efforts to attract investment," Head of the Aceh Provincial Investment and Promotion Board Anwar Muhammad said on Monday. "The Aceh Investment Summit 2010 will be preceded by a meeting to be held at one of star-rated hotels in Jakarta on November 10, 2010," he said.

RI Projects 15 Percent Investment Growth in 2011
The Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) has projected a 15 percent investment growth for 2011 compared to 2010 which has been targeted to be 190 trillion rupiahs. The projection for 2011 investment growth was made by BKPM head Gita Wiryawan, in his keynote speech at an economic forum, here, on Tuesday. He added the investment objects are in the range of transportation, telecommunications, infrastructure, food industry and real estate sectors. Wirjawan said he was optimistic that Indonesia may get a place in the BRIC most influential developing countries in the global economy, provided that Indonesia catches up with its infrastructure needs. Indonesia has bigger economic potentials due to its many economic sectors.

Pesta Blogger+2010 Promotes Freedom of Expression, Tolerance
Approximately 1,500 bloggers and social media users were in attendance at Pesta Blogger+ 2010 "Celebrating Diversity," which was held at Epicentrum Walk in Jakarta, according to the U.S. Embassy here in its website on Monday. For the third consecutive year, U.S. Embassy Jakarta was one of the main sponsors for Pesta Blogger, which includes an annual festival and ten blogging workshops held in different cities around the country. This year`s blogging workshops took place from August through October, where a total of approximately 350 Indonesian participants learned how to set up and author a blog, discussed blogging ethics, and learned how to use other social media tools such as Twitter and Facebook.

Aceh Ulema Hope Obama's Visit to be Meaningful for Palestine
Ulema in Aceh Province have expressed hope that President Barack Obama`s visit to Indonesia would result in something meaningful for the realization of an independent state of Palestine. "We hope that Obama`s visit to Indonesia will create the prospect of the speedy realization of Palestinian independence," Tgk Faisal Ali, secretary general of the Aceh Ulema Association (HUDA), said here Tuesday. He made the statement in view of the US president`s plan to visit Indonesia on November 9-10, 2010.

Indonesian President Promises to Beef Up Crisis Response Agency
In the wake of criticism over relief efforts following last week's natural disasters, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Monday that the National Disaster Management Agency would be provided with the necessary equipment to do its job. He said the head of the agency, known as BNPB, held ministerial rank and therefore could sidestep the bureaucracy. This meant the BNPB did not have to waste time coordinating with other ministries. Commenting on criticism of the relief effort, he told officials to just focus on their jobs.

House Approves Government's Request for Extra Natural Disaster Funds
The House of Representatives (DPR) has approved the central government's request for extra funds for the natural disaster emergency responses, the House's deputy chief said. Speaking to reporters on the sideline of his visit to the Mount Merapi eruption victims on Monday, Priyo Budi Santoso said the extra funds` amount was Rp150 billion till the end of this year. The Golkar Party's senior politician visited the Mount Merapi eruption refugees along with a number of the House`s Commission VII and VIII members.

PMI to Reach 16 Remote Villages in Mentawai
The Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) planned to reach 16 remote villages ravaged by the tsunami in Mentawai Islands which had injured and killed hundreds of people. "PMI will be sending its relief aid to 16 remote villages in Mentawai by air," member of the PMI communications team Fitriana Sidikah said in a release received by ANTARA in Jakarta Monday. She said that the 16 remote villages include Silabu, Baleraksok, Sabiret, Muntei/Sigoiso, Batu Monga, Batu Monga, Sabeugunggung, Baru-baru, Bake, Asahan, Pasapuat, Kinumbuk, Mapinang, Mainan, and Lakkau.

No Need to Relocate Merapi Residents: Minister
The government does not believe it is necessary for people living near Indonesia's most active volcano, Mount Merapi, to relocate, Social Affairs Minister Salim Segaf Al Jufri says. President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had instructed regional administrations to relocate people living in disaster-prone areas following the recent tsunami in the Mentawai Islands, the Mount Merapi eruption and the flash floods in Wasior, West Papua, earlier this month. It would be reasonable to tell local administrations to find more suitable settlement locations for some, the President said. Unlike those living in Wasior and Mentawai, the homes of many Merapi residents are still in a decent condition, Salim said Tuesday.

Scientists: Indonesia Eruption Could Last Weeks
Indonesia's most dangerous volcano showed no sign of tiring Tuesday, belching clouds of black smoke as fiery lava lit up its cauldron. Scientists warned that the slow but deadly eruption could continue for weeks, like a "marathon, not a sprint." The activity was accompanied by rumbling at 21 other active volcanos in Indonesia, twice the number usually on the government's "watch" list, which raised questions about what's causing the uptick along some of the world's most volatile fault lines. No casualties were reported in Mount Merapi's latest blast, which came as Indonesia struggled to respond to an earthquake-generated tsunami that devastated a remote chain of islands. The two disasters unfolding in separate parts of the country have killed nearly 470 people and strained the government's emergency response network.

Monday, November 1, 2010
RI's Exports Projected to Exceed $150 Bln This Year
The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) has projected Indonesia`s exports may reach US$150 billion or above this year. "In the January-September 2010 period alone, our exports reached US$110.81 billion. With exports from October to December projected to average US$12-13 billion, our exports may reach US$150 billion or above at the end of this year," BPS Chairman Rustam Heriawan said here on Monday. Data from the agency show Indonesia`s exports in the first nine months of 2010 grew 38.27 percent to US$110.81 billion from the corresponding period last year.

President : No Need to Pressure RI on Papua Torture Case
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Indonesia did not need to be pressured by anybody to settle the recent case of military personnel caught on video torturing civilians in Papua and also shown in a number of websites on the internet. "We will do what we are supposed to do but not because of pressure by anyone. On October 22, 10 days ago, I already instructed the commander of the National Defense Forces (TNI) and the minister of defense (to settle the case)," he said before a cabinet meeting here on Monday. "I said there was no need (for anyone) to pressure Indonesia. We are committed to upholding justice and discipline. We will do what we are supposed to do, without pressures from any country, non-governmental organizations or anyone," he said.

Reform Drive Seen as Key to Indonesian Growth
A policy group has urged Indonesia to renew its efforts to reform the bureaucracy, invest heavily in infrastructure and cut greenhouse gas emissions while the going is good. "The current environment offers Indonesia a unique opportunity to pursue its reform agenda. But there is no room for complacency," said Angel Gurria, secretary general of the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The country weathered the global financial crisis well and posted the third-highest real GDP growth in the G-20 group of the world's largest economies, the OECD said in a report released on Monday.

Foreign Investment in Indonesia Up 32%, With Property Leading Way
Indonesia saw foreign direct investment jump 32 percent to Rp 111.1 trillion ($12.4 billion), excluding oil and gas, and banking, in the first nine months of the year, with the property sector attracting the most investment. "The investment realization figures are very promising," Gita Wirjawan, chairman of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), said at the board's headquarters in Jakarta on Sunday. He said the increase had been supported by improvements in investment regulations and better coordination between the central and regional governments.

President: Asean Must Rise to Same Level as EU
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has pledged that under Indonesia`s leadership in 201 , ASEAN would be uplifted to a level on a par with other regional organizations, especially the European Union. "We have a lot of things to do in 2011, because after the formation of the ASEAN Community, ASEAN must strive to be able to connect with the community of nations in a globalized world and promote global economic integration," the head of state said here Monday when chairing a plenary cabinet meeting. "The strategic agenda in the future must be compatible with other major communities such as the European Union and others," he said.

OECD Suggests Indonesia Shift Spending from Subsidies to Pro-Growth Programs
The club of developed economies, the OECD, suggested in a new report on Monday that Indonesia shift government spending away from inefficient subsidies toward programs that will help the country meet its ambitious medium-term growth and poverty reduction targets. According to its Economic Survey of Indonesia 2010, the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said the Indonesian economy had shown strong resilience during the global economic crisis, but it needed to cut energy subsidies to maintain sustainable economic growth. Indonesia's real GDP grew by 4.6% in 2009 - the third highest level in the G20, after China and India - and is on track for a 6% growth rate this year and next.

Cilacap Plans to Plant 8.5 Million Trees
As of the end of the year, the Cilacap Regency plans to plant 8.5 million trees to support the One Billion Trees for the World program. "The fund for 2.7 million trees will be taken from the regional budget," said the Cilacap Deputy Regent Tatto Suwarto Pamudji, yesterday. Planting the remaining 5.8 million trees will be carried out by the state forestry company, private plantations, state-owned enterprises and mass organizations. Tattoo has scheduled the planting to be achieved early next year. The trees were also planted by the group, Banyumas Red and White Troops. As many as 5.500 trees were planted on barren areas that are prone to landslides.