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Wednesday, May 30, 2007
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Crude Palm Oil Policy to be Effective from June 1
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Crude palm oil (CPO) producers are to be obligated to set aside some of their products for domestic needs.
The domestic market obligation (DPO) policy will come into effect as from June 1, 2007.
“The DPO implementation is a mandate of the State Decree on Plantations,” said Anton Apriyantono, Agriculture Minister, after accepting bird flu vaccine aid from Chinese government at the Agriculture Department building, Jakarta, yesterday (29/5).
“(The implementation provision) is the Agriculture Minister Decision for a start,” he said
Anton explained that for the time being, the DMO policy was being implemented in order to fulfil domestic cooking oil needs because cooking oil is one of the nine staple household goods.
Therefore, CPO stocks are prioritized for domestic needs.
“It's unfortunate (for producers) if the price abroad is high, but we limit it here,” said Anton.
On the other side, in order to secure domestic stocks, the government cannot determine the price.
“We still leave the price to the market mechanism,” said Anton.
Regarding the CPO quota per producer, he went on to say it will be determined later with the Industry and Trade Departments.
“It can't be set by us alone,” said Anton
What is certain is the minimum limit being calculated based on the company's tax payment and amount shipped abroad.
Anton said that the DMO policy is effective even for companies associated with Malaysia.
Fahmi Idris, the Industry Minister, instead stated that the DMO policy for fulfilling domestic palm oil need will be effective by the end of the month.
He explained domestic CPO needs reach 4.5 million tons per year.
“So the obligation (DMO) amount is between 4.5 million to 5 million tons per year,” he said, on Monday (28/5) at the Vice President's office, Jakarta.
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sourceLabels: Internet News
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posted by ojack_djakarta
4:54 PM
 
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Prosecutor Rejects Australian Expert Witness’ Statement
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The public prosecutor in the review trial of the illegal drugs case involving Australian citizens--Tan Duc Tan Nguyen, Si Yi Chen and Matthew James Norman—has rejected an expert witness from Australia.
According to prosecutor Olopan Nainggolan at the Denpasar District Court, yesterday (29/5), the statement of Professor James R.P. Ogloff from Monash University was considered not to be relevant with the trial materials.
In his statement, Oglof said that during the last 30 years the number of countries which still implement death penalty continues to decrease.
The prosecutor also objected to the statement because the permit from the Australian Justice Minister for Ogloff was only sent by e-mail the print-out of which was not submitted during the trial.
The convicts' lawyer, Erwin Siregar, stated he brought a copy of Australian Supreme Court's statement that explained about Ogloff's whereabouts.
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sourceLabels: Internet News
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posted by ojack_djakarta
4:53 PM
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Tuesday, May 29, 2007
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Malaysia & Indonesia Build Oil Pipeline
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Companies from Malaysia, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia signed an oil pipeline building contract worth US$7 billion or around Rp61.6 trillion in Malaysia for a seven year period, yesterday (28/5).
Malaysian Prime Minister, Abdullah Ahmad Baadawi, witnessed the signing of the contract along with Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono during the Islamic World’s Economic Forum in Kuala Lumpur.
The pipeline that crosses northern Malaysia will avoid the Malacca Straits and Singapore, the regular path of crude oil shipment from the Middle East to East Asia. The pipeline is able to pump two million barrels of oil a day and it is estimated that it will divert around 20 percent of the oil supply from the Malacca Straits.
Trans-Peninsula Petroleum Sdn. from Malaysia, the project owner, collaborated with Ranhill Engineers and Construction Sdn. from Malaysia and PT Tripatra from Indonesia in building this pipeline network.
Trans-Peninsula will also draw up a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Bakrie and Brothers from Indonesia to provide the pipeline and with Al-Banader International Group from Saudi Arabia to procure the oil.
With the new pipeline network, crude oil shipped from the Middle East will be refined in the Kedah Southwest coast and be pumped along 300 kilometers to Kelantan in the Malaysian East coast. The oil can then be shipped by tanker ship to Japan, China and South Korea.
The pipeline construction will start next year. “This isn’t a political project, but rather commercial,” said Rahim Kamil Sulaiman, Chairman of Trans-Peninsula.
Half of the world’s oil shipment is now via the Malacca Strait. The strait, 960 kilometers long, becomes the busiest sea path that connects the Indian Ocean with the South China Sea.
Labels: Indonesia, Internet News, Money
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posted by ojack_djakarta
4:57 PM
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MoU Must be Reviewed, Indonesian Workers in Malaysia Suffering Losses
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A number of Indonesian migrant workers activists have asked the government to review the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Malaysia signed in Bali in 2006.
The agreement is regarded as being detrimental to Indonesian citizens working as migrant labors.
Miftah, Chairperson of the Indonesian Migrant Workers Association, said that under the MoU, employers were allowed to seize employees’ passports.
This was despite passports being individual identities which cannot be held by anybody except police and immigration officers.
“But the government easily gives permission that passport is submitted to employers or agents in Malaysia,” Miftah told Tempo yesterday (27/5).
The policy that allows employers to hold passports, said Miftah, actually triggered the large number of trafficking cases.
It is not surprising therefore that the rights of Indonesian workers in that country are often violated.
For example, torture, unpaid salary, prohibition to marry at work place and impediments to meet family members.
“All are human rights violations,” said Miftah.
Anis Hidayah, Executive Director of Migrant Care, questioned the deportation policy carried out by Malaysia.
According to Anis, a lot of Indonesian workers are to be deported due to the wrong recruitment system in Indonesia.
“Indonesia should have been able to struggle to remove the deportation option, and fight for legalization. The documents are legalized because the laborers there actually already have jobs.”
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source
Labels: Indonesia, Tax
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posted by ojack_djakarta
10:01 AM
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Tangguh Field's Gas for America Can Be Transferred to Other Buyer
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The sales of some liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Tangguh gas field, Papua, to Sempra, United States, can be transferred to another buyer.
The transfer will be carried out if the LNG sales price is higher than that of Sempra’s.
Eddy Purwanto, Deputy of Marketing and Finance at the Upstream Oil and Natural Gas Business Executing Body, emphasized that the gas transfer from Sempra can be done to any other buyer.
“As long as the sales price is better than Sempra’s,” he told Tempo last weekend.
Based on information received by Tempo, gas sold to Sempra will be transferred to a buyer from Japan.
The reason is, Sempra's LNG facility was built quicker than first planned, in mid 2008.
Sempra signed Tangguh's 20 year gas purchase contract for a volume of 3.7 million tons at the price of US$5.94 per mmBtu.
Eddy went on to say, that the transfer of gas that was bought by Sempra to another buyer has compensations.
“Sempra will obtain certain compensations,” he said.
However, when asked whether the compensation was a penalty that the government must pay, Eddy did not give any answer.
Kurtubi, an oil and gas observer, said that the Tangguh gas sales price, which is under the average gas sales price from Badak refinery in East Kalimantan, will not result in any revenues for the state.
This is because, he said, with investment totaling US$6.5 million and the revenues totaling only US$8.5 billion for 25 years, all revenues are only sufficient to cover the investment costs.
“So what does the state obtain?” he said to Tempo.
Currently, the gas sales contract amounts to 2.6 million tons to Fujian, China for 25 years, with an average price of US$3.35 per mmBtu.
The contract with SK Power Korea amounts to 0.55 million tons for 20 years with US$3.5 per mmBtu sales price.
The contract with Posco Korea 0.55 million tons for 20 years with US$3.36 per mmBtu sales price and Sempra (West Coast, US) 3.7 million tons for 20 years with US$5.94 per mmBtu sales price.
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source
Labels: Internet News
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posted by ojack_djakarta
9:26 AM
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Friday, May 25, 2007
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Supreme Court Annuls Mystic Programs Provision
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The Supreme Court has passed the judicial review proposed by the Association of Indonesian Private Television Stations (ATVSI) against the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission's (KPI) decision on the broadcasting performance guide and broadcasting program standard.
KPI must revoke the provisions, including mystic and pornographic television programs.
ATVSI Chairperson Karni Ilyas acknowledged having received the Supreme Court's decision recently.
“It was already sent to the Association's office this afternoon (yesterday). It was only the summary, the details will follow,” she said when contacted by Tempo yesterday (23/5).
In the decision, the Supreme Court gives three month time for KPI to revoke the letter no. 009/SK/KPI/8/2004.
If within three months the letter is not revoked, the provision will not have any legal force.
According to Karni, actually from the aspect of content, the association agrees with KPI provision.
“We agree that programs with mystic and porn nuance must in fact be limited,” he said.
According to him, the association's claim is more because KPI made the provision earlier than the government.
“In addition, KPI regulates the sanctions. Through the sanction is already regulated in the Broadcasting Decree,” he said.
In article 57 of the decision, for example, factual programs with occult, paranormal and black magic themes may only be broadcasted between 10pm and 3am.
The sanctions stated in article 77 are the forms of written notice, program temporary halt, duration
limitation, fines, freezing television program, turning down license extension up to television station's license revocation.
These sanctions are what the association considered as too heavy.
KPI acknowledged it will study the Supreme Court's decision.
According to KPI member, Don Bosco Selamun, the provision they made for all television stations including TVRI (state-owned television station), is normal.
“Because KPI is given the job in the Broadcasting Decree to protect the society from violence, pornography, sadism and mysticism,” he said.
According to Don Bosco, this KPI provision is different from ATVSI's code of ethics.
“ATVSI's code of ethics are valid for the internal, KPI's decision is general,” he said.
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source
Labels: Internet News
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posted by ojack_djakarta
12:47 PM
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World Health Assembly Grants Indonesia's Demand
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The World Health Assembly, during the 60th meeting in Geneva, Swiss, granted Indonesia's request for a more transparent mechanism as regards sending bird flu virus samples.
Because of this, developed countries will no longer be able to take advantage of poor countries attacked by bird flu.
“The resolution will bind all members of the World Health Organization (WHO),” wrote I Nyoman Kandun, Director General of Disease Control and Environmental Improvement at the Health Department, in a short message to Tempo yesterday (23/5).
Earlier, Indonesia refused to send H5N1 virus samples to the WHO's collaboration laboratory.
The reason for this is the virus, that must be given freely by infected countries, will later be used for research, including for producing bird flu vaccines.
The problem is, the vaccine made by developed countries will then be sold at an expensive price to the infected countries.
“Bird flu virus is provided free from developing countries, but medicinal companies take on a patent on the vaccines and sell it at an expensive price,” said Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari.
According to Kandun, in the future the resolution will be followed up with cooperation among governments and among divisions.
The cooperation is aimed at revising the term of reference and documents on virus shipping.
“Virus shipping must be done transparently, responsibly and beneficially for all sides in maintaining the world's health,” he said.
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source
Labels: Health, Indonesia, Internet News
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posted by ojack_djakarta
12:31 PM
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Thursday, May 24, 2007
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Indonesia: Market for China's Export Product Remainders
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Indonesian domestic product industries are losing the competition against China's imported goods in the domestic market.
The goods from China which enter Indonesia are export remainders.
Cyrillus Harinowo, BCA's Independent Commissioner, said most of China's goods in Indonesia are export goods remainders.
“So the prices are much cheaper,” he said during the “Dragons at Your Door: China's Position in the World Trade Course and How Indonesian Entrepreneurs Response China's Excellence” discussion yesterday (21/5).
Almost all of Chinese exports to Indonesia are export product remainders sold at a very low price.
It is estimated that Chinese products that enter Indonesia amount to 10 percent of China's total exports.
Cyrillus asked that domestic producers make goods which can compete with China-made products.
This is because tariff and non-tariff impediments for restraining the export goods remainders are also not effective.
“It's difficult to face such goods,” said Cyrillus.
Imposing a 100 percent import duty, he said, would not influence the abundance of Chinese products.
The reason for this is that Chinese products will still be cheaper than the normal prices on the international market.
Cyrillus suggested that producers group together to produce medium quality products in order to face the invasion of Chinese products.
This is because Indonesia can export more natural resources products especially energy source and agriculture products that China does not have.
The University of Indonesia's Chinese Study Center Head, Ignasius Wibowo, said that productivity of workers in China is very high, so China can produce cheap products.
“No bureaucracy impediments and production costs are much cheaper. China has managed to build industrial centers,” he said.
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source
Labels: Bank, Indonesia, Internet News, Market
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posted by ojack_djakarta
11:56 AM
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World Bank Supports Freedom of Information Bill
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The public being ably to access easily information from governmental institutions is considered as one of the important factors in advancing corruption eradication.
This was conveyed by World Bank communication officer, Ahmad Sukarsono.
“Indonesia already has good instruments for corruption eradication, but without public open access, i believe corruption eradication will be more difficult,” said Ahmad during the Workshop of Access to Obtain Information and Good Governance in Indonesia at Le Meridien Hotel, Jakarta, Tuesday (22/5).
According to Ahmad, the Freedom to Obtain Public Information (KMIP) Bill which is being discussed by the House of Representatives (DPR) will be the oxygen for corruption cases in Indonesia.
World Bank as a financial organization which often provides loans, supports this KMIP Bill being passed.
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source
Labels: Internet News, Money
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posted by ojack_djakarta
11:53 AM
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Wednesday, May 23, 2007
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Medicine Prices in Indonesia Extremely High
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The public buys medicine with a price that is actually higher than the standard price. This fact is rarely realized because the medicines are needed and the consumers are not given an option to use other medicines.
“Patients are often deceived,” said the Head of Indonesian Health Consumers Empowerment Foundation, Marius Widjajarta, in Jakarta yesterday (21/5).
According to Marius, the foundation he is leading has carried out a survey in 25 hospitals in Indonesia. The result is the costs expended by patients for medical devices and medicines reach 60 to 70 percent of the total cost. “This isn't natural. Patients should only spend 30 percent of the total cost for buying medicines,” he said.
Marius assumed that the ruse against patients is practiced by pharmaceutical companies and doctors who give the prescription. Pharmaceutical companies set a high price for medicines they produce. “The difference can be 200 percent of the generic medicines price,” he said.
It is very rare that patients refuse a prescription given by a doctor. In the meantime, doctors have a motive that patients buy the medicines they recommend. “Pharmaceutical companies give commissions to doctors. The commission is a reward as the doctors prescribe the medicines they produce,” said Marius.
This sham actually does not have to happen if the government's role in monitoring the labeling of medicines runs well. The government must also issue a regulation to determine the price of branded medicines.
Director General of Pharmaceutical Service and Medical Device Improvement at the Health Department, Richard Panjaitan, said that the government does not have the authority to determine the prices of branded medicines.
The government is only authorized to determine the prices of generic medicines to be consumed by the public. “For determining medicine’s price, a law is necessary. Now the draft is being composed by us,” he said.
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sourceLabels: Health, Internet News, Money
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posted by ojack_djakarta
9:42 AM
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AGO Reopens BPPC Case
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The Attorney General's Office (AGO) will once again investigate the alleged corruption of the Coordination Body and Clove Marketing (BPPC) which involved Hutomo Mandala Putra a.k.a. Tommy Suharto. The investigation is the AGO's priority as it is considered as the case with the fastest verification process compared to the other Tommy's cases.
“The order to begin investigation was issued on May 7,” said Director of Criminal Act Investigation, Muhammad Salim, yesterday (21/5).
Salim explained that the indications of corruption in the BPPC case are strong. He said these include the requirement that BPPC did not carry out as regulated by the Presidential Instruction No. 1/1992. However, he did not explain it further.
Salim also stressed he will examine all sides related to BPPC, including the former Main Village Unit Cooperative Chairman, Nurdin Khalid. The AGO team, he said, is formulating the role of the main cooperative chairman.
AGO's Civil Director, Yoseph Suardi Sabda, said the alleged corruption in BPPC can be made as a means of disbursing Tommy Suharto's money in Banque Nationale de Paris (BNP) Paribas of the Guernsey branch by the Indonesian government. If the investigation states Tommy's money must be seized, Yoseph believes that the money in Guernsey can be used to pay the compensation. The disbursement can be done through the civil and criminal procedure.
Tommy's lawyer, O.C. Kaligis, is of the opinion that AGO's measure is only a manipulation and seems to be forced. “The main purpose is only the verification of the Guernsey trial,” said Kaligis when contacted by Tempo.
A member of the Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) working body, Adnan Topan, is optimistic about the AGO's scenario. “The case hasn't expired. AGO can even name Tommy as a suspect,” he said.
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source
Labels: Internet News, People
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posted by ojack_djakarta
9:26 AM
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Monday, May 21, 2007
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“England Must Oversee Origins of Oil Palm”
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England, as the biggest palm oil importer in the world after the Netherlands, must set up tight regulations on the origins of palm oil, which is to be a bio-fuel base commodity. This is because the development of a palm oil estate is closely related to deforestation and the orangutan slaughtering.
“We hope that the palm oil plantation will not destroy forests or habitats,” said Director of the Centre for Orangutan Protection (COP), Hardi Baktiantoro, during a rally in front of the British Embassy, Wednesday (16/5). In the rally, four COP activists wore the uniform of plantation officers and carried orangutan puppets, also fuel jerry cans.
Throughout 2006, said Hardi, the rescue team from the Forestry Department and the Nyarumenteng Orangutan Reintroduction Center, Central Kalimantan, managed to save 368 orangutans from a number of palm oil plantations. The plantation workers generally consider orangutans as pests as they eat palm oil leaves. They also chase orangutans from palm oil plantations. As a result, orangutans lose its habitats, water and food sources.
“This cruelty is a violation against the Decree No. 5/1990 on Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation. The perpetrators could face five year imprisonment or Rp100 million fine,” he said.
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source
Labels: Internet News
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posted by ojack_djakarta
11:34 AM
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Friday, May 18, 2007
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Some State Officials Do Not Pay Tax
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The Tax Directorate General revealed several names of state officials who have not paid tax or submitted the Yearly Information (SPT) of Tax. “They also don't have a personal tax number (NPWP),” Tax Director General Darmin Nasution told reporters in Jakarta, yesterday (14/5).
Although he has pocketed the names, he refused to explain the identities of state officials who did not pay tax. He was also reluctant to give the details of institutions or departments of the officials who did not report their tax obligation by the Tax SPT because he will first report the cases to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
Regarding the names of civil officials of echelon IV up to I who neither have NPWP nor submitted Tax SPT, they will be reported to the respective ministry or state institutions. “This is a part of tax intensification to optimize the state revenue,” he said.
A House member, Andi Rahmat, said that the signals of state officials not paying tax have already been there a long time and this could happen. However, there is a possibility that the officials did not intend to break the law or avoid the obligation to pay tax.
The State officials generally have NPWPs. The problem is, he said, they are not accustomd to filling out Tax SPT. “Perhaps many ministers don't know how to fill out Tax SPT,” he said while mentioning that he already filled out his Tax SPT.
Therefore, he said that the Tax Directorate General must intensify the campaign of self assessment of tax much more. “Everybody must have an NPWP, especially those whose income exceeds the income that is tax-free,” he said.
He was sorry that Indonesia does not have a solid system yet like European countries which already implemented NPWP ownership. “In Europe, even people who want to make a call must show his or her NPWP, so they comply with the tax system,” he said.
He still supports the publication of the tax embezzlers. “The Tax Directorate General's findings must be revealed soon so that people feel the obligation to pay tax.”
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source
Labels: Internet News, Money, Tax
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posted by ojack_djakarta
8:18 AM
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Tax Officials to Hunt Down Sukanto Tanoto
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The Tax Directorate General at the Finance Department will concentrate on hunting down the main players in the Asian Agri Group tax embezzlement case, including the company's owner Sukanto Tanoto and the other shareholders.
Mochamad Tjiptardjo, Director of Tax Intelligence and Investigation at the Finance Department's Tax Directorate General, did not deny the possibility that the Asian Agri's owner could be legally charged.
”If there is proof, then why not? This is already classified as a criminal case,” said Tjiptardjo in Jakarta yesterday (15/5).
“The numbers of the suspects and the amount of the state's losses may increase,” he said
When asked the same question, whether or not the Tax Directorate General would also hunt down Sukanto Tanoto, on a separate occasion, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said, “We'll see how the Tax Directorate General handles the case. But clearly, the government will chase after payment of all the tax debts plus the fines.”
On Monday (14/5), the Tax Directorate General already stated that five Asian Agri Group directors were suspects of tax embezzlement. The five persons' initials are LA, WT, ST, TNK and AN.
Asian Agri is the second biggest holding company in the Grup Raja Garuda Mas – a company owned by Sukanto Tanoto, Indonesia's richest person in 2006 according to Forbes magazine.
According to Tjiptardjo, 18 members of the Tax Directorate General investigation team are working domestically and abroad to search for new findings in the case.
The legal base being used to charge the embezzlers, including those who asked for the manipulation to be carried out, he said, was Decree No. 16/2000 on Tax General Provisions and Procedures.
So far, according to him, the case development was only as far as the involvement of the five Asian Agri directors.
Signs regard new suspects have not yet been reached at this level of the investigation.
It is so far estimated that the state's losses amount to Rp786.3 billion, or around 30 percent from the total funds marked-up by the company which reached Rp2.62 trillion, but this amount could rise.
According to M. Salim, Director of the Attorney General's Office Investigators, the AGO is still analyzing public complaints about Asian Agri’s alleged corruption and tax embezzlement practices.
“We just received the reports last week,” said Salim.
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source
Labels: Internet News, Tax
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posted by ojack_djakarta
8:16 AM
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Saturday, May 12, 2007
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China Asks Broadcasting Commission to Freeze 'Voice of Hope' Radio
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The Chinese Embassy asked the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) to freeze the 'Voice of Hope' radio program in Batam. The Commission received the request from the Counselor Minister at the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Jakarta, Monday (7/5).
“They said the radio often broadcasts political propaganda by speading anti-China teachings,' KPI Chairman, Sasa Djuarsa Sandjaya, told Tempo, Tuesday.
The radio station owned by PT Radio Semesta Baru, said Sasa, was suspected of having spread Falun Gong teachings. In its country of origin - China – in the beginning Falun Gong was only a part of martial arts. However, the Chinese government believes that the teachings are misleading.
According to Sasa, the Commission cannot cancel a radio station's permit abruptly. The measure that is to be taken must first be discussed with the Foreign Affairs Department and the State Intelligence Agency (BIN). In addition, the Press Council's opinion must also be considered, whether or not the program's material is in line with the journalistic code of ethics in Indonesia.
The 'Voice of Hope' radio is community radio which has been on-air in FM 106.5 frequency. Around 50 percent of the radio programs' material is conveyed in the Mandarin language. “Half in Indonesian language,” said Sasa.
The Embassy of the People's Republic of China's Counselor Minister for Indonesia, Yu Hong Yao, stated he did not intend to interfere with Indonesia's affairs. “We are only informed that there is Falon Gong in Indonesia, “Yu told Tempo.
According to Yu, he agreed that Falun Gong's activities are only limited to health and well-being. “But if it comes to politics and defaming the Chinese government, then we don't want it,” said Yu.
__________
tempo
Labels: Internet News
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posted by ojack_djakarta
8:32 AM
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Friday, May 11, 2007
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11 Japan Loan Bank Projects Delayed
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The National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) has discovered that the realization of 11 infrastructure projects funded with loans from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation has been delayed.
“The delayed projects belong to the Public Works Department, the Transportation Department, Cipta Karya and Bina Marga,” Benedictus Benny Setiawan, Director of Development Funding Monitoring and Evaluation told Tempo at his office, Jakarta, yesterday (9/5).
Benny explained that the projects were delayed because of land acquisition and project procurement.
Four projects were delayed because of land acquisition problem, Batanghari Irrigation; North Java Corridor Flyover, Tanjung Priok Access Road and Double Double-Track.
The projects which were delayed by procurement are Lower Solo River Improvement, Komering Irrigation Project, PTSL for Water Resources Development and the Railway Electrification and Double Double-Track.
The projects' procurement was hampered due to land acquisition.
The Dumai Port project was delayed by the Indonesian Military (TNI) Navy’s quay demolition.
The problem was settled in the end of 2006, but the process must be accelerated because it is likely to not to be completed on schedule.
The Maritime Education and Training Improvement project is also not in accordance with schedule due to design alterations.
The constraints resulted in the absorption of loans being low.
Benny said that not all of the loans from the Japan Bank were absorbed.
The US$5.95 billion in loans from the Japan Bank is equivalent to 40.8 percent of the total foreign loans for infrastructure projects.
Funds from Japan Bank are allocated for 51 projects.
The delay in projects and fund absorption did not make the government pay commitment fee to Japan Bank.
However, infrastructure facilities cannot be enjoyed soon by the general public and economic costs have occurred.
“Roads were ruined due to high transportation cost,s so goods' prices are also high,” said Benny.
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tempo
Labels: Bank, Internet News, Loan, Money, Tax
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posted by ojack_djakarta
1:46 PM
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Thursday, May 10, 2007
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Minimum 10 Percent Investment Growth Required
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The government needs investment growth to be 10 percent in order to catch up with the targeted non-oil and gas export growth of 14.5 percent.
Last year, investment growth was only three percent.
Mari Elka Pangestu, Trade Minister, said that investment growth was required in order to increase export growth.
“This year investment growth must be 10 percent, up from last year's three percent,” she said, on Monday (7/5).
She went on to say that the competitiveness of export products in the world market no longer faces the matter of lowest production cost anymore.
“But how to deliver goods quickly and at a low distribution cost,” said Mari.
In order to support investment and export growth, she said the government will prioritize the state budget for building infrastructure.
“Inefficient transportation and logistics are problems that must be solved,” she said Mari.
Muhammad S. Hidayat, Chairman if the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), acknowledged he was pessimistic about the target set by the government last week.
At that time, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy said that investment amounting to Rp1,180 trillion was needed to reach the economic growth target of 6.8 percent by 2008.
It is expected that most of the investment will come from the private sector because the government can only provide around Rp141 trillion.
“With such target, we can no longer do business as usual. The government must do concrete policies in order to improve investment climate,” Hidayat told Tempo.
According to him, without concrete policies, such as government regulations, presidential regulations,
ministerial regulations or other regulations which separate the authority between central and regional governments, the investment target will not be met.
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tempo
Labels: Indonesia, Internet News, Money
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posted by ojack_djakarta
7:57 AM
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Wednesday, May 09, 2007
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Indonesia, Singapore to Carry Out Bird Flu Pilot Project
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The governments of Indonesia and Singapore have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for carry out a pilot project for bird flu control in Tangerang, Banten.
The MoU was signed by Coordinating Minister for the People's Welfare, Aburizal Bakrie, and Singapore's Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan, today (9/5) at the Coordinating Ministry of the People's Welfare office, Jakarta.
In his opening speech, Khaw said that health problems in Indonesia can become problems in Singapore quickly and vice versa.
The reason for this is Singapore being near to Indonesia geographically.
“In addition, bird flu is more dangerous than SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome),” he said.
Khaw explained that the pilot project in Tangerang will focus on the strategy of monitoring humans and fowls as well as treatment of infected patients.
The cooperation will also be carried out in prevention of animal diseases, including husbandry system restructuring.
In addition, the Singaporean and Indonesian governments will help increase joint human resources capacity.
Aburizal Bakrie said that this cooperation began at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders meeting in Bussan, South Korea, in November, 2005.
At that time, leaders from three countries, Indonesia, Singapore and United States, agreed to make a pilot project of bird flu prevention and control in Indonesia.
“In the first stage, the project will be carried out between Singapore and Indonesia while the technical cooperation with US is in the preparation stage,” he said.
The pilot project, said Aburizal, is very important to Indonesia.
The government can learn about effective bird flu prevention and control.
“If successful, the project will be adopted in other regions of Indonesia,” he said.
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tempo
Labels: Health, Indonesia, Internet News
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posted by ojack_djakarta
4:53 PM
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Tuesday, May 08, 2007
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BI to Maintain Rupiah's Volatility at Two Percent
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Bank Indonesia (BI) will maintain the volatility level of the Rupiah's exchange rate against the United States Dollar at two percent.
According to Burhanuddin Abdullah, BI Governor, the two percent volatility level is still safe.
“It's still stable,” he said in Jakarta last week.
The central bank, said Burhanuddin, will continue maintaining and monitoring the Rupiah's volatility at an appropriate level.
“If it's strengthens, then it strengthens. And vice versa,” he said.
Last week, the Rupiah managed to break through the level of below Rp9,000 per US Dollar, but was still moving at a level of between Rp8,972 and Rp9,080 against the US Dollar.
According to Burhanuddin, the Rupiah's exchange rate still moved at a level appropriate with the central bank's estimation.
He is also optimistic that the current Rupiah exchange rate is still safe for entrepreneurs.
“This level is still good for exports and imports,” said Burhanuddin.
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tempo
Labels: Internet News, Money, Tax
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posted by ojack_djakarta
8:15 AM
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Monday, May 07, 2007
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Government Orders Lapindo to Pay Compensation Quickly
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The government ordered PT Minarak Lapindo Jaya to pay compensation to locals starting this Monday. This was included in the points of agreement resulting from the dialog between the government, hot mudflow victims and Lapindo, Wednesday (2/5).
The dialog that went on from 3pm to 9.30pm was attended by the government – comprising the Sidoarjo Mudflow Handling Agency and the National Land Agency- PT Minarak Lapindo Jaya; Head of Sidoarjo Regional Representatives Council (DPRD); Porong District Chief, Tanggulanging District Chief also representatives from four villages – Jatirejo, Renikenongo, Kedungbendo and Siring.
“Compensation must be paid as soon as everything has passed the verification of notary or officials empowered to draw up land deeds (PPATK),” said Head of the Sidoarjo Mud Handling Agency Advisory Board Chairman, Bachtiar Chamsyah, during a press conference after the tripartite negotiation, at the Social Affairs Department, Jakarta, Wednesday.
In addition, the agreement says if a resident does not have the building permit (IMB), the building width will be based on the Sepuluh Nopember Technology Institute, Surabaya's (ITS) data. Then, if the ITS data is lacking, the building width will be based on the letter of resident's statement legalized by the government based on the Government Regulation No. 14/2007.
Sidoarjo DPRD Chairman, Arly Fauzi, acknowledged he was not satisfied with the agreement. This is because there has not yet clarity about the definition of 'certificate legalization by the government.'
One of the residents' representatives, Khairul Huda, also said he was dissatisfied with the agreement.
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tempo
Labels: Indonesia, Internet News, Money, People, Politics
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posted by ojack_djakarta
7:53 AM
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Court Concedes that Suciwati Wins
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The Central Jakarta District Court granted some of the civil claims proposed by Suciwati, the widow of late Munir yesterday (3/5), against PT Garuda Indonesia. The judges' panel led by Andriani Nurdin, stated that the accused, PT Garuda Indonesia as the accused 1; former Garuda Managing Director Indra Setiawan (the accused 2) and Captain Pilot Pantun Matondang (the accused 9), have committed actions against the law.
Judge Andriani stated that the accused are guilty for being negligent about the cause of human rights activist Munir's death, , on September 2004 on the GA-974 flight from Jakarta to Amsterdam. According to the judge, when passengers are under emergency measures, pilots should consult doctors or nurses or senior flight attendant to cancel the flight and land at the nearest airport.
The judges' panel used Article 17 of the Warsaw Convention on international flights as consideration in deciding. The Article states that international flights should obey the Convention.
The judges’ panel also used Decree No. 15/1992 on Flights, which regulates the definition of an accident. According to an expert's statement during the trial, murder is not categorized as an accident so Garuda was thought to take responsibility.
However, the judges' panel widened the definition of an accident and regarded the event of Munir's death as an accident. “The principle of absolute responsibility was effective. Garuda must be responsible,” said the judge. The death of Munir, according to the judge, showed that Garuda violated the principles of caution and prudence.
In addition to being found to have broken the law, the judges also obliged Garuda and the other accused to pay compensation jointly amounting to Rp664,209,900.
In response to the verdict, Suciwati said the judges missed an important matter in the prosecution, that Garuda should have carried out an internal investigation into abuse and irregularity. “It's a form of responsibility to the public,” she said.
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tempo
Labels: Internet News, People
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posted by ojack_djakarta
7:44 AM
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Indonesia’s Press Freedom Improves
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The Press Council Chairman, Ichlasul Amal, said that the level of press freedom in Indonesia is at the rank of 103. This is progress compared to two years before, which saw it at levels 105 and 106.
“Fewer journalists underwent violent acts from institutions or were threatened by groups of people,” said Ichlasul after with the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) met President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the President’s office yesterday (3/5). The meeting was also attended by Information and Communication Minister Sofyan Djalil in commemoration of World Press Day. In the last six years, the Press Council received 1,100 complaints.
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tempo
Labels: Internet News
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posted by ojack_djakarta
7:42 AM
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Friday, May 04, 2007
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BI Governor: Trend of Fund Placement in SBIs Lower
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Bank Indonesia (BI) is optimistic that the general public's fund placement in the form of BI Certificates (SBIs) will continue decreasing in line with the start of bank credit distribution activation.
In the last two auctions, the number of fund placement in SBIs went down to Rp16 trillion.
“Now the (SBI) trend is between leveling off (stagnant) and lowering. That's good news,” said BI Governor Burhanuddin Abdullah in Jakarta yesterday (2/5).
He acknowledged that banks' credit distribution was still slow and under the central bank's target.
However, there are still indications that bank's credit distribution is already in process so it can have positive effects on the national's economy.
Up to last March, the general public's funds, especially banks, saved in SBI reached Rp272 trillion.
However, he is optimistic that SBI amount by the end of the year will be much lower compared to now.
“Hopefully it can be under Rp200 trillion,” he said.
Regarding the possibility that BI changes minimum reserves like what China's central bank did, he said currently it will not be carried out because tightening the minimum reserves will influence banking stability.
BI, according to him, prefers using indirect approaches, such as interest rate.
“Through an open market or sometimes a combination,” he said.
Sukatmo Padmosukarso, PT Bank Internasional Indonesia's Director, predicted that fund placement at SBIs will go down significantly in this year's second semester.
“In the second quarter of this year it is beginning to go down. It'll be much more in the second semester,” he told Tempo in Jakarta yesterday.
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tempo
Labels: Internet News, Money
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posted by ojack_djakarta
8:21 AM
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Thursday, May 03, 2007
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Indonesia, Fastest Destroyer of Forests in the World
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Indonesia has broken the record of the Guinness Book of World Record as the fastest destroyer of forests in the world and therefore will be listed in the 2008 Guinness Book.
According to Hapsoro, the Southeast Asian Green Peace's forest campaigner, as many as 72 percent of Indonesia's genuine forests have vanished and half of the remaining forests are still in danger.
“Indonesia destroys forests with the size equivalent with 300 football fields every hour,” he said during a press conference, Thursday (3/5).
He went on to say, the forest damage is caused by, among which, illegal logging which numbered 76 to 80 percent; legal logging through forest concession rights (HPH) and industrial forest estate (HTI) and also forest fires.
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tempo
Labels: Indonesia, Internet News, People, Politics
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posted by ojack_djakarta
6:36 PM
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Wednesday, May 02, 2007
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Advertisement Regulation Violators Threatened with Multiple Sanctions
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The Information and Communication Minister Regulation on the Domestic Resources Usage for Advertisement Products Broadcast by Broadcasting Institution, is effective starting yesterday (1/5).
People who violate this new regulation are threatened with multiple sanctions.
Sofyan Djalil, Information and Communication Minister, said the regulation was issued in order to advance the domestic industry's and resources competitive power in broadcasting.
The regulation is in fact already included in the Article 46 Point 11 of the Decree No. 32/2006 on Broadcasting.
Unfortunately, the law does not explain in details about the definition of domestic resources.
As a result, a large number of advertising groups violated the law.
“In practice it’s extremely free,” said Sofyan in Jakarta yesterday (1/5).
According to Emmy Yuhasari, a member of Information and Communication Minister's expert staff, the use of local resources in the law is arranged from the process of production to post-production.
From the aspect of acting, the provision is effective for models, actors, supporting-actors, directors, creative directors, photography directors, lighting directors, production officers, camera persons, audio operators, production assistants, back sound operators and tele-cinema operators.
It is the same with on-line editors, off-line editors, effect editors, graphic artists, animation artists, musicians, music arrangers, effect persons, recording operators, technical advisers, stunt and audio as also visual 3-D special effect editors.
In the implementation, said Emmy, every advertising agency must sign a letter of statement that the advertisement has fulfilled the requirements.
The letter must be handed to television stations.
If anyone is found to have violated the requirements, Emmy said the government will impose multiple sanctions.
First, administrative sanctions that forbids broadcasting of the advertisement on television and radio station.
The agency will be charged under the falsehood article of the Criminal Code.
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tempo
Labels: Internet News, Money
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posted by ojack_djakarta
6:48 PM
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Extradition Agreement: Fugitives to be Announced After Ratification
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The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) will announce the names of fugitives who are wanted for corruption and are suspected to have escaped to Singapore, after the extradition agreement is ratified by the House of Representatives (DPR). “The fugitives’ names will be announced. It depends on when the ratification is,” said the Duty Executing Officer of the Deputy Attorney General for Special Criminal Acts, Hendarman Supandji, at his office yesterday (30/4).
According to Hendarman, now the AGO is still inventorying the names of the fugitives. The standard of fugitives to be pursued, said Hendarman, are those who have been suspects, defendants and convicts, who are thought to be in Singapore. The names that AGO has pocketed, he said, are the 15 that have previously been named, including Agus Anwar, Irawan Salim, Sjamsul Nursalim, Atang Latief, Sukanto Tanoto, Sudjiono Timan and Bambang Sutrisno.
The Indonesian and Singaporean governments signed an extradition agreement, last Friday. The important points in extradition, are it’s retroactive for 15 years; Indonesian corruptors who changed citizenship can be extradited and an extradition request is handled through the trial process in Singapore.
The Director of Immigration Investigation and Prosecution at the Justice and Human Rights Department, Syaiful Rachman, said that although the fugitives have changed citizenship, the fugitive status is still valid. “It is a matter of names,” said Syaiful when contacted yesterday.
However, Syaiful said that Immigration feels it is difficult tracing a fugitive who escaped abroad. This is because, said Syaiful, in addition to the immigration system that is not online, there is also a human resource limitation. “Moreover, investigation is the intelligence job,” he said.
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tempo
Labels: Internet News
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posted by ojack_djakarta
7:58 AM
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Tuesday, May 01, 2007
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Russian Altimo Rumored to Want to Buy Indosat
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A business group from Russia, Altimo – Alfa Group is rumored as ready to buy 42 percent of the PT Indonesian Satellite's (Indosat) shares owned by ST Telemedia (Singapore).
Coordinator of the Business Technology and Information Analysis Institute, Musarman, explained that from the result of his institution's study, Altimo's plan to buy Indosat was discovered. “They provide US$2 billion of funds (around Rp18 trillion) for the transaction,” Musarman told Tempo in Jakarta yesterday (30/4).
He said that in order to realize the plan, Altimo has designed two scenarios. First, Altimo will directly buy 42 percent of Indosat's shares from ST Telemedia. Second, Altimo, through the State Enterprises Ministry, will buy all Indosat's shares that are owned by the Temasek Holding's subsidiary.
Musarman said, in carrying out the missions, Altimo utlized its representative in Jakarta to perform lobbying. “The name is Suharto,” he said.
When asked for confirmation, Suharto, who was in Russia, disputed the accusation. “That's not true,” he said.
He promised he would respond to the accusation by the time he returns from Russia. Indosat's spokesperson, Adita Irawati, also acknowledged not having information about the purchase plan. “So far we only know about the issue from the media,” she said.
Earlier, the government was also interested in buying back Indosat's shares from PT Telemedia. Vice President Jusuf Kalla, on many occasions, stated that the government wanted to buy back Indosat's shares. Adding to this, many groups in the House of Representatives (DPR) and the Regional Representative Councils (DPDs) continue generating support for the plan.
Indosat's shares on the floor of the stock market has been recording a rise since last week. On yesterday's trade, Indosat's price closed at Rp6,800 per share, rising Rp400 compared to Wednesday's (23/4) price of Rp6,400.
__________
tempo
Labels: Internet News, Politics
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posted by ojack_djakarta
6:58 PM
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JSX and SSX Merger to be Completed Early October
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The merger between the Jakarta Stock Exchange (JSX) and the Surabaya Stock Exchange (SSX) will be legally set up in early October.
Managing Director of JSX Erry Firmansyah has said that requests over shareholders' agreements will be completed by the third week of September.
“The process of legal, financial and human resource consultation are in progress,” he said in Jakarta last week.
Erry said that the decisions regarding human resources matters will be taken early next week.
“However, I hope that by January 1, 2008 a new structure and composition already exist,” he said.
After the merger, the company's name will still be JSX.
According to Erry, investors, especially foreigners, hoped that there would be no name change.
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tempoLabels: Internet News, Money
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posted by ojack_djakarta
7:31 AM
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