..:: Djakarta Info ::..

Indonesian Government Asks for Virus Not to be Abused by WHO

2008-03-04T23:28:00.001+07:00

The Indonesian government has received a guarantee that the 15 bird flu virus (H5N1) samples that have been sent to the World Health Organization (WHO) were only to be examined for risk assessment, as to whether the virus is resistant to oseltamivir or not.

“Before the virus was sent, we already had the risk assessment guarantee letter,” said Siti Fadilah Supari, Health Minister, at her residence, Jalan Denpasar, Kuningan, Jakarta, two days ago (1/3).

According to Minister Siti, the bird flu virus samples were sent along with the material transfer agreement (MTA) that the government proposed be signed by the WHO.

If the WHO is willing to sign it, then the government will send more virus samples.

“Otherwise, the government will struggle again,” said Minister Siti.
According to her, the dispatch was a test as to whether the WHO will approve the MTA or not.

In December 2006, the government stopped sending bird flu virus samples.

This policy was taken to prevent multinational companies from using Indonesian virus samples to develop vaccines with a high sales price.

Minister Siti said that with the MTA, the bird flu virus sample dispatch mechanism is more transparent and fair in terms of responsibility towards the virus sending country.

The government's desire to change the mechanism, according to her, is not only useful for bird flu cases but also other diseases.

Under the old mechanism, virus samples were prone to be misused and
could therefore spread again in Indonesia and cause a new cases.

This is because the bird flu virus spread in Indonesia is inappropriate with epidemiology.

“This needs a great deal of attention,” said Minister Siti.

With the new mechanism, she said, the government has tried to overcome the large number of bird flu case in Indonesia.

“With transparency, what ever the virus is used for can be known,” said Minister Siti.

C.A. Nidom, Head of the Avian Influenza Tropical Disease Center Laboratory at Airlangga University, supported the government's measure to start sending bird flu virus samples.

According to him, the government needs to prioritize the bird flu handling in the country instead of fighting for the right in the MTA process at the WHO.

“What we're facing are human lives and the world's community,” said Nidom when contacted yesterday (2/3).

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source :
Margahayu Land
http://margahayuland.blogspot.com/2008/03/indonesian-government-asks-for-virus.html

Abu Dujana Admits Keeping Weapons

2008-03-04T23:27:00.000+07:00

Abu Dujana, the defendant in the alleged terrorism case, admitted keeping weapons and explosives. According to him, the weapons were the remains of the conflict in Ambon, Maluku. “There was an M-16 and a few broken pistols,” said Abu Dujana, answering Wahjono, the chairman of the panel of judges at the South Jakarta District Court, yesterday (3/3).

Despite admitting possessing weapons, none were bought by him. The agenda of the trial yesterday was hearing defendant Abu Dujana's statement.

Abu Dujana was charged by terrorism as possessing, keeping and distributing firearms and explosives. Abu, arrested on June 9, 2007 in Banyumas, Central Java, was charged with Article 9 of the Anti-terrorism Decree. In addition, he was charged with Article 17 of the Anti-terrorism Decree regarding his involvement in terrorism cooperation.

At the trial Abu Dujana a.k.a. Ainul Bahri, denied some of the investigation results in the deposition. According to Abu, his health at that time very much affected his statement he gave to the investigators. A gunshot wound in his left thigh, he said, made him so that he could not concentrate. “The wound on my leg made me tired, dizzy and nauseous,” he said.

Abu also recounted having participated in war training between 1999-2000 in the Philippines, then in Afganistan in 1989. He also acknowledged being acquainted with Noor Din M. Top, the most wanted terrorist fugitive. However, he said, how he knew Noor Din was not like what is written in the deposition, as if they were solidly cooperating in a terror

After hearing the defendant's statement, the trial was resumed by the agenda by reading the charge. The panel of judges' chairman, Wahjono, asked the prosecutor to prepare the charge against Abu Dujana in the trial in the next two weeks.

After the trial, the public prosecutor Narendra Jatna, said Abu Dujana's explanation in the trial this time was his right as a defendant. According to Narendra, the defendant also has the right of objection. However, Narendra believed Abu Dujana only denied certain matters that did not influence his charge of terrorism . “For instance, admitting to keeping firearms and explosives and meeting Noor Din M. Top,” said Narendra.

Asludin Hatjani, a member of Abu Dujana's legal team, did not comment much. She said she would just wait for the charge announcement.

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source :
Margahayu Land
http://margahayuland.blogspot.com/2008/03/abu-dujana-admits-keeping-weapons.html

Rokhmin Tries to Drag in Freddy Numberi

2007-07-25T13:03:00.000+07:00

Rokhmin Dahuri, who was sentenced to seven years imprisonment yesterday (26/7), tried to drag along Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister, Freddy Numberi, in the case of non-budgetary funds. After hearing the verdict, he questioned the Corruption Eradication Commission who has not yet examined Freddy Number—who replaced him as minister.

Rokhmin said Freddy also used the same non-budgetary funds for personal interest. “If Pak Freddy said he didn't know, so do I,” he said.

The Corruption Criminal Acts panel of judges sentenced Rokhmin Dahuri to seven years imprisonment in the case of collecting non-budgetary funds in the Fishery Department. The former minister was also fined Rp200 million, with a secondary sentence of six months of detention.

“The defendant was found having committed a corruption criminal act,” said the chairman of the panel of judges, Mansyurdin Chaniago. The verdict was one year more when compared to the prosecutor's charge. The verdict was also heavier compared to the verdict on former Fisheries Department Secretary General, Andin H. Taryoto, for the same case, that was 18 months imprisonment.

Earlier, Rokhmin also accused the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) as discriminating for not arresting Freddy. According to Rokhmin, Freddy used more non-budgetary funds than he, for example for the trip to Rome and house renovation.

KPK Deputy Chairman, Tumpak Hatorangan Panggabean, denied that he had acted discriminatingly. He stressed that the Commission already planned to summon Freddy Numberi in order to develop this case.

Freddy also disputed Rohmin's accusation. He acknowledged he had never ordered the fund collecting. “I was the one who stopped and re-arranged it,” he told Tempo some time ago. He also acknowledged that up to 2006, the fund collection was still going on. Therefore, “to cut the fund chain, I went through all my staff. I replaced the guilty ones.” (Koran Tempo, July 13).

Yesterday, Rokhmin asked for an appeal for the verdict that he called strange.

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tempo

Regional Governments’ Funds Diverted to Capital Market

2007-07-25T13:01:00.000+07:00

The Financial Transaction Reporting and Analysis Center (PPATK) has signaled the existence of funds that belong to regional governments being distributed in the capital market industry.

These funds are for buying securities instruments, including bonds or promissory notes.

“We’ve already received the report,” Yunus Husein, PPATK Chairman, told Tempo in Jakarta last week.

He said he suspected that some of the funds were from project or government program budgets.

As the programs cannot be implemented yet, the funds have been diverted to the capital market.

“This could be to take advantage of the low budget absorption rate,” he said.

According to Yunus, the regional governments’ transfer of funds may be through cooperation with banks, especially regional development banks.

This is because the funds must be deposited first in the banking system before being transferred to the capital market.

“The problem is, we’re experiencing difficulties in monitoring when the funds already entered the capital market,” he said.

PPATK has not yet confirmed who the perpetrators are that have invested regional governments’ money in the stock exchange.

However, “the officials in charge may be involved as the transaction amounts are quite large,” said Yunus.

He said there was in fact no problem if the funds invested in the capital market were regional government officials’ personal monies.

However, he said, this is still need to be questioned.

“Where are the funds from?”

The Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) has in fact discovered placement of regional governments’ funds in the capital market.

According to Emerson Juntho, ICW’s Coordinator for Legal and Monitoring Division, this occurred due to the weak monitoring of funds usage in regions.

Emerson said the regional government’s funds were actually public funds, so any transfers to the capital market were clearly violations.

The use of the regional government’s funds, he said, could also involve corruption because, “Who receives the benefits?”

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tempo

Indonesia Urges Creation of Asia-Pacific Human Rights Commission

2007-07-10T18:19:00.000+07:00

Compared to other regions in the world, Indonesia believes that the Asia-Pacific region has been left behind in terms of upholding human rights. This is seen from the lack of a human rights institution at regional level.

Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirajuda stated this when opening the 14th workshop of Cooperation for Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in the Asia-Pacific Region, Tuesday (10/7). “We're concerned because there’s been no joint cooperation mechanism,” said Foreign Affairs Director General for Multilateral Cooperation, Rezlan Ishar Jenie, reading the speech.

Hassan cited Europe that has a European Court of Human Rights; Africa with the African Commission on Human and People's Rights and also America with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and Court of Human Rights. He is certain that if there is a political will, such an institution can come to a realization.

In the meantime, the Foreign Affairs Minister is of the opinion that currently the human rights matter has undergone transition. In the 1980-1990 period, human rights are identical with individual and political rights as appeared in the issue of freedom of expression. The view of human rights is very much influenced by a liberal democracy tradition in Western countries.

However, later on developing countries viewed human rights from a social, economic and cultural perspective. It was seen that the poverty issue is a part of the human rights issue. “It is ironic because now there are still millions of people in the world who are living with an income below US$1 per day,” he said.

The workshop is an activity that has been carried out for the 14th time by the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR) in Geneva. Indonesia was the host of the second workshop in 1993. The workshop will discuss the main theme, 'Human Rights and Extreme Poverty'.

The workshop was opened by Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister and Ms. Louise Arbour from OHCHR. Participants were government representatives, national commissions and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from around 30 countries in the Asia-Pacific region. Representatives from special organizations, inter-governmental organizations, inter-regional governmental organizations and the United States Commission for Economic and Social Activities in the Asia-Pacific were also invited as observers.
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tempo

BI: No Need to Worry about Economic Crisis

2007-07-10T17:26:00.000+07:00

Bank Indonesia (BI) has stated that market players and the public should not worry about a potential second economic crisis spread by a number of world economic institutions.

“Now domestic economic conditions are fully under control,” said Burhanuddin Abdullah, BI Governor, in Jakarta last week.

“Even the position until midyear is still in surplus, so it can still be contractive,” he said.

The Government's Report on the First 2007 State Budget Implementation says that up to mid-June, there has been Rp23.6 trillion budget surplus or a rise of Rp9.7 trillion compared to the same period's surplus last year.

According to Burhanuddin, Indonesia's payment balance (NPI) surplus of US$3.7 billion in June, higher than the initial estimation of US$1.1 billion, also supports economic stability.

The payment balance surplus was not gained at the time before the 1997 economic crisis.

Then, NPI was in continuous deficit.

“Our NPI surplus only happened in 1952 during Korean war
and the 1974 oil boom,” said Burhanuddin.

The last factor, he said, was the economic institutional condition which is also stronger.

Based on BI's monitoring, the banking sector, which used to be a problem, in fact grew stronger.

“So there's nothing to worry about,” said Burhanuddin.

Last week, several institutions warned about the possibility of an economic crisis.

The World Bank, for instance, warned Indonesia about soaring hot money (short-term capital flow) to capital markets.

The flood of foreign capital coming into developing countries' markets and slight differences between domestic interest and international market interests can be very risky.

The Asian Development Bank has suggested Asian countries stay alert about a potential economic crisis like what happened ten years ago.

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tempo

IEA Questions Fuel Oil Subsidy

2007-06-28T08:48:00.000+07:00

The International Energy Agency (IEA) is questioning the policy of fuel oil subsidies being implemented in Indonesia.

Leonard L. Coburn, IEA's head of energy analysis for Indonesia delegation, said that the fuel oil subsidies policy was not competitive for oil and natural gas investors.

“Investors won't be able to compete with a subsidized-fuel oil market,” he said yesterday (26/6).

Coburn went on to say that a subsidized fuel oil policy also distorted the market so the subsidy was not accepted by eligible parties.

He questioned the government's monitoring system so that subsidies are received by parties that have the right to receive them.

Luluk Sumiarso, Director General of Oil and Natural Gas, said the subsidy policy was related to political policy.

The government, he said, in 2000 planned to eliminate subsidies gradually.

However, the plan was not easy to implement and so far fuel oil subsidies are still being handed out.

“The president will not raise the price of subsidized fuels until 2009,” said Luluk.

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tempo

RI demands access to 76 citizens arrested in US raid

2007-06-24T11:59:00.000+07:00

Indonesia has demanded access to 76 of its citizens seized at a plastics factory in the United States, saying it wants to make sure they get legal assistance, a Foreign Ministry official said Friday.

"They have overstayed their visas and allegedly violated the U.S. immigration law," ministry spokesman Kristiarto Legowo said. "We want to make sure that, as suspects, their rights areprotected."

He said the Indonesian workers were among 81 suspected illegal immigrants arrested Tuesday at Iridium Industries Inc. in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania, and are going through proceedings foreventual deportation.

Legowo said the raid at the company, which reportedly makes plastic tubes for lotions and other consumer products, was part of the U.S. immigration agency's effort to combat employment of unauthorized immigrants.

He urged Indonesian citizens living in the United States to obey the laws.
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source

RI works toward new strategy to lift game on export products

2007-06-18T15:44:00.000+07:00

The trade ministry together with the foreign ministry assembled a special meeting in Budapest last week, where trade and promotion officers were summoned to discuss this year's global trade strategies, especially around non-tariff barriers.

"The meeting is the first of its kind," Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu told The Jakarta Post last week.

"We assembled all trade attache officers as well as officers from the Indonesian Trade Promotion Center (ITPC) here in Budapest so we could start some two-way communication.

"We explained the 20 percent trade target growth for this year -- which has been divided by each region -- and what our strategies are to achieve it."

Mari said one of the main focuses of the meeting was the issue of non-tariff barriers.

They concentrated on product standardization because Indonesian products -- mostly foods -- often failed to pass sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) requirements of EU countries.

Mari said one suggestion to improve Indonesian standards was to ask for assistance from international authorities about product and custom standards.

"We will soon send a proposal for capacity building, technical cooperation and cooperation on product standard harmony," Mari said.

"To the European Commission, we will request help in fine-tuning our local systems and standards so that our goods, especially the agricultural products, can meet their requirements.

"We also seek to have cooperation in customs in order to prevent transshipments.

"We want to prevent other countries from using us as the source of origin."

The same approach, Mari said, would also be adopted for the North American market.

Addressing the attache and promotion officers at the meeting, Mari said she expected them to be aggressive in pursuing these goals.

She told the meeting she expected local authorities to fully understand and comprehend all trade policies.

And she said all authorities would at the same time need to help manage the campaign against Indonesian products.

"In the U.S. and also in Europe, we have to battle the negative campaign against our crude palm oil," Mari said.

"We have been accused of causing an environmental disaster by using protected forests for palm oil plantations.

"And we have to correct this."

Another issue that came to light at the meeting was the threat of anti-dumping tariffs.

Earlier this month the U.S. accused Indonesia of subsidizing its paper industry and imposed an anti-dumping tariff on Indonesia's glossy paper trade, forcing Indonesian exporters to pay up to 10.85 percent in additional duty.

"I must say that it is not fair," Mari said.

"We barely reach four percent of the paper export market share to the U.S."

Indonesia would prepare a legal team to battle the accusation. she said.

The working agenda of attache and promotion officers this year includes: a policy dialogue with the United Kingdom on Indonesian-UK partnerships; a trade mission to London, Brussels, Rome, Amsterdam and Madrid; and a trade promotion event in Paris in November.

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Djakarta Post

RI police to get three new Japan-made patrol boats

2007-06-18T15:41:00.000+07:00

The Indonesian Police will have three new Japan-made patrol boats late this year and will use them to deal with crimes like piracy in Malacca Straits, where Japanese ships frequently pass the area, a Japanese official has said.

"The three motorboats will set sail to Indonesia next December or three months faster than schedule," Sumidagawa Shipyard Co. Ltd`s overseas development assistance project general manager K. Fujiwara said Monday.

Indonesian Ambassador Jusuf Anwar witnessed the launching of one of the three patrol boats at Sumidagawa Shipyard last Friday. Sumidagawa Shipyard Co. Ltd. is a manufacturer of patrol boats, ferries, and medium-class warships.

Each of the three patrol boats has 27 meter in length, 98 tons in dead weight, 30 knots in speed and can carry 12 personnel.

Meanwhile, Indonesian Police Educational and Security Office Body Commissioner General Imam Hariyatna said in a report made available here Monday that the three patrol boats were part of a follow-up to the Japanese government`s grant which had been implemented since 1962 when Japan provided Indonesian with war reparations.
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Djakarta Post

DPR Asked to Evaluate Tangguh Gas Price

2007-06-15T12:45:00.000+07:00

The House of representatives (DPR) has been asked to form a special team to investigate the liquefied natural gas (LNG) sales contract from Tangguh gas field in Papua.

The price of Tangguh gas overseas is regarded as cheaper compared to that of domestic gas sales.

Effendi Situmorang, an oil industry observer, said that the team was aimed at researching and probing the contract and sales price of Tangguh gas.

The special team, he said, comprises DPR members, government officials and the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK).

“The purpose of forming the team is to take responsibility as regards whether the 20-year gas sales contract will result in benefit or loss for the state,” he told Tempo yesterday (13/6).

According to Effendi, the Tangguh gas sales price, US$3.5 per mmBtu on average, is the lowest price in the history of Indonesia's LNG sales.

“LNG price from Tangguh is lower than gas price in domestic market, which is above US$4 per mmBtu on average,” said the former Pertamina's Director of Production Sharing Management (now the Upstream Oil and Gas Executing Body or BPH Migas).

He explained that now the State Electricity Company's (PLN) power plants buy gas at prices above US$4 per mmBtu on average.

Moreover, Tangguh gas sales price can cause price discrimination in LNG from Arun gas field in Aceh and Badak gas field in East Kalimantan.

“Up to now Japan buys LNG from Indonesia at between US$7 and US$8 per mmBtu on average,” said Effendi.

Purnomo Yusgiantoro, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister, disagreed that Tangguh gas sales price was too cheap.

His reason was that the US$3.5 per mmBtu price is the export price (free on board).

“When the goods reach the destination, the price can reach US$7 to US$9,” he told Nieke Indrietta from Tempo.

Purnomo went on to say that around 50 percent of Tangguh's LNG for Sempra is also transferred to other contract to gain a better price.

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source

Humpuss To Issue US$400 Million In Bonds

2007-06-15T12:38:00.000+07:00

PT Humpuss Intermoda Transportasi Tbk. plans to issue bonds worth US$400 million to purchase five ships this year. Earlier, this company that runs a sea transportation business planned to obtain a banking loan to fund its expansion.

Agus Darjanto, President Director of Humpuss Intermoda, said that based on analysis the company has carried out, it had been decided not to obtain a banking loan.

“If we borrow from banks, there is little ‘room to move,’ despite us needing a large amount,” he said after holding a press conference following Annual and Extraordinary General Meetings of Shareholders in Jakarta yesterday (13/6).

Agus said the bonds that will be issued comprise of senior debt amounting to US$350 million with eight year period and junior debt of US$50 million with five year period.

The funds will be the sources of the company's expenditure up until to 2010.

He went on to say that after purchasing the new ships, the company plans to continue securing the company's assets in order to look for new loans.

The funds, said Agus, will be used for refinancing all the company's debts, including bond obligations.
Humpuss has allocated US$159.6 million (around Rp1.4 trillion) to purchase five new ships.

According to Agus, the five ships consist of Panamax ships and chemical tank ships.

As regards Panamax, those we are aiming at are that like the ships of Malaysia, Thailand, Japan and Korea,” he said.
In terms of chemical tank ships, the targets are 13,000 dead weight tons (DWT) ships.

The purpose is to meet the international market segment.

Earlier, Sapto Basuki, Humpuss Intermoda's Corporate Secretary, said that some of the funds for purchasing will be gained from the sales of two oil tank ships whose contract terms have ended and are worth US$36 million (Rp316 billion).

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source

Malaysian scientist: Look to Indonesia

2007-06-14T12:48:00.000+07:00

Malaysia and the rest of the Muslim world have much to learn from Indonesia's progressive approach in Islamic education, said political scientist Farish Ahmad-Noor.

Indonesia had a big number of moderate scholars that even if a few radical groups emerged, the mainstream groups would quickly silence them, said Farish, an Institute of Strategic and International Studies consultant.

During the Soeharto era, the Muslims expanded on cultural Islam rather than dogmatic politics-based Islam, he said. After that, it was taught in a scientific way.

In comparison, Islam in Malaysia is politicized and there is no independent space for it to be in the public domain, he said when interviewed at the ISIS International Affairs forum onrevisited? Shifting dynamics of radical movements in Indonesia" Wednesday.

While banning militant groups worked, he said he was concerned that if there was no deep understanding of religion at the public level, the state would continue to be the brother."

"What if one day the state is replaced by a fanatic prime minister? There will be no mode of civil defense underneath. This is where Indonesia is different from us.

"The rejection of terrorism in Indonesia did not come from the state but from the people. They didn't want to see mosques or churches or Bali or Jakarta bombed," he said.

Farish said Malaysia, in the 1920s, was more open, with people discussing the applicability of syariah law in the modern world and the role of Islam in politics.

Syed Sheikh Al-hadi, for instance, wrote Hikayat Faridah Hanum, the first modern Malay literature about women's rights.

Farish, a visiting professor at the Sunan Kalijaga Islamic University in Jogyakarta, said he is often asked:is the interpretation of Islam so narrow in Malaysia when historically and culturally we (Malaysia and Indonesia) are similar?"

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source

European Commission and Japan Grant US$15 Million for Bird Flu

2007-06-13T18:45:00.001+07:00

The European Union and the Japanese government have given grants amounting to US$10 million and US$5 million respectively for handling the bird flu virus in Indonesia.

The grants were announced during a meeting between the Indonesian government and the donor countries at the “ HPAI in Indonesia: Latest Situation and Future Steps to Control H5N1 Virus” as the theme, at the Gran Melia Hotel, Jakarta, today (13/6).

“The spread of bird flu virus in Indonesia is sporadic and doesn't show any certain pattern. The war against this virus must be applied in all directions, especially as regards animals as the source of infection,” said Bayu Krisnamurthi, Head of the National Team for Bird Flu Handling and Readiness to Face Pandemic Influenza (Komnas FBPI).

It is planned that the grants will be used for supporting activities such as vaccine quality, socialization of fowl vaccination, vaccination officer training, access to vaccine storage and vaccine procurement.

The grants will be divided, for the Agriculture Department US$9.56 million and the remainder for the Komnas FBPI for many activities.

The time to use the grants is between July, 2007 and July, 2009.

Many activities to handle bird flu on animals have been prepared.

However, Musny Suatmojo, Director of Animal Health at the Agriculture Department, refused to give the details.

“Now it's being discussed in the meeting. Tomorrow there'll be certainties as regards the activity details,” he said.

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source

Newmont's Lawsuit Against New York Times Postponed

2007-06-13T18:42:00.000+07:00

The panel of judges at the Central Jakarta District Court postponed the civil claim of PT Newmont Minahasa Raya's President Director, Richard Bruce Ness, against The New York Times newspaper, yesterday (11/6).

The reason is, during the trial headed by judge Heru Pramono, only Newmont's legal adviser, Arief Surowidjojo, was present. As from The New York Times, the side was absent. “The trial is adjouned for a week,” said Heru, closing the trial.

In the lawsuit, Ness regarded The New York Times as having contained the article that defamed his reputation and assassinated his character. The articles were written by the reporter Jane Perlez and were published three times: September 9, 2004; September 24, 2004 and October 7, 2004.

Ness, in his lawsuit, says that the news of The New York Times and several other media of its subsidiaries such as the International Herald Tribune and The Boston Globe, has caused Newmont to suffer loss as what was printed was not true.

The New York Times along with reporter Jane Perlez, contained articles with such headings as, “Spurred by Illness, Indonesians Lash Out at U.S. Mining Giant” on September 9, 2004 and “Gold Mining Company to Pay Indonesia $30 million” on February 17, 2006.

Ness wanted the recovery of his reputation and apology to be published as a first-page story in the newspapers and all media subsidiaries of The New York Times and www.nytimes.com website. He also asked The New York Times to pay immaterial compensation amounting to US$63.930 million.

Richard Bruce Ness was acquitted by the Manado District Court on April 26, 2007. As PT Newmont's President Director, Ness was found not guilty in environmental pollution in the Buyat Bay area.
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source

Bird flu virus killing more than 80% of its victims in RI

2007-06-08T13:55:00.000+07:00

Bird flu is killing more than 80 percent of its victims in hardest-hit Indonesia, a senior official said, partly because people refuse to believe the virus poses a serious threat.

"Often it's purely a case of ignorance," said BayuKrisnamurthi, head of the country's bird flu commission, adding that it also can take up to five days for patients in rural areas to be diagnosed and sent to a bird flu-reference hospital.This is often too late to save them, he said.

The H5N1 virus has killed at least 189 people and sickened 121 more worldwide since it began ravaging Asian poultry stocks in 2003, according to the World Health Organization. Indonesia accounts for 79 of those deaths and 20 illnesses.

Krisnamurthi said in comments seen Friday that a public awareness campaign had been successful, reaching the bulk of the country's 240 million people, but less than 15 percent believe they or their families are at risk.

That has resulted in a greater fatality rate, he said, noting that when bird flu first jumped from chickens to people in Indonesia two years ago, 75 percent of those who fell ill died, compared to 86 percent today.

Bird flu remains relatively difficult for humans to catch, experts fear it could mutate into a form that spreads easily among people, potentially sparking a pandemic that could kill millions.

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source

BI Rate Down by 25 Base Points

2007-06-08T13:51:00.000+07:00

At a meeting of the Bank Indonesia (BI) Governors Board on Thursday (7/6), it was decided to lower the BI rate once again, this time by 25 base points to 8.50 percent from the previous 8.75 percent.

Budi Mulya, BI's Director of Strategic Planning and Public Relations, said that the lowering of the BI rate was based on consideration of the prospects of this year's inflation target of six plus-minus one percent and next year's five plus-minus one percent.

“The decrease was also following our in depth study of the latest economic and financial developments,” he said in Jakarta.

He went on to say that in general, the economy will still continue with a more balanced pattern.

This is reflected in the economic growth target of 5.7 percent, higher than BI's initial projection.

In addition, the Rupiah exchange rate in May also strengthened from an average Rp9.093 against the US dollar in April to Rp8.838 against the US dollar in May, 2007.

“May's inflation was also still maintained.”

Core inflation was recorded at 5.62 percent year on year, the lowest rate in the last six years.

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source

Sarwono Awaits Constitutional Court's Decision

2007-06-08T12:51:00.000+07:00

Jakarta Gubernatorial candidate, Sarwono Kusumaatmadja, acknowledged he could not register as gubernatorial candidate because he was not supported by a political party.

“I can't register anymore,” said Sarwono after attending the material review trial of the Regional Governance Decree at the Constitutional Court, today (7/6).

Now he is waiting for the decision of the Constitutional Court which is still in the middle of its Regional Governance Decree judicial review.

“Because I chose the independent lane,” said Sarwono.

The former Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister acknowledged the experts' statement during the Regional Governance Decree judicial review that there should be an opportunity for independent candidates to become regional leaders.

“A non-party lane is in fact needed,” said Sarwono.
He then made an analogy of his candidacy as the Regional Representatives Assembly (DPD) member.

At that time Sarwono did not need to have support from any political party in order to become a DPD member.

“I was elected by the people without going through any political lane,” he said.

The Jakarta Governor Election entered the last day today for the registration of gubernatorial candidates and the deputies at the Regional Election Commission (KPUD) Jakarta.

However, so far there has not been any candidate pairing who have registered at the KPUD.

As already reported, the pair of Sarwono and Jeffry who was previously put forth by the National Mandate Party (PAN) and the National Awakening Party (PKB) have canceled their participation in the Jakarta Governor Election because they did not have 15 percent of the votes of the Provincial Legislative Council (DPRD).
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source

Former Rose Team Commander Wants Judicial Review of Human Rights Court Law

2007-06-07T15:59:00.000+07:00

Former “Rose Team” Commander, Major (retired) Bambang Kristiono, filed a proposal for s judicial review of the Human Rights Court Decree at the Constitutional Court, yesterday (5/6).

Bambang, via his attorney Mahendradatta, asked the Court to correct Article 43 Point 2 of the Decree No. 26/2006.

“Bambang is worried because the articles can lead him being scrutinized again by the ad hoc Human Rights Court,” said Mahendradatta at the Constitutional Court, yesterday.

Bambang is a former Army Infantry Major who was Battalion 42 Commander Group 4 of Special Force Command (Kopassus) and concurrently “Rose Team” commander.

“Rose Team”was the team involved in kidnapping and making activists disappear by force cases of in 1997-1998.

Bambang was sentenced to 20 months imprisonment by the Supreme Military Court in 2000 and was also dismissed from the Army because of the case.

Mahendratta said Article 43 Point 2 of the law states that the ad hoc Human Rights Court was formed based on the House of Representatives' (DPR) suggestion with the President's decision.

The article's explanation states that the ad hoc Human Rights Court was formed after the House deemed there had been a severe human rights violation during a certain event in a certain time and place prior to the Human Rights Decree being effective.

According to him Mahendratta in the activists kidnapping case, the Human Rights National Commission sent a letter to the House on December 27, 2006, and Bambang's name is in the letter.

The letter states that Bambang can be asked for statement as regards activists kidnapping cases.

“The nebis in idem principle may not be valid for our client,” said Mahendratta.

The trial began with preliminary questioning by the panel of judges led by judge H.A.S. Natabaya.

Constitutional judge Natabaya asked the applicant which constitutional right of him that was infringed due to the decree.

He asked the applicant to strengthen the legal standing of the judicial review.

“The constitutional loss suffered by the applicant is not clear,” he said.

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Tax Directorate General Oversees Indosat Tax Problem

2007-06-07T12:14:00.000+07:00

The Tax Directorate General has acknowledged that there has been a decrease in the tax deposits from PT Indosat Tbk.'s revenues during the last couple of years.

However, tax officials have not yet carried out an investigation as there are not any indications of tax manipulations by Indosat, in which Singapore Technologies (ST) Telemedia owns the majority shares.

“We've collected the dossiers but they are insufficient as there must be indications of (tax) manipulation,” said Darmin Nasution, Tax Director General, Jakarta yesterday (5/6).

Signals of the state's losses due to Indosat's tax income and dividend shortfalls amounting to around Rp323 billion were brought up by Dradjad H. Wibowo, a member of the House's Banking and Finance Commission.

According to him, the potential income tax losses are Rp196 billion, the potential loss of revenue from dividends Rp65 billion and the potential loss of income tax from dividends Rp62 billion.

The losses were due to Indosat's mismanagement in carrying out derivative transactions.

Darmin asked that Indosat's tax manipulation allegation not to be taken for granted as it must be proved first.

“It's really a loss or a manipulation. Those must be differed. If it's a loss, we (Tax Directorate Genera) can't do anything. But the Capital Market Supervisory Board (Bapepam) might,” he said.

Wong Heang Tuck, PT Indosat Tbk.'s Finance Director, stated he was ready to be checked by Bapepam regarding Indosat's loss and tax deposit potential loss due to derivative transactions.

However, he denied that the losses were because of mismanagement or foreign currency speculation activities.

“Moreover, derivative transactions are not against tax rules,” he said after the nnual General Shareholders' Meeting (AGM) in Jakarta yesterday.

According to him, Indosat's derivative transactions were included in the financial statement submitted to Bapepam and the United States Security and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Indosat will continue carrying out derivative transactions until the end of Indosat's Dollar bonds I and II issuing terms.

“Indosat has the obligation of hedging at least 50 percent of the total long-term debt obligation.”

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Government Prepares CPO Export Duty Increase

2007-06-06T16:22:00.000+07:00

The government will monitor the development of cooking oil price before increasing the export duty on crude palm oil (CPO) export duty.

CPO and cooking oil producers are regarded as not yet having been optimum in terms of market operations.

“If (the ideal cooking oil price) isn't reached, we'll certainly implement (the export duty increase0” said Boediono, Coordinating Minister for the Economy, in Jakarta yesterday (5/6).

Earlier, the government had threatened that it would the raise export duty, which has been 1.5 percent up until now.

This is stated in an agreement between the government and producers that if by June 1, 2007, cooking oil prices have not reached an ideal price of between Rp6,500 and Rp6,800 per kilogram.

However, the price stabilization program, which has been carried out since March, has not yet been successful in decreasing cooking oil prices.

Currently, cooking oil prices are still between Rp8,000 and Rp9,000 per kilogram.

The government planned to implement the domestic market obligation (DMO) policy if cooking oil prices remain high.

According to Boediono, CPO producers are not yet optimum in carrying out market operations (procuring the product in markets).

This is seen from the high CPO export volume, uncontrolled domestic supply and high cooking oil prices.
“Due to increasing CPO prices abroad, we want the players in the business to hold more effective market operations,” he said.

CPO producers circle stated they are ready to procure 150,000 tons for cooking oil price stabilization program this June.

“We're ready to procure 150,000 tons. All producers are committed that the price stabilization program in June will lower prices,” said Akmaludin Hasibuan, General Chairman of the Indonesian Palm Oil Businesspeople Association, when contacted in Jakarta yesterday.

Benny Wahyudi, Director General of Agriculture and Chemical at the Industry Department, said the government will increase export duty and implement DMO policy in July, after the price stabilization program evaluation in June.

Unsuccessful price stabilization program in May was because a lot of suppliers didn't fulfill the procurement commitment,” he said.

Out of the commitment to procure 97,000 tons of CPO, around 35,000 tons had not been realized.

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Foreign Languages on Radio to be Regulated

2007-06-06T16:21:00.000+07:00

The Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) will regulate the use of foreign languages in radio programs.

This is because up to now no such regulation has yet been made.

Currently, the government only regulates the use of foreign languages on television.

M. Izzul Muslimin, a KPI member, said that there were possibilities that the use of foreign languages in radio programs will be the same as for television, that is 30 percent.

“However, perhaps there will be special criteria for radio stations that broadcast programs in foreign languages, for instance Indonesian radio programs specially broadcasted,” said Izzul yesterday (5/6).

It is expected that the regulation will be completed soon and that it does not deviate from the material in the Broadcasting Decree.

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Entrepreneurs Push for Fuel Oil Tax to be Abolished

2007-06-05T09:45:00.001+07:00

Industry players hope that the government is serious in responding the proposal to abolish the industry fuel oil value-added tax (VAT) of 10 percent per liter.

The proposal for the fuel oil tax abolition was in response to the possibility of fuel oil price hikes in line with the increase of the Mid Oil Platts Singapore (MOPS) rate.

“Fuel oil price hikes would clearly put pressure on the industry's position. Therefore, we need policy alternatives to help smoothen the industry's cash flow,” said Thomas Darmawan, Head of Food and Beverages Businesspeople Association Chairman, yesterday (3/6).
On June 1, 2007 Pertamina increased fuel prices.

Diesel is up five percent from the previous level of Rp5.522 per liter to Rp5.797 per liter.

Pertamina increased the price in accordance to the price standard in Singapore of between 2.9 and 12.0 percent compared to the previous period.

The abolition of industry fuel oil tax, said Thomas, would not lower the state's revenues.

The reason for this is that 10 percent VAT will be imposed on ready-goods products.

“With production being smoother, the amount of production goods and the government's VAT will also increase,” said Thomas.

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New Economic Policy Package Being Prepared

2007-06-05T09:43:00.000+07:00

The government will cut the time it takes to issue a business license to 30 days from the previous 197 days.

This decision is one of the policies included in a new economic package that will be launched in a few days’ time.

This package is a development of the economic package that was issued last year.

Boediono, Coordinating Minister for the Economy, explained there are four important points in the package.

These are: investment climate improvement, infrastructure development, financial sector repair and small- and medium-scale enterprise (SME) development.

“In terms of investment climate, there is a reduction in the time involved in processing business licenses,” said Boediono during the Investor Forum II in Jakarta yesterday (30/5).

The Gadjah Mada University (UGM) Economy Faculty Professor emphasized that this economic package was better compared to the previous one, especially in terms of regulations, license processing and taxes.

Financial and non-bank sectors, such as capital market and insurance, will also be improved.

Unlike the previous package, the new one will also discuss SMEs.

M. Ikhsan, a special member of staff of the Coordinating Minister for the Economy, said that previously SME development was discussed in separate package.

However, this time the government will discuss it in one package.

M. S. Hidayat, Head of the Indonesian Chamber of Trade and Industry (Kadin), said he hoped that the new economic package would be more concrete and could be realistically implemented.

“If the government has issued policies, it must be ready to realize them,” Hidayat when contacted by Tempo yesterday.

He also he hoped that the economic package was not like the previous one, which was only a concept.

On the occasion, Boediono also focused on the flow of funds in the capital market.

According to him, flow of funds in the capital market must not always be separated from the real sector.

He cited the State Debt Securities (SUN) and Bank Indonesia Certificate (SBI) trade transactions.

Funds withdrawn by the government from these bonds trades were used for infrastructure development.

Boediono also said there was no need to worry about the capital market's fund flow reversal trend.

The reason for this was because Indonesia's current economic system was already more prepared compared to the time of the economic crisis in 1997.

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Crude Palm Oil Policy to be Effective from June 1

2007-05-30T16:54:00.001+07:00

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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Prosecutor Rejects Australian Expert Witness’ Statement

2007-05-30T16:53:00.000+07:00

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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Malaysia & Indonesia Build Oil Pipeline

2007-05-29T16:57:00.000+07:00

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.

MoU Must be Reviewed, Indonesian Workers in Malaysia Suffering Losses

2007-05-29T10:01:00.000+07:00

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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Tangguh Field's Gas for America Can Be Transferred to Other Buyer

2007-05-29T09:26:00.000+07:00

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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Supreme Court Annuls Mystic Programs Provision

2007-05-25T12:47:00.000+07:00

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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World Health Assembly Grants Indonesia's Demand

2007-05-25T12:31:00.000+07:00

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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Indonesia: Market for China's Export Product Remainders

2007-05-24T11:56:00.000+07:00

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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World Bank Supports Freedom of Information Bill

2007-05-24T11:53:00.000+07:00

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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Medicine Prices in Indonesia Extremely High

2007-05-23T09:42:00.000+07:00

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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AGO Reopens BPPC Case

2007-05-23T09:26:00.000+07:00

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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“England Must Oversee Origins of Oil Palm”

2007-05-21T11:34:00.000+07:00

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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Some State Officials Do Not Pay Tax

2007-05-18T08:18:00.000+07:00

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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Tax Officials to Hunt Down Sukanto Tanoto

2007-05-18T08:16:00.000+07:00

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

China Asks Broadcasting Commission to Freeze 'Voice of Hope' Radio

2007-05-12T08:32:00.000+07:00

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.
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tempo

11 Japan Loan Bank Projects Delayed

2007-05-11T13:46:00.000+07:00

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

Minimum 10 Percent Investment Growth Required

2007-05-10T07:57:00.000+07:00

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

Indonesia, Singapore to Carry Out Bird Flu Pilot Project

2007-05-09T16:53:00.000+07:00

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

BI to Maintain Rupiah's Volatility at Two Percent

2007-05-08T08:15:00.000+07:00

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

Government Orders Lapindo to Pay Compensation Quickly

2007-05-07T07:53:00.000+07:00

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

Court Concedes that Suciwati Wins

2007-05-07T07:44:00.000+07:00

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

Indonesia’s Press Freedom Improves

2007-05-07T07:42:00.000+07:00

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

BI Governor: Trend of Fund Placement in SBIs Lower

2007-05-04T08:21:00.000+07:00

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

Indonesia, Fastest Destroyer of Forests in the World

2007-05-03T18:36:00.000+07:00

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

Advertisement Regulation Violators Threatened with Multiple Sanctions

2007-05-02T18:48:00.000+07:00

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

Extradition Agreement: Fugitives to be Announced After Ratification

2007-05-02T07:58:00.000+07:00

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

Russian Altimo Rumored to Want to Buy Indosat

2007-05-01T18:58:00.000+07:00

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.

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tempo

JSX and SSX Merger to be Completed Early October

2007-05-01T07:31:00.000+07:00

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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tempo

Telkom Internasional to Be Fully Operational in May 2007

2007-04-30T09:11:00.000+07:00

PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia (Telkom) has assured that Telkom Internasional, its subsidiary abroad, will be fully operational by May 2007. The subsidiary of Telkom is projected to expand state-owned overseas telecommunication company.

Managing Director of Telkom Rinaldy Firmansyah has said that in the initial phase of the operation, Telkom Internasional will cooperate in developing a network with the world's bigger telecommunication operator such as BT Group Plc (was British Telecom), UK, and Singapore Telecommunication Limited, Singapore. “It will be aimed at supporting the target of Telkom growth,” Rinaldy told Tempo at Bidakara building, Wednesday (04/25).

He stated that the partnership agreement with SingTel in order to broaden the global network of communication services some time ago was a pioneer that will mark the operation of Telkom Internasional. The partnership was completed in order to meet Telkom's target in controlling 70 percent of the market of data communication services for corporations in Indonesia in 2007. This year, the business value of the data market is estimated to reach Rp2.5 trillion.

Data communication service is an Internet protocol-based service which aims at uniting a company's network that has broadened in other places. The service will help a company to control the performance of its branches.

Through the cooperation, he went on, it is expected that SingTel and Telkom can achieve 11-12 percent of the data communication business value in Asia Pacific, reaching US$500 million in 2007. “We have also built similar cooperation with BT,” he said.

Industrial Countries Most Responsible Over Global Warming

2007-04-28T11:31:00.000+07:00

Forestry Minister Malam Sambat Kaban has said that industrial countries must be objective and appreciate Indonesia's attempt in reducing global warming.

Indonesia, according to Kaban, has tried to set reforestation and rehabilitation critical land for reducing the impact over the increase of earth temperature due to forest damage. Within the last four years, Indonesia is capable of cutting down forests damaging as well as rehabilitating critical land.

The rehabilitation attempt, said Kaban, is related to Indonesia's commitment in lessening earth warming.

Developed countries, according to Kaban, should not always blame developing countries as the agent of the increase of earth temperature.

The fact is that 80 percent of global warming originated from industry. “Industrial countries are the most responsible for global warming,” Kaban told Tempo this morning in Medan.

Kaban will invite developing countries to strive for accountability from industrial countries over global warming.

“Industrial countries must purchase clean air from countries that still have quite fine tropical forests such as Indonesia and Africa instead of accusing them that global warming was an impact of deforestation”, said Kaban.

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Tempo

Microsoft to Survey Piracy in July

2007-04-28T10:56:00.000+07:00

PT Microsoft Indonesia will conduct a survey on several pirated Microsoft software. The survey is planned to be carried out in July.

Anti Sriharati Suryaman, License Compliance Manager of Small Midmarket Solutions and Partner of Microsoft Indonesia, said that the survey was aimed at figuring out the amount of pirated software. The reason for this is that at this time, Microsoft has only heard the amount of piracy from the other party.

“Now, we will hold our own survey to obtain the precise data,” Anti said at the break of the commemoration of International HAKI (Intellectual Property Rights) Day at the Shangri-la Hotel, Jakarta, last night (04/26).

She stated that the data will be utilized for an evaluation that Microsoft set up in order to analyze the way of decreasing the number. Microsoft will invite a third party to do the survey.

According to Anti, within three years the amount of piracy on Microsoft software will decrease by 10 percent. However, Microsoft needs commitment and concept realization from the government in order to fight piracy.

“We do not want it to be only ceremonial. We need law enforcement,” she said.

Qatar Islamic Bank Applies to BI for Business License

2007-04-27T12:31:00.000+07:00

The Qatar Islamic Bank has already applied for permission to establish a new Syariah bank in Indonesia.

“We have asked them (the Qatar Islamic Bank) to complete the requirements first,” said Siti Fadriyah, Bank Indonesia (BI) Deputy Governor, after the “What we should learn from Shari’ah Economics” discussion in Jakarta.

However, Siti did not want to say when the permit will be issued by BI.

“We’re waiting for the requirements to be completed,” she said briefly.

In accordance with current provisions, the central bank will issue the permit in the form of business or principal license 30 days after the requirements are completed.

BI has also asked the Qatar Islamic Bank to establish a limited company in Indonesia.

This is one of the requirements for establishing a new bank.

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Tempo

Open Source Community Should Set Up Companies

2007-04-27T07:56:00.000+07:00

The government wants open source software developers to establish software companies.

Information and Communication Minister Sofyan Djalil has said that up until now, open source users have experienced problems because there are no user support services.

The support, said Sofyan, takes the form of usage consultation and assistance.

“As a result, the users are forced to be independent,” he said yesterday (04/25) in Jakarta.

The situation has resulted in open source software being considered less attractive by many computer users.

In addition, open source community could also take part in computer software legalization tenders in regional government offices by forming companies.

“So that government officials and general users know where to ask when they face a problem,” said Sofyan. In addition, the software legalization process would be cheaper and could empower local potential in developing software.

According to Rusmanto, Editor-in-Chief of InfoLinux Magazine, there are already many open source developer companies.

“They are innumerable,” said Rusmanto.

In fact, all information technology companies in Indonesia are capable of providing open source software.

Many information technology companies, said Rusmanto, are ready to join government computer software legalization tenders.

“As long as the conditions are not discriminative and the tender is neutral,” he said.

Based on research results, the use of open source can reduce cost by between 50 and 70 percent compared to using proprietary software.

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Tempo

Communication Minister Defends Print Media

2007-04-26T08:08:00.000+07:00

Sofyan Djalil, the Communication and Information Minister, has promised to fight for the annulment of the Tax Directorate General Regulation on Other Services and Net Revenue Assumptions.

This regulation compels the mass media to pay income tax.

“I ask for input from newspaper publishers as the basis for tax exemption for print media,” said Sofyan at the Information and Communication Department building, Jakarta, yesterday (24/4).

He asked the Newspaper Publishers Union to submit the data and analysis on the newspaper industry and for this to be handed to the Finance Minister.

Earlier, the Newspaper Publishers Union rejected that print media pay income tax, as stated in the Tax Directorate General Regulation No. PER-70/PJ/2007 on Other Services and Net Revenue Assumptions.

The reason for this is that these tax impositions would greatly burden the media industry’s financial condition.

In Attachment II of the Tax Directorate General Regulation, it is stated that media including services are imposed by 15 percent income tax of their net revenue.

Media industry members, under the regulation, are assumed to be certain of acquiring 10 percent of net revenues.

In reality, this is not the case because there are still other costs that media industry bears in production.

Asmono Wikan, Director Executive of the Newspaper Publishers Union, promised to send the data and analysis on the newspaper production condition as asked by Sofyan.

His institution will also meet the Tax Directorate General this Friday to convey the objection letter on tax imposition for media.

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Tempo

BI Cautious of Private Sector’s Foreign Currency Loans

2007-04-25T13:42:00.000+07:00

Bank Indonesia (BI) is cautious of the increase of the private sector’s loans in foreign currencies. This was conveyed during BI’s coordination meeting with Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Finance Minister yesterday (23/4).

Head of the Fiscal Policy Agency at the Finance Department, Anggito Abimanyu, said that during the meeting BI asked how much financing in foreign currency was, especially for the 10,000 megawatt electricity generator mega-project.

“BI Governor said not to let the private sector’s foreign currency loans be in excess. But we can only monitor it,” said Anggito at the Finance Department building, Jakarta, yesterday.

He refused to comment on whether the private foreign currency loan is in excess so BI and the government are concerned this will cause Indonesia’s economy to break down – like the economic crisis in 1997-1998. “I have no comment on that issue. The current condition is different from before the crisis,” he said.

State Minister for the National Development Planning concurrently Head of the National Development Agency (Bappenas), Paskah Suzetta, confirmed there are concerns that uncontrolled private foreign currency loans have the risk to trigger an economic crisis as in 1997.

However, he said that neither the government nor BI can limit the incoming or outgoing capital flow like what Thailand does. “Those are private loans. How can we regulate them? Moreover, we follow the free foreign reserves system,” he explained.

BI’s data shows that in late December 2006, private loans totaled US$51.131 billion. This number soared by US$1.1 billion from September’s US$50.056 billion. The government’s foreign currency loan was US$74.126 billion. From the private loans, US$39.18 billion belonged to banking and the remaining to the non-banking sector.

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Tempo

Indonesia Not Yet Willing to Send H5N1 Virus Samples

2007-04-24T08:36:00.000+07:00

Up until now. Indonesia has not yet been willing to send samples of the H5N1 virus to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) laboratory. Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari said Indonesia will not send samples of the bird flu virus until the WHO agrees with Indonesia’s request.
 
 “If they want (the samples to be sent), it must be by agreement,” she said at the Health Department building, Jakarta, Monday (23/4).
 
 However, on March 27, the government and WHO reached an agreement about the bird flu virus sample shipment. The agreement was included in Jakarta Declaration, signed by WHO members a day after the agreement was reached.
 
 “We will send the virus to WHO as soon as possible,” said the Health Minister then.
 
 Before, Indonesia refused to send H5N1 virus samples to WHO. 
 
 The reason was because the virus samples were used by other countries to make vaccines without Indonesia’s approval. This was in spite of the fact that the government did not allow the virus to be commercialized.
 
 In the Jakarta Declaration, Indonesia obligates WHO’s commitment not to abuse the viruses that are sent. The requirement, said Siti, will be discussed during the World Health Assembly meeting this May. 
 
 She is optimistic that the requirement will be agreed to. 
 
 Her reasoning is that Indonesia’s bargaining position in proposing the requirement is quite strong. 
 
 “The one that has the goods (virus samples) is us,” she said.
 
 In addition, Siti explained developing countries that have the virus also support Indonesia’s measure, for example Vietnam and Thailand. 
 
 “They back Indonesia,” she said.

__________
Tempo

Hatta Delivers Ultimatum Regarding Airport Rail Link Project

2007-04-23T20:14:00.001+07:00

Transportation Minister Hatta Radjasa has threatened to take over the airport rail link in Jakarta if no progress were not made by the end of 2007.

“We cannot wait. It is urgent,” he said on Friday (04/20) at his office, Jakarta.

He went on to he hoped that at least by the end of the year the detailed engineering design, financing and land acquisition would be completed.

According to him, the airport rail link is not a difficult task should there a commitment and if it is done seriously.

“What is the problem? It has been months and there is still no report,” said Hatta.

The project is being executed by PT Rail Link, established in September of last year.

PT Rail Link is a joint company between PT Kereta Api (60 percent) and PT Angkasa Pura II (40 percent).

Hatta stated that the project was significant because it was expected that it may become one of the means to meet the target of 1.5 train passengers per day in Jakarta and its surrounding areas by 2009.

The airport train is targeted to carry 9 million passengers per year, equal with 30 percent of total carrier passengers in Soekarno-Hatta, Cengkareng.

_____________
Tempo

Rp279 Trillion for Spot Market Oil

2007-04-23T17:34:00.000+07:00

PT Pertamina has budgeted Rp279 trillion for importing crude oil and processed crude oil on the spot market this year.

According to a Tempo source in the state-owned oil and gas company, the budget was attached to the 2007 working plan and company budget.

“The amount of funds will total around 77 percent (of the company's revenues),” the anonymous Pertamina's official told Tempo last week in Jakarta.

The company's revenues, according to the working plan and company's budget, will be Rp361.82 trillion.

In addition, Pertamina’s profit is set to be around Rp23.78 trillion.

The source was of the opinion that the large budget was because Pertamina tended to buy crude oil and processed oil in the spot market instead of signing long-term contracts.

The anonymous source also confirmed a report that the government is pressuring the board of directors to buy with long-term contracts.

“Because the oil purchasing price under a contract must be cheaper compared to the spot market,” said the source.

However, Toharso, Pertamina's spokesperson, said that recently oil purchasing from the spot market was only 30 percent of total import needs.

In addition, 70 percent of it was bought with three-month contracts.

“The benchmark price was the specification of international price,” he said.

___________
Tempo

Tax for Industry that Produces Pollution

2007-04-23T08:06:00.000+07:00

The implementation of sanctions over industry that produce pollution will be more effective than a moratorium of new vehicle manufacturing. Industrial pollution, said former Coordinating Minister for the Economy Rizal Ramli, was one the causes of the green-house effect that affects global warming.

“There must be a financial sanction such as tax so that they reduce pollution gradually,” he said at the break of a discussion, “Settlement and Rehabilitation of Ecological Justice” yesterday (04/19). He responded to the plan of Environment Minister Rachmat Witoelar's proposal of moratorium of new vehicle production if air pollution could not be reduced.

So far, developed countries, said Rizal, have always accused Indonesia as the agent of global warming by virtue of deforestation. State and multinational companies that produced pollution and the greenhouse effect should have paid Indonesia for any pollution they created.

However, developed countries such as the US in fact refused to be blamed and to sign the Kyoto Protocol and Carbon Emission Trading (CET). CET is a policy which regulates that industry be given the maximum pollutant rate that is admissible. Should it be abundant, industry should compensate.

__________
Tempo

Government Expects Oil Price to Remain at US$54 per Barrel

2007-04-20T07:51:00.000+07:00

The Indonesian government has said it expects they the crude oil price could be maintained at between US$54 and US$55 per barrel.

Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro has said that the attempt to control the oil price can be achieved by securing oil supplies.

“In the future, we will try to make oil price not dependant on the geopoliticsal situation, but on supply security so that oil price can be at around US$54-55 per barrel,” said Purnomo, yesterday (04/18).

He stated that currently the crude oil price is at around US$63-65 per barrel, influenced by the conflict in Iran.
This shows that geopolitics situation really does affect the movement of crude oil prices.

For Indonesia, said Purnomo, the fluctuation of crude oil pricse will have an effect on Indonesia's revenues.
“If oil price are high, oil revenues will also high,” he said.

However, on the other side, the high oil price will influence other sectors so that it will tried to maintain oil prices at around US$54-55 per barrel.
____________
Tempo

Tax Refund Arrears Increase

2007-04-11T07:59:00.000+07:00

The number of tax refund arrears or those which have not been paid by the government to tax payers in the first quarter of 2007 totalled Rp7.3175 trillion. The number of tax refund arrears rose 73 percent from the same quarter in 2006, that was Rp 4.2199 trillion.

According to the Tax Director General Darmin Nasution, the tax refund arrears occurred because they are the combination between the current year’s refund and that of the previous year. “In 2006 the tax refund was indeed low because of the Pademangan case at the end of 2005. So at that time we were very careful,” he said during the ‘Coffee Morning’ show with the reporters at the Finance Department, Wednesday (10/4).

The decrease in 2006, he said, can be seen by comparing the refund in the first quarter in 2005 amounting to Rp5.98 trillion. “So in 2006, the Pademangan effect was felt,” he said.

The refund amount in 2007, according to Darmin, was taken from the State Revenue Module (MPN) data of the Directorate General of Treasury at the Finance Department. So it was difficult to differentiate between the current year’s refund from the arrears. “The data is not quite right, because in January, reconciliation with banking about MPN perception is still needed,” he said.

Make Money Fast With Google Adwords

2007-04-10T15:58:00.000+07:00

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15,000 Children Lost Upbringing Rights

2007-04-09T12:26:00.000+07:00

Aries Merdeka Sirait, Secretary General of the National Commission for Protecting Children, has revealed that around 15,000 children lost their upbringing rights because of their parents' divorces.

“During 2006, at least 3,000 divorces occurred in Jakarta,” he said at the “Have Coffee with the National Commission for Protecting Children, Analyzing Children's Actual Problems” event, in his office yesterday (04/04).

The high rate of split-up between husbands and wives, Aries continue, has impacted with the loss of the children's rights of upbringing from their parents.

In addition, children's rights on being asked their opinions about their parents’ divorce have also been ignored all the time.

“In fact, according to Law on Children's Protection Number 23/2002, children have the right to convey their opinion,” said Aries.

The marginalized rights of children are ironic since most of the parents consider children as non-victims and only an effect of divorce.

“In fact, it is clear that children have become the victims of their parents' egotism. They have often been tossed about in the struggle for upbringing rights,” said Aries.

___________
Sumber : tempo interaktif dot com

Bendera Pusaka Dipindah ke Monas 20 Mei

2007-04-03T08:35:00.000+07:00

Rencana Pemindahan Bendera Pusaka ke Monumen Nasional (Monas) akan dilakukan pada Hari Kebangkitan Nasional tanggal 20 Mei 2007 mendatang. Demikian diungkapkan Kepala Dinas Permuseuman DKI Jakarta, Aurora Tambunan, di Balai Kota, Senin (2/4).

Aurora menuturkan, rencana pemindahan bendera pusaka itu akan dilakukan dengan sederhana, namun khidmat. "Pemindahan itu kita lakukan dengan sederhana, tetap dengan acara seremonial dan upacara yang khidmat," jelasnya.

Seperti diwartakan sebelumnnya, penataan pelataran Taman Monas seluas 2,5 hektar yang dikerjakan sejak September 2006 akan rampung tahun ini. Menurut rencana peresmiannya bertepatan dengan pemindahan bendera pusaka dari Istana Negara ke Monas oleh Presiden Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono pada Hari Kebangkitan Nasional 20 Mei 2007 mendatang.

Kepala Dinas Pertamanan DKI Jakarta Sarwo Handayani mengatakan, dengan selesainya penataan pelataran Taman Monas akan semakin mempercantik kawasan Monas yang sebelumnya telah beroperasi air mancur menari dan menyanyi," ujarnya.

"Pelataran Monas atau yang disebut Ruang Agung ditata dalam bentuk taman bermotif, hasil perpaduan pohon-pohon jenis tertentu dengan rumput," tutur Handayani.

Adapun anggarannya sebesar Rp25 miliar. "Itu seluruhnya dikerjakan dan didanai swasta tanpa kompensasi apapun dari kita," jelasnya.

Dalam lima tahun terakhir, kawasan Monas telah beberapa kali ditata ulang. Monas diberi pagar keliling pada 2002 senilai Rp9 miliar dari Anggaran Pendapatan dan Belanja Daerah (APBD) DKI.

Kemudian pembangunan air mancur menari dan menyanyi pada 2005 yang menelan biaya Rp 26 miliar yang dikerjakan pihak swasta. "Saat itu, kita memberi kompensasi dalam bentuk sejumlah titik reklame di jalan-jalan di Jakarta," katanya.

_________________
Sumber : berita jakarta

RT dan RW Diminta Aktif Perangi Narkoba

2007-03-30T13:41:00.000+07:00

Pengurus RT/RW sebagai pimpinan komunitas terkecil di masyarakat memiliki peranan yang cukup signifikan dalam menekan penyalahgunaan narkoba di ibu kota. Ketua Badan Narkotika Provinsi (BNP) DKI Jakarta Fauzi Bowo mengimbau kepada Ketua RT/RW untuk lebih proaktif menekan penyalahgunaan narkoba dengan cara selalu mengawasi setiap warganya.

"Saya optimis bahwa pemberdayaan jaringan yang berbasis masyarakat mampu menekan laju penyalahgunaan dan peredaran gelap narkoba di Jakarta," tegas Fauzi Bowo pada acara serah terima jabatan Wakil Kepala Pelaksana Harian BNP DKI Jakarta, dari Kombes (Pol) Carlo Brik Tewu kepada Kombes (Pol) Arman Depari Rabu (28/3) malam, di Main Hall Polda Metro Jaya.

Setelah tahun 2006, kata Fauzi, BNP masih dihadapkan pada penguatan pemantapan serta pengefektifan kelembagaan BNP, Badan Narkotika Kotamadya (BNK) di lima wilayah kotamadya dan satu kabupaten Administratif Kepulauan Seribu, UNK di 44 kecamatan dan P2NK di 267 kelurahan. Pada tahun 2007 ini tantangan yang dihadapi yakni RT/RW yang diharapkan dapat memperkuat jaringan dalam pencegahan, pemberantasan penyalahgunaan dan peredaran gelap narkoba (P4GN),” kata Fauzi Bowo.

Bang Fauzi-sapaan akrab Fauzi Bowo menambahkan, dampak langsung dari penyalahgunaan dan peredaran gelap narkoba yakni hancurnya daya saing sumber daya manusia serta tenaga kerja produktif yang sangat berpengaruh pada kemandirian bangsa.

Penyalahgunaan dan peredaran gelap narkoba merupakan salah satu dilema besar di ibu kota. Pasalnya,penyebaran penyalahgunaan telah merambah ke berbagai tempat dari sekolah dasar sampai perguruan tinggi, tempat hiburan, hotel, terminal bus, stasiun kereta api, tempat kerja, tempat pemukiman, lembaga pemasyarakatan, serta fasilitas dan tempat umum lainnya.

Sebab itu, kata Fauzi, potensi RT/RW yang ada di masyarakat memiliki peranan sangat penting dan strategis. Pertama, RT/RW berfungsi sebagai lembaga pendidikan yang mengakar kuat dalam masyarakat. Kedua, keterlibatan RT/RW sebagai wahana pelayanan P4GN berbasis masyarakat.

Bang Fauzi berharap kepada Wakil Plh BNP DKI Jakarta yang baru dapat mengambil peran aktif menyukseskan program kerja BNP yang lebih terarah dan terpadu.

“Untuk menguatkan, memantapkan dan mengefektifkan kelembagaan, serta memberdayakan RT/RW, sangat diharapkan hadirnya pejabat pelaksana harian yang dapat menjamin keberlangsungan program BNP,” imbuhnya.

_______________________
Sumber : berita jakarta

Warga Jakarta Jangan Sampai Golput

2007-03-29T17:01:00.000+07:00

Gubernur DKI Jakarta Sutiyoso kembali meminta warga Jakarta agar tidak golput pada pemilihan kepala daerah (Pilkada) Agustus mendatang. Sebab, pilkada ini akan menentukan nasib Jakarta lima tahun ke depan.

"Saya berharap agar warga ibu kota tidak golput karena ini itu sebagai wujud tanggung jawabnya sebagai warga negara," kata Sutiyoso pada acara silaturrahmi dengan purnabhakti anggota Dewan Kelurahan (Dekel) Jakarta Selatan di Ruang Serbaguna Kantor Walikotamadya Jakarta Selatan, Rabu (28/3) malam.

Pilkada ini merupakan pertama kali dalam sejarah Pemerintah DKI, yakni gubernur dan wakil gubernur dipilih secara langsung oleh rakyat, dan sudah barang tentu dalam pemilihan langsung ini akan menghasilkan pemimpin yang lebih berbobot dan lebih dimensi. "Siapa pun yang terpilih nanti, sebagai tokoh masyarakat yang pernah mengabdi di provinsi ini harus ada rasa tanggung jawabnya yang tinggi terhadap kota ini, termasuk juga saya yang nanti akan menjadi purnabhakti," katanya.

Masyarakat Jakarta terutama para anggota dekel adalah orang-orang yang memiliki pengalaman, pendidikan, dan latarbelakang, jadi pilihlah gubernur dan wakil gubernur yang paling berkompeten dan yang paling mempunyai kapabilitas,.

"Jangan pilih yang ngawur-ngawuran, karena tidak semua orang itu bisa dan sangup menjadi gubernur. Jadi saya yakinkan kepada Anda (dekel-red) dalam memilih pemimpin baik itu pemimpin daerah maupun nasional jangan secara tiba-tiba dan lihat latarbelakangnya," harapnya.

Eks Wadan Kopassus yang menjabat sebagai Gubernur Provinsi DKI Jakarta selama dua periode ini, setelah menjadi mantan Gubernur nanti kepingin melihat program-programnya seperti pembangunan banjir kanal timur (BKT) untuk penanggulangan bencana banjir dan pembangunan alat transportasi makro untuk menanggulangi kemacetan di Ibu Kota dilanjutkan.

"Saya seorang gubernur yang akan menjadi mantan gubernur kepingin melihat program saya dilanjutkan oleh orang yang ngerti. Ibu Kota Jakarta, adalah pusat pemerintahan, perdagangan, kebudayaan, pendidikan dan pintu gerbang Indonesia. Jadi saya berharap gubernur adalah benar-benar orang yang mengerti dan memiliki wawasan yang luas," harapnya.

Selain memiliki kemampuan dalam memimpin ibu kota, Ketua Umum PBSI ini juga mengharapkan penggantinya kelak dapat belajar dari pengalaman gubernur dan wakil gubernur (wagub) sebelumnya, sehingga permasalahan yang belum dapat ditangani dengan optimal dapat menjadi prioritas.

"Evaluasi kinerja gubernur periode lalu harus dijadikan prioritas kinerja oleh para calon gubernur dan wagub DKI periode 2007-2012," terang Sutiyoso.

Seperti diberitakan, pendaftaran calon gubernur dibuka 6 sampai 25 Mei 2007 mendatang. Sedangkan pelaksanaan pilkada 8 Agustus mendatang.

_________________
Sumber : berita jakarta

DBD Masih Mengancam Warga

2007-03-22T18:04:00.000+07:00

Penderita demam berdarah dengue (DBD) di Rumah Sakit Umum Daerah (RSUD) Tarakan, Jakarta Pusat, kembali meningkat. Bulan Maret ini, pasien DBD di rumah sakit tersebut berjumlah 271 orang. Angka ini meningkat dibanding Februari lalu 254 orang.

Akibatnya, pihak rumah sakit kembali menggunakan tempat tidur lipat (velbed) untuk menampung pasien tersebut. Pasalnya, ruang perawatan kelas III yang khusus menampung pasien tidak mampu telah terisi semua. Velbed yang saat ini digunakan sebanyak 14 unit dari jumlah keseluruhan 50 unit.

Kepala Bidang Perawatan RSUD Tarakan, Zuraidah, mengatakan bahwa sejak awal bulan Maret 2007 pasien DBD mengalami peningkatan. Hingga pihaknya saat ini menggunakan kembali 14 unit velbed.

“Pasien yang menggunakan velbed kami tempatkan di lantai lima sampai delapan rumah sakit, terutama di ruang Dahlia, Mawar, Soka, dan ruang Melati,” katanya, Kamis (22/3).

"Sampai 22 Maret 2007, jumlahnya sudah mencapai 271 orang hingga tidak menutup kemungkinan akan terus bertambah sampai akhir bulan ini," jelasnya.

Peningkatan jumlah pasien DBD tersebut, lanjut Zuraidah, terkait dengan curah hujan di wilayah Jakarta dan sekitarnya masih tinggi yang diselingi cuaca panas. Akibatnya banyak terjadi genangan air sehingga dapat menimbulkan berkembangnya nyamuk aedes aegypti. "Pasien yang dirawat di RSUD Tarakan mayoritas berasal dari wilayah Jakarta Barat dan Jakarta Pusat," katanya

Sedangkan jumlah pasien DBD yang meninggal sepanjang Maret 2007 berjumlah dua orang. Sedangkan Februari 2007 enam orang.

Selain DBD, lanjut Zuraidah, saat ini pihaknya juga tengah merawat dua pasien suspect leptospirosis.

_______
berita jakarta

Kasih Sayang Ibu Sepanjang Masa

2007-03-21T13:05:00.000+07:00

Pada suatu sore, seorang anak menghampiri ibunya di dapur, yang sedang menyiapkan makan malam, dan ia menyerahkan selembar kertas yang selesai ditulisinya .

Setelah ibunya mengeringkan tangannya dengan celemek, ia membacanya dan inilah tulisan si anak :

Mah , berikut ini utang mama kepada saya selama ini :
Untuk memotong rumput Rp 50.000
Untuk membersihkan kamar minggu ini Rp 10.000
Untuk pergi ke toko menggantikan mama Rp 25.000
Untuk menjaga adik waktu mama belanja Rp 25.000
Untuk membuang sampah Rp 10.000
Untuk rapor yang bagus Rp 50.000
Untuk membersihkan dan menyapu halaman Rp 30.000
Jumlah utang Rp 200.000

Si ibu memandang anaknya yang berdiri di situ dengan penuh harap, berbagai kenangan terlintas dalam pikiran ibu itu. Jadi, ia mengambil bolpen, membalikkan kertasnya, dan inilah yang dituliskannya :

Untuk sembilan bulan ketika mama mengandung kamu selama kamu tumbuh dalam perut mama, GRATIS.

Untuk semua malam ketika mama menemani kamu, mengobati kamu, dan mendoakan kamu, GRATIS.

Untuk semua saat susah, dan semua air mata yang kamu sebabkan selama ini, GRATIS.

Untuk semua malam yang dipenuhi rasa takut dan untuk rasa cemas di waktu yang akan datang, GRATIS.

Untuk mainan, makanan, baju, dan juga menyeka hidungmu, GRATIS, Anakku.

Dan kalau kamu menjumlahkan semuanya, harga cinta sejati mama adalah GRATIS.

Ketika anak itu selesai membaca apa yang ditulis ibunya, air matanya berlinang, dan ia menatap wajah ibunya dan berkata :

"Mah , aku sayang sekali pada Mama."
Dan kemudian ia mengambil bolpen dan menulis dengan huruf besar
"LUNAS".

Wagub Himbau RT/RW Optimalkan Pemutakhiran Data

2007-03-20T09:35:00.000+07:00

Para Ketua RT dan RW merupakan ujung tombak dan memegang peranan yang sangat dominan dalam menentukan suksesnya pelaksanaan pemutakhiran data pemilihan kepala daerah (pilkada). Pasalnya, setiap RT/RW merupakan operator yang mendata setiap warga yang benar-benar sebagai warga DKI Jakarta.

”Suksesnya hasil pemutakhiran data yang nantinya dijadikan acuan dalam menetapkan calon pemilih dalam Pilkada DKI sangat tergantung kepada kerja keras RT/RW," jelas Wakil Gubernur DKI Jakarta Fauzi Bowo saat menghadiri acara sosialisasi dan penguatan RT/RW dalam kegiatan pemutakhiran data penduduk di Gedung Mulia Jatinegara Jakarta Timur, Minggu (18/3) malam.

Wagub mengimbau agar para Ketua RT/RW lebih tegas menentukan siapa saja warga yang berhak memiliki hak suara pada Pilkada DKI Agustus mendatang. ”Anda (RT/RW-red) yang paling tahu siapa yang warga DKI atau tidak,” tegas wagub.

Hasil pemutakhiran data tersebut, kata Bang Fauzi-sapaan akrab wagub- merupakan bahan acuan Komisi Pemilihan Umum Daerah (KPUD) DKI Jakarta untuk menetapkan calon pemilih sementara pilkada.

Dalam kesempatan yang sama, Wali Kota Jakarta Timur Koesnan Abdul Halim menuturkan, salah satu faktor yang menentukan sukses dan lancarnya pelaksanaan pilkada adalah akuratnya data calon pemilih yang akan mengikuti pesta demokrasi tersebut.

Mantan camat terbaik ini mengungkapkan, belajar dari pilkada yang telah dilakukan di berbagai wilayah Indonesia, sumber permasalahan yang dihadapi yakni tidak akuratnya data pemilih sehingga menimbulkan konflik antara peserta pilkada itu sendiri.

“Kita ingin Pilkada DKI ini sukses dan dapat menjadi barometer bagi pelaksanaan pilkada di daerah lainnya, untuk itu kita harus mendorong terlaksananya kegiatan pemutakhiran data ini,” terang Koesnan.

Koesnan juga menambahkan, data yang didapatkan dari pemutakhiran data ini akan diberikan ke KPUD dan berdasarkan data tersebut dikeluarkanlah daftar calon pemilih sementara yang kemudian akan ditempel di tempat umum. ”Apabila masih ada warga DKI yang tidak terdaftar dalam daftar pemilih sementara diharapkan segera melapor ke RT/RW,” tegas Koesnan.

Sementara itu, Kepala Suku Dinas Kependudukan dan Catatan Sipil Jakarta Timur, Djufie memaparkan, kendala-kendala yang dihadapi pihaknya dalam pelaksaan pemutakhiran data, di antaranya rusak dan hilangnya berkas-berkas P4B akibat banjir beberapa waktu lalu dan banyak warga yang direlokasi akibat terkena pembebasan lahan.

Namun, kata dia, kendala yang dihadapi tersebut masih dapat ditanggulangi, sehingga dia berjanji pelaksanaan pemutakhiran data akan berjalan sesuai target yang telah ditentukan.

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sumber : berita jakarta

Pilkada Langsung Hasilkan Pemimpin yang Lebih Baik

2007-03-14T13:35:00.000+07:00

Mayoritas warga ibu kota yakin bahwa proses pemilihan kepala daerah (Pilkada) DKI 2007 akan menghasilkan pemimpin yang lebih baik karena proses pemilihannya dilakukan secara langsung.

Dan karena proses seleksi yang dilakukan secara langsung oleh rakyat membuat sebanyak 85 persen warga Jakarta yakin bahwa pilkada akan menghasilkan pemimpin yang lebih baik.

"Hal itu terjadi peningkatan sebesar 21 persen (64 persen) pada survei yang sama bulan Oktober 2006. Sisanya 8 persen masih meragukan atau terjadi peningkatan kepercayaan. Sedangkan 4 persen mengaku tidak tahu dan 3 persen tidak menjawab ketika ditanyakan dampak dari pilkada langsung itu," jelas Direktur Eksekutif Pusat Kajian Kebijakan & Pembangunan Strategis (PUskaptis) Husin Yazid saat diskusi hasil penelitian perilaku pemilih (behavior of voters), Selasa (13/3) di Cikini, Jakarta Pusat.

Banyak faktor yang menjadi pertimbangan bagi warga ibu kota untuk menentukan pilihannya. Namun, kata Husin, 92 persen masyarakat melihat dulu siapa calon gubernur dan popularitasnya, track record balongub 91 persen atau meningkat 6 persen (86 persen) pada survei yang sama bulan Oktober 2006.

Selain itu, lanjut Husin, 84 persen masyarakat melihat profesi balongub, dan dukungan tokoh agama 78 persen, dan masyarakat 70 persen. Sedangkan untuk masyarakat yang memepertimbangkan asal partai ang mencalonkan sebesar 62 persen, dan asal daerah 49 persen, dan kesukaan calon kepada daerah itu sebesar 32 persen.

Permasalahan keamanan dan ketertiban Jakarta masih menjadi isu utama dan menentukan pilihan masyarakat yakni sebesar 98 persen, permasalahan pertambahan penduduk dan dampak yang ditimbulkan sebanyak 95 persen, penanganan ruang terbuka hijau 95 persen.

Untuk penanganan transportasi 95 persen, penanganan banjir dan air bersih 96 persen, penanganan sampah 94 persen, penanganan sumber daya alam dan lingkungan hidup 93 persen.

Sedangkan untuk peningkatan pelayanan pendidikan 93 persen, penegakan hukum dan administrasi pemerintahan 90 persen, peningkatan pelayanan publik 90 persen penciptaan dan penyediaan lapangan kerja 90 persen.

Husin menambahkan, teknik survei yang dilakukan dengan mengumpulkan data primer yakni mengumpulkan instrumen kuesioner yang diajukan kepada setiap responden dalam wawancara terstruktur.

Respondennya yakni anggota masyarakat Jakarta berusia 17 tahun ke atas atau udah menikah. Survei dilakukan mulai tangal 2-8 Maret 2007.

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sumber : berita jakarta

Fauzi Bowo Didukung Eksponen 66

2007-03-13T13:03:00.000+07:00

Peluang Fauzi Bowo untuk maju sebagai salah satu kandindat pada pilkada 2007 ini semakin menemukan jalan terang. Pasalnya, sejumlah dukungan moril terus mengalir dari berbagai elemen masyarakat dan partai politik. Bahkan, pada hari ini eksponen 66 menyatakan dukungannya kepada Bang Fauzi--panggilan akrab Fauzi Bowo.

Sekretaris Jenderal (SekJen) Dewan Pengurus Majelis Nasional (DPMN) Front Penegak Tritura, Lukman Hakim mengatakan, ke depan kepemimpinan di DKI Jakarta harus lebih baik lagi. Sebab, DKI Jakarta merupakan barometer kota kota lain di Indonesia.

"Jakarta itu ibu kota negara. Oleh karena itu tidak sembarangan orang bisa memimpin Jakarta. Ke depan saya berharap bisa lebih baik lagi, dan pemimpinnya harus mampu menciptakan bentuk kepemimpinan yang bersih dan berwibawa," kata Lukman, Senin (12/3).

Lukman menuturkan kriteria gubernur mendatang harus bersih, berwibawa, profesional, berpihak kepada rakyat, serta mampu memberdayakan sektor ekonomi mikro.

Menanggapi pencalonan Bang Fauzi pada pemilihan kepada daerah (Pilkada) Agustus mendatang, Lukman mengatakan, sosok Fauzi Bowo sudah banyak dikenal masyarakat. Sebab, Bang Fauzi banyak terjun dalam organisasi kemasyarakatan. Selain itu, dari segi karir, Fauzi Bowo telah bekerja di lingkungan Pemprov DKI Jakarta selama 30 tahun.

"Soal bentuk kepemimpinan yang nanti dia bawa bila terpilih nanti, itu tergantung beliau. Sebab, zaman Bang Ali (Sadikin-red) menjabat sebagai gubernur, dia pernah merasakan gaya dan pola kepemipinan Bang Ali. Pada masa Cokropranolo dia juga tahu bagaimana gaya kepemimpinannya, jadi dia adalah figur yang proporsional dan saya yakin juga akan profesional," tegasnya.

Hal Senada juga diungkapkan oleh Sekretaris Jenderal (Sekjend) Laskar Ampera Arif Rahman Hakim (LA ARH 66), Rasyid Emilly. Dia mengatakan, Gubernur DKI Jakarta ke depan harus berpihak kepada rakyat. Dia berharap pilkada mendatang menghasilkan pemimpin yang profesional di bidangnya, yaitu pemimpin yang mampu mengatur kota Jakarta ini, baik dari segi sosial, ekonomi, hukum, dan keamanannya.

"Jangan asal main taruh saja, orang yang tidak memiliki latar belakang birokrasi, entah dari mana dulunya, atau orang tidak tepat latar belakang pendidikanya kita pilih untuk memimpin Jakarta. Wah, itu nanti kacau. Sebab, pada pakteknya nanti tidak ada ruang untuk belajar bagi seorang pemimpin, tapi sudah tahap untuk berbuat, dan itu ada pada siapa kita sudah tahu semua yaitu pada Bang Fauzi," jelasnya.

Rasyid menegaskan bahwa pemimpin DKI Jakarta ke depan mesti seorang yang memiliki kesadaran sosial yang tinggi dan memiliki jiwa kepemimpinan yang baik. "Jadi kaca mata yang harus kita pakai itu adalah ukuran kebutuhan Jakarta ke depan, kalau menurut saya yang kita butuhkan ke depan adalah kedisiplinan dalam segala bidang," tukasnya.

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dikutip dari berita jakarta

Kesalahan Dalam Seleksi Karyawan

2007-03-12T13:27:00.000+07:00

Menyeleksi calon karyawan memang bukan pekerjaan mudah. Jika anda berada di pihak penyeleksi, anda harus melalui serangkaian proses untuk mendapatkan kandidat yang memuaskan. Tapi tahukah anda? Ternyata selama ini tanpa disadari organisasi sering melakukan beberapa kesalahan dalam seleksi.

Sebelum anda terlanjur melakukan kesalahan, perhatikan beberapa kesalahan umum dalam proses seleksi di bawah ini:

- Percaya begitu saja pada apa yang tercantum di CV pelamar tanpa melakukan investigasi lebih lanjut.
Padahal apa yang terlampir dalam CV seringkali bersifat 'menjual' atau promosi. Untuk itu tanyakan dengan jelas hal-hal penting dalam CV terutama pengalaman kerja.

- Terlalu memfokuskan pada pendidikan, pengalaman kerja, dan IQ tanpa mempertimbangkan aspek emosional atau kompetensi yang dimiliki kandidat.
Memfokuskan pada ketiga hal tersebut memang pertimbangan yang bagus dalam proses seleksi tapi jangan abaikan aspek emosional pelamar. Karena pendidikan, pengalaman, dan IQ yang oke tanpa ditunjang oleh ketrampilan emosional yang memadai tidak akan memberi dampak yang positif bagi perkembangan dirinya maupun pekerjaannya.

- Stereotype pada calon kandidat berdasarkan jenis kelamin, suku, agama, maupun fisik.
Memang pada profesi tertentu jenis kelamin dan fisik menjadi pertimbangan utama dalam proses seleksi. Tetapi jika pekerjaan yang ditawarkan bersifat umum, misalnya tenaga pembukuan, tentu tidak perlu membedakan jenis kelamin, fisik, apalagi suku dan agamanya. Yang penting adalah kompetensinya di bidang tersebut.

- Menanyakan kelebihan dan kekurangan kandidat tanpa menjadikannya pertimbangan untuk proses selanjutnya.
Hendaknya kelebihan dan kekurangan kandidat bisa menjadi penilaian tersendiri untuk proses seleksi hingga akhir seleksi.

- Kecenderungan memilih kandidat berdasarkan koneksi atau orang yang sudah dikenal.
Sebenarnya nggak ada salahnya juga jika memilih kandidat lewat jalan semacam ini. Tapi tentu saja asal jangan mengabaikan kompetensi dan kualifikasinya. Jika tak memenuhi syarat lebih baik cari kandidat lain saja.

Nah, sekarang anda bisa menghindari kesalahan tersebut untuk menjaring kandidat yang benar-benar memenuhi syarat. Ingat merekrut karyawan bukan 'membeli kucing dalam karung'. So, jangan sampai salah pilih.

Asteroid dan Meteor

2007-03-11T16:23:00.000+07:00

Apakah Asteroid Itu ?
Asteroid merupakan planet berbatu yang kecil. Ukurannya 1 km lebih, yang terbesar 700 km.
Terdapat beribu-ribu Asteroid dalam sistem tata surya. Sebagian besar ditemukan daerah
khusus asteroid antara planet mars dan planet yupiter. Asteroid yang orbitnya melewati orbit
bumi dinamakan asteroid "Apollo". Banyak diantara asteroid yang sudah dinamakan oleh para
ilmuwan dengan nama para ilmuwan yang menemukannya.

Sejarah penemuan asteroid
Penemuan asteroid yang pertama terjadi lebih dari dua abad yang lalu, yaitu pada tahun 1801,
oleh Piazzi seorang astronom Italia. Asteroid temuannya yang diberi nama Ceres, pada
awalnya diduga sebagai planet yang hilang sebagaimana diramalkan oleh hukum Titius-Bode.
Benda angkasa tersebut hingga kini memegang rekor sebagai asteroid terbesar di Tata Surya
dengan taksiran garis tengah lebih dari 900 kilometer.

Terbentuknya Asteroid
Asteroid terbentuk dari material yang menjadi saksi bisu dari proses terbentuknya Tata Surya
sekitar empat setengah miliar tahun yang lalu di bawah pengaruh interaksi gravitasi. Sebagian
besar populasi asteroid dijumpai berada di antara orbit planet Mars dan Jupiter, daerah yang
dikenal sebagai Sabuk Utama (Main Belt). Selain asteroid yang mendiami daerah Sabuk
Utama, ada pula kelompok asteroid dengan orbit yang berbeda, seperti kelompok Trojan dan
kelompok asteroid AAA (Triple A Asteroids - Amor, Apollo, Aten).

Lain halnya dengan komet. Benda langit yang oleh banyak kultur bangsa diidentikkan dengan
pertanda buruk ini berasal dari tepian Tata Surya. Awan Oort yang berada jauh di luar orbit
Pluto dipercaya sebagai tempat pembiakannya. Seperti anggota Tata Surya lainnya, komet pun
mengorbit Matahari. Akibat gangguan gravitasi dari planet-planet raksasa di Tata Surya, kometkomet

tersebut dapat berubah orbitnya. Dari yang semula berada di tepian Tata Surya menjadi
bermukim di Tata Surya bagian dalam menjadi komet berperiode pendek.

Apakah Meteor Itu ?
Meteor atau disebut juga bintang jatuh adalah bagian dari angkasa yang terpisah dari asteroid.
Orbit meteor terhadap matahari dinamakan "Meteoroid" yang terdiri dari bebatuan dan
bongkahan logam seperti besi dan nikel. Meteor yang jatuh jika kita lihat mempunyai cahaya
yang melewati langit seperti bola api.

Terkadang, bumi dijatuhi meteor. Hal ini disebut sebagai hujan meteor. Hujan meteor atau
pancaran meteor terlihat di langit hampir pada tanggal yang sama dalam setiap tahun. Kejadian
yang paling indah terjadi sekitar tanggal 3 januari, 12 agustus dan 14 desember. Jutaan meteor
masuk kedalam atmosfir bumi, tetapi sebagian besar terbakar habis sebelum mencapai
permukaan bumi. Kadang-kadang meteor yang besar tidak terbakar habis dan jatuh ke bumi.
Sebuah meteor yang jatuh kebumi disebut dengan batu bintang. Meteor besar pernah jatuh di
daerah Afrika Selatan, Antartika, Rusia, Kanada dan sejumlah tempat lainnya.

Meteor besar yang jatuh ke bumi akan membentuk kawah-kawah seperti kawah Barringer di
wilayah Arizona. Kawah ini terbentuk oleh meteor yang jatuh kira-kira 40.000 tahun yang lalu.
Sumber : Kompas (3 September 2004).

Musibah Pesawat Garuda

2007-03-07T17:50:00.000+07:00

Bagi yg ingin mengecek keluarga penumpang pesawat garuda yg mengalami kecelakaan pagi ini di yogya bisa menghubungi HOTLINE GARUDA di telp : 021-2312193 atau 021-2311801 ext 7205...... (tolong disebarluaskan .. karena banyak yg membutuhkan). Thanks

turut berduka cita yang mendalam atas musibah pesawat garuda di adi sucipto, semoga keluarga korban diberi ketabahan dan kekuatan iman dalam menghadapi musibah ini. ini merupakan pelajaran yang cukup mahal bagi pemerintah kita (dinas perhubungan udara). semoga tidak terjadi lagi dikemudian hari ...

2007-02-23T11:45:00.000+07:00

PELAKSANAAN operasi di sebuah rumah sakit di Beograd Serbia terpaksa dihentikan setelah dua dokter bedah yang sedang bertugas, terlibat perkelahian. Dokter Radulovic tengah melakukan operasi di ruang bedah ketika datang dr. Dragan Vukanic. Dia menarik telinga dan menampar wajah Radulovic, kemudian pergi keluar ruangan bedah. Dalam keadaan emosional, Radulovic menyusulnya dan mereka terlibat perkelahian. Untungnya, operasi bisa diselesaikan di bawah pengawasan asisten dokter Radulovic. (Ananova)***

Pasca Banjir

2007-02-14T13:43:00.000+07:00

Setelah banjir melanda wilayah DKI Jakarta dan sekitarnya, saat ini masalah baru kembali muncul, yaitu menumpuknya sampah-sampah pasca banjir. Hal itu membuat warga kewalahan menanganinya dan bingung mau dikemanakan tumpukan sampah tersebut. Pasalnya jika didiamkan begitu saja, tumpukan sampah itu akan menimbulkan bau tak sedap, dapat menggangu aktifitas masyarakat dan menimbulkan berbagai penyakit. Namun demikian, Gubernur DKI Jakarta Sutiyoso mengatakan, pihaknya akan mengerahkan mobil pemadam kebakaran dalam jumlah besar untuk membersihkan rumah warga dan perkantoran yang terkena banjir di wilayah Jakarta. Disamping itu, Palang Merah Indonesia (PMI) juga akan dilibatkan untuk memberikan bantuan obat-obatan kepada warga Jakarta yang terkena musibah banjir.

Berkaca pada Jakarta

2007-02-12T15:34:00.000+07:00

Oleh OTTO SOEMARWOTO*

JAKARTA dilanda banjir dahsyat. Menurut perkiraan, 75% Kota Jakarta terendam. Jalan-jalan besar berubah menjadi sungai besar. Pabrik, perakitan mobil, terminal peti kemas, gudang Bulog, permukiman kumuh dan elite terendam. Kerugian ekonomi mencapai triliunan rupiah.

Salah siapa?

Hujan deras di Jakarta dan di hulu daerah aliran sungai (DAS) sungai yang mengalir ke Jakarta, banyaknya sungai yang bermuara di Jakarta, topografi Jakarta yang landai dan air pasang, serta letak geografi di wilayah pantai, kata banyak orang. Itu semuanya benar.

Akan tetapi tidak kurang pentingnya ialah kelakuan manusia yang membuat Jakarta makin rentan terhadap banjir. Pembangunan telah dipacu sejak Orde Baru. Gedung-gedung baru, permukiman baru, pusat bisnis dengan perkantoran dan mal baru, jalan-jalan baru telah dibangun. Walaupun telah diperingatkan berulang-ulang oleh para pakar untuk tidak menghabiskan lahan hijau, kenyataannya lahan hijau makin menyusut dimakan pelebaran jalan dan jalan baru serta gedung baru. Halaman gedung dan rumah disemen untuk dijadikan tempat parkir. Jakarta makin penuh dengan gedung.

Sistem riulering peninggalan Belanda tidak diperbarui dan tidak pula dipelihara. Sampah menyumbatnya di banyak tempat. Air tanah disedot dan Jakarta mengalami keamblesan. Dengan kendaraan bermotornya yang terus bertambah, sumbangan Jakarta untuk emisi CO2 terus meningkat. Dengan ini pemanasan global juga terus naik. Permukaan laut naik dan air makin sulit dialirkan ke laut. DAS hulu Ciliwung di Puncak dan DAS sungai lainnya, seperti Cisadane di kaki Gn. Pangrango dan Gn. Salak, penuh dengan vila yang merambat terus makin tinggi di lereng gunung. Hutan di DAS hulu main habis. Bagaimana dengan Bandung?

Jika kata Jakarta diganti dengan Bandung, serta Puncak dan DAS hulu lainnya dengan Kawasan Bandung Utara (KBU) dan Kawasan Bandung Selatan (KBS), tampaklah betapa miripnya Bandung dengan Jakarta. Sistem riulering yang buruk yang tersumbat sampah, penyedotan air, dan keamblesan tanah serta makin menyusutnya lahan hijau karena pelebaran jalan dan pembangunan jalan baru dan gedung, penembokan halaman untuk tempat parkir serta pembangunan pemukiman dan vila di KBU dan KBS terjadi di Bandung.

Perbedaannya Bandung tidak terletak di pantai, tetapi dalam sebuah cekungan. Cekungan ini dikelilingi gunung dengan curah hujan yang tinggi yang bervariasi antara 3.000 mm sampai 5.000 mm/tahun. Satu-satunya pembuangan air hanyalah Citarum yang jalur alirannya landai dan telah mengalami pendangkalan berat. Di banyak tempat juga tersumbat sampah. Jarak antara wilayah bercurah hujan tinggi dengan Citarum tidaklah jauh. Hanya 25-40 km. Dari segi geografi Bandung lebih rentan terhadap banjir daripada Jakarta.

Jika suatu ketika dalam musim hujan terjadi hujan pada waktu yang bersamaan di pegunungan yang mengelilingi Bandung, niscayalah Bandung akan disergap banjir besar, terutama di bagian selatan, timur-tenggara dan daerah lain yang rendah dan di pinggiran sungai.

Marilah kita berkaca pada Jakarta. Kita tentu tak ingin seperti Jakarta. Maka kendalikanlah diri kita. Kurangi kehidupan hidonik kita dengan mengurangi pola hidup konsumtif yang berlebihan. Kita kendalikan diri kita untuk membangun di KBU dan KBS. Kita kendalikan pula kesukaan kita untuk terlalu mudah naik mobil. Kita tidak antimobil. Mobil adalah hasil teknologi yang berguna. Harus kita manfaatkan. Hanya jangan berlebihan. Kita gunakan dengan efisien. Penggunaan untuk jarak pendek tidaklah efisien. Tidak pula sehat. Kita kurang mendapatkan aktivitas fisik. Di samping itu juga menyebabkan pencemaran udara yang berat yang meracuni diri kita sendiri, suami/istri, anak, dan cucu. Untuk jarak pendek sampai 1 km, berjalankakilah.

Untuk jarak 5-10 km bersepedalah. Dengan bersepeda juga menciptakan lapangan pekerjaan untuk produksi dan perakitan sepeda, produksi suku cadang, perdagangan sepeda dan penitipan sepeda. Dengan ini keperluan pelebaran jalan dan pembangunan jalan baru berkurang. Taman dan jalur hijau tidak perlu dikorbankan. Janganlah bersemangat untuk menaikkan PAD tanpa memperhitungkan dampaknya pada lingkungan hidup. Pengorbanan lingkungan hidup itu membawa biaya besar, antara lain, biaya kesehatan dan kerusakan karena banjir.

Dengan makin banyaknya pembangunan di KBU dan KBS lahan hijau makin berkurang, sementara di kota makin banyak pohon dan jalur hijau yang hilang, permukaan tanah yang ditembok dan diaspal makin luas, kerusakan riul makin parah dan makin banyak sampah yang menyumbat riul. Maka dampak hujan terhadap banjir makin besar. Hujan luar biasa lima-tahunan akan menyebabkan banjir 10-tahunan, hujan 10-tahunan menyebabkan banjir 20-tahunan dan seterusnya.

Lagi pula dengan topografinya yang berlereng, risiko terjadinya tanah longsor jauh lebih besar daripada Jakarta, misalnya Dago Bengkok. Wilayah sepanjang aliran Cikapundung dan sungai lain dapat diterjang banjir besar yang membawa lumpur dari atas.

Kali ini kita beruntung tidak mendapat hujan sangat deras seperti di Jakarta dan Puncak-Bogor. Musim hujan yang akan datang mungkin kita tidak beruntung. Sekali lagi, marilah kita berkaca pada Jakarta. Jika kita tidak mau berkaca pada Jakarta, pertanyaannya bukanlah apakah dapat terjadi banjir besar di Bandung, melainkan kapan akan terjadi banjir besar di Bandung? Janganlah kita takabur!

Semoga Allah SWT memberi kearifan dan keberanian kepada para pemimpin eksekutif dan legislatif kita di Provinsi Jabar serta di Kota Bandung dan Kabupaten Bandung untuk berkata dengan tegas, "Tidak!" untuk perluasan pembangunan di KBU dan KBS serta untuk mengorbankan terus-menerus pohon, jalur hijau, taman, dan halaman di kota untuk jalan dan tempat parkir. Amin ya robbil alamin.***

*Penulis, guru besar emeritus, pakar ekologi.

Pasar Murah untuk Korban Banjir

2007-02-11T13:45:00.000+07:00

Kandidat gubernur DKI Jakarta yang diusung Dewan Pimpinan Wilayah Partai Keadilan Sejahtera (PKS), Adang Darajatun, bersama kader PKS menyelenggarakan pasar murah bagi korban banjir, di Jakarta, Minggu (11/2).

Pasar murah yang dilakukan di Kampung Rawajati, Kalibata, Jakarta Selatan itu menyediakan paket kebutuhan pokok, pakaian sekolah, perlengkapan bayi dan peralatan rumah tangga.

"Terlalu naif, kalau kegiatan seperti ini dikatakan hanya untuk kampanye. Membantu sesama, merupakan kewajiban sebagai seorang Muslim," ujar Adang ketika ditanya disela-sela pembukaan pasar murah tersebut.

"Banyak perlengkapan dapur dan peralatan rumah tangga lainnya yang rusak terkena atau terbawa banjir. Sementara bantuan dari para dermawan yang disalurkan pada saat banjir kemarin itu, lebih banyak berbentuk makanan siap saji," ujar Adang.

Pasar murah ini juga dihadiri sejumlah artis seperti Rano Karno, Dedi Mizwar, dan Astri Ivo yang membaur bersama warga ikut membersihkan lingkungan dan membagikan peralatan sekolah dan peralatan sholat kepada warga Rawajati yang terkena banjir.

Angkut Sampah Banjir, DKI Akan Sewa Truk

2007-02-10T13:50:00.000+07:00

Pemda DKI Jakarta akan menyewa truk untuk mengangkut sampah pascabanjir jika truk sampah Dinas Kebersihan tidak mencukupi untuk mengangkutnya. "Ada keluhan truk kurang (untuk mengangkut sampah)," kata Wagub Fauzi Bowo, saat meninjau pengungsi korban banjir di eks SD 09 Pangadegan, Pancoran, Jakarta, Selatan, Sabtu (10/2) tengah malam.
 
 Fauzi mengatakan, ia telah meminta aparat terkait dan juga para wali kota untuk menyewa truk jika truk yang tersedia tidak mencukupi. Anggarannya akan diambil dari anggaran khusus. "Berapa dikeluarkan (untuk menyewa truk) akan dikeluarkan (dananya)," ujarnya.
 
 Wagub juga meminta agar petugas kebersihan untuk membuang sampah sampai di penampungan akhir di Bantar Gebang. Fauzi mengharapkan pada minggu depan, sekolah yang dijadikan tempat mengungsi sudah bisa digunakan kembali untuk kegiatan belajar.
 
 Ia mengatakan, akan dilakukan kerja bakti massal selama satu hingga dua hari untuk membersihkan sisa-sisa banjir. "Sebetulnya saat ini juga sudah ada yang membersihkan rumahnya," katanya.
 
 Menurut Fauzi, jika lokasi bekas banjir tidak dibersihkan maka bisa menjadi sarang penyakit. "Kita tidak ingin itu terjadi di Pangadegan. Jangan sampai ada warga kena wabah penyakit," ungkapnya. Walaupun masyarakat dalam kesulitan, Fauzi meminta masyarakat untuk tetap memperhatikan kesehatan.
 
 Pada kunjungannya, Fauzi juga meminta aparat setempat untuk menginventarisir jumlah anak-anak sekolah. Fauzi berjanji akan membantu anak-anak korban banjir yang kehilangan peralatan sekolah dan pakaian seragam akibat banjir. Ia tidak ingin anak-anak berhenti sekolah.
 
 Sementara itu salah seorang warga mengatakan, lapisan lumpur hingga lutut orang dewasa timbul di rumahnya setelah banjir surut. Ia memperkirakan diperlukan waktu sekitar satu minggu hingga satu bulan untuk membersihkan rumah.

Harga Rusun di Jakarta Harus Terjangkau Warga Miskin

2007-02-09T13:35:00.000+07:00

Pembangunan rumah susun (rusun) untuk keluarga miskin di ibu kota harus memperhatikan kemampuan ekonomi warga. Sebab, tidak semua keluarga korban banjir, khususnya keluarga miskin mampu membeli kapling di rumah susun.

Oleh karena itu, Pemerintrah Provinsi (Pemprov DKI) sangat hati-hati dalam menjalankan kebijakan pembangunan rusun untuk korban banjir dan warga miskin. Hal ini dimaksudkan untuk mengantisipasi agar pembangunan rusun itu benar-benar bermanfaat dalam penataan kota dan dimanfaatkan oleh warga yang kurang mampu.

“Kita harus belajar dari pengalaman sebelumnya. Banyak rusun yang dibangun di Jakarta, tapi yang menempati rusun tersebut bukan warga korban banjir atau warga miskin, melainkan masyarakat golongan menengah ke atas,” kata Wakil Gubernur DKI Jakarta, Fauzi Bowo.

Mantan Sekda DKI Jakarta itu mencontohkan, pembangunan rusun KH Mas Mansyur, Tanah Abang, Jakarta Pusat. Awalnya, rusun tersebut dibangun untuk masyarakat ekonomi lemah. Namun, begitu rusun tersebut jadi, ternyata yang menempatinya bukan warga kurang mampu.

“Hampir semua penghuninya berasal dari kalangan keluarga mampu, bahkan kalangan sarjana,” jelas pria yang sudah 28 tahun meniti karir di lingkungan Pemprov DKI tersebut.

Hal itu disebabkan beberapa faktor seperti ketidakmampuan keluarga miskin untuk membayar cicilan kapling rumah susun.

"Sebagian warga miskin hanya mampu membayar cicilan untuk menyewa kapling di rusun. Bahkan hanya ada yang mampu menyewa dengan hitungan harga sewa satu kapling Rp 3.000 per hari. Nah, hal ini harus menjadi perhatian utama. Karena itu, pembangunan rusun harus memperhatikan kemampuan ekonomi warga dan untuk masyarakat mana rusun tersebut dibangun,” kata Doktor Ingenieur dari Fachbereich Architektur/Raum Und Umweltplanung-Baungenieurwesen Universitas Kaiserlautern, Jerman, tahun 2000 ini.

Pria kelahiran Jakarta 10 April 1948 itu mengatakan pembangunan rumah susun memang salah satu alternatif untuk relokasi korban banjir yang tinggal di bantaran.

Namun, kata Bang Fauzi—begitu dia akrab disapa—mengatakan pihaknya menemui kendala dalam membangun rusun di Jakarta. Pasalnya, lahan yang tersedia sangat terbatas. “Salah satu solusinya, yaitu pembangunan permukiman secara vertikal. Tapi cara ini tidak mudah karena banyak persyaratan yang harus dipenuhi," ungkapnya.

Selain itu, eks Kepala Dinas Pariwisata (1993-1998) ini juga mengaku ada kendala lain, yaitu kesadaran warga Jakarta, khususnya warga di bantaran kali untuk menempati rumah susun.

“Seperti yang Anda ketahui, kita sudah berulang kali menawarkan rusun kepada warga Kampung Melayu. Tapi hingga kini sebagian warga masih keberatan dengan alasan sempit dan mahal. Selain itu, mereka juga juga keberatan dengan status hak sewa yang berlaku selama ini.

“Warga maunya rusun itu benar-benar murah, cukup menampung seluruh anggota keluarga, dan menjadi hak milik. Ke depan, ini harus menjadi perhatian,” pungkasnya.

Bersihkan Sampah Banjir, DKI Minta Bantuan Daerah Penyangga

2007-02-08T14:03:00.000+07:00

Pemerintah Provinsi DKI Jakarta akan meminta bantuan daerah penyangga dan pihak swasta untuk mengerahkan mobil pemadam kebakaran guna membersihkan sampah dan lumpur banjir.

"Kita akan mengerahkan seluruh unit mobil pemadam kebakaran untuk menyemprot sampah dan lumpur yang berada di jalan dan pemukiman warga," kata Gubernur Sutiyoso kepada wartawan, di Balai Kota.

Pihaknya, kata eks Pangdam Jaya ini, juga akan meminta bantuan kepada TNI/Polri,dan kantor pemerintah.

Selain itu, lanjut Sutiyoso, pihaknya akan meminta bantuan kepada PMI Pusat untuk memberikan bantuan obat desinfektan yang akan digunakan sebagai campuran penyemprotan tersebut.

Sutiyoso menambahkan, sebelum melakukan penyemprotan, pihaknya akan berkoordinasi terlebih dulu dengan Badan Meteorologi dan Geofisika (BMG). "Koordinasi itu kita lakukan agar penyemprotan yang kita lakukan benar-benar efektif," jelas mantan Wadan Kopassus ini.

"Kita akan lakukan penyemprotan bila air sudah mulai surut," kata Sutiyoso.

Sutiyoso optimis instansi swasta dan daerah penyangga akan merespon permintaan bantuan tersebut. Sebab, tiga pimpinan daerah akan bertemu pada Sabtu, untuk membahas koordinasi penanganan banjir secara komprehensif.

"Kita akan rapat bersama Wapres (Jusuf Kalla-red), dan dua gubernur lainnya yakni Gubernur Jawa Barat dan Gubernur Banten. Kita juga akan pantau ibu kota melalui udara," ucapnya.

208.743 Jiwa Masih Bertahan di Lokasi Pengungsian

2007-02-07T14:09:00.000+07:00

Sebanyak 208.743 jiwa pengungsi banjir di lima wilayah kotamadya masih bertahan di lokasi pengungsian.

Ribuan pengungsi terbesar di wilayah Jakarta Barat mencapai 123.061 jiwa. Kemudian disusul Jakarta Selatan 42.767 jiwa, Jakarta Utara 27.930 jiwa, Jakarta Timur 11.725 jiwa, dan Jakarta Pusat 3.260 jiwa.

Pengungsi tersebut masih bertahan di lokasi pengungsian karena sebagian wilayah Jakarta masih terendam air dengan ketinggian bervariasi. Sehingga para pengungsi itu enggan kembali ke rumah masing-masing.

Di Jakarta Barat, ketinggian air di pemukiman seperti di Kecamatan Kebon Jeruk, Cengkareng, Kembangan, dan Kalideres mencapai 10-15 cm.

Untuk wilayah Jakarta Pusat, tiga wilayah yaitu Karet Tengsin, Bendungan Hilir, dan Kelurahan Petamburan masih digenangai air setinggi 30 centimeter-50 centimeter. Jumlah pengungsi terbanyak ada di Petamburan, yaitu sebanyak 2.130 jiwa. Para pengungsi tersebut menempati Masjid Al Barkah, Masjid Al Islam, Balai Rakyat, lapangan bulu tangkis, Kebon Pala, dan Masjid Muhajirin.

Genangan air paling parah masih terjadi di Jakarta Utara. Hampir seluruh kecamatan di wilayah ini masih terendam banjir dengan ketinggian air 5 cm-170 cm. Jumlah pengungsi terbanyak di Kecamatan Koja mencapai 10.931 jiwa. Kemudian disusul Kelapa Gading 6.226 jiwa dan Cilincing 9.261 jiwa.

Sementara itu, delapan wilayah pemukiman di Jakarta Selatan masih digenangi air. Ketinggian air bervariasi antara 10 centimeter hingga 250 centimeter. Wilayah yang masih tergenang tersebut Kebayoran Lama, Cilandak, Tebet, Mampang Prapatan, Pasar Minggu, Pancoran, serta Pesanggrahan. Untuk Jakarta Timur, hanya tiga wilayah yang masih digenangi air, yaitu Pulogadung, Cakung, dan Jatinegara dengan ketinggian air berkisar antara 10-150 centimeter.

Bantuan yang telah disalurkan ke lima wilayah dan dapur umum Dinas Bina Mental dan Kesejahteraan Sosial DKI Jakarta meliputi 166 ton beras, 4.500 dus mie instan, 1.200 dus minyak goreng, 9.600 botol saos, 9.600 botol kecap, 42.852 kaleng sarden, serta 1.600 selimut.

Banjir yang melanda Jakarta sepekan terakhir ini mengakibatkan 37 warga meninggal. Rinciannya, Jakpus 3 orang, Jakbar 7 orang, Jakut 11 orang, Jaksel 1 orang, serta Jaktim 15 orang.

Stok Beras di Jakarta Aman

2007-02-06T14:14:00.000+07:00

Stok beras bagi warga Jakarta masih tergolong aman. Sebab, persediaan beras di Pasar Induk Cipinang, sebagai sentra pendistribusian beras untuk wilayah Jakarta masih mencukupi.

Kepala Pengelolaan Data Food Station Pasar Induk Cipinang, Nurul Shantiwardhani, mengatakan saat ini stok beras di Pasar Induk Cipinang masih sebanyak 41 ribu ton. Sementara kebutuhan beras warga Jakarta hanya 2.500 ton per harinya.

”Saat ini, persediaan beras untuk Jakarta dalam kondisi aman,” tegas Nurul.
Selain masih menyimpan stok sebanyak 41 ribu ton, kata Nurul, pihaknya juga menerima kiriman beras sebanyak 1.000 ton per harinya dari Demak.

Meski demikian, dia mengaku belakangan ini terjadi penurunan pasokan beras dari beberapa daerah penghasil beras seperti Kerawang dan Cianjur. “Pasokan beras dari Kerawang dan Cianjur terhenti karena gagal panen. Saat ini pasokan beras ke Pasar Induk Cipinang berasal dari Demak Jawa Tengah. ”Saat ini pasokan beras terbesar berasal dari Demak,” ujar Nurul.

Dia mengaku kurangnya pasokan beras ke Pasar Induk Cipinang mengakibatkan harga beras mengalami kenaikan. Selain banjir terhambatnya distribusi beras karena sejumlah ruas jalan terendam banjir juga menyebabkan harga beras melonjak.

Sebenarnya, kata Nurul, pada bulan Januari telah terjadi kenaikan harga beras. Namun saat banjir yang mengakibatkan terhambatnya distribusi beras membuat kenaikan harga beras menjadi lebih signifikan. ”Kenaikan beras cukup signifikan saat banjir melanda ibu kota ini,” ujar Nurul.

Pada bulan Januari beras IR64 Kualitas III yang merupakan beras paling murah di Pasar Induk Cipinang harganya Rp 4200/kg. Namun saat banjir melanda ibu kota harga beras tersebut melonjak mencapai angka Rp 5200 /kg.

Sementara itu untuk beras Cianjur Kepala, karena merupakan beras kualitas terbaik, harganya tidak mengalami kenaikan yang cukup serius. Saat ini di Pasar Induk Cipinang harga beras tersebut Rp 6900/kg. ”Kenaikan harga beras tersebut saat banjir hanya Rp 200/kg,” terang Nurul.

Nurul mengungkapkan tidak adanya kenaikan yang cukup signifikan pada beras Cianjur Kepala dikarenakan stok dan pasokan tetap stabil. Selain itu beras tersebut tidak di konsumsi khalayak banyak.

Jenis-jenis Penyakit Pasca Banjir

2007-02-05T14:16:00.000+07:00

Untuk menghindari berbagai jenis penyakit seperti diare,ISPA, kulit, flu, dan chikungunya, Suku Dinas Kesehatan Jakarta Pusat saat ini sudah menyiapkan berbagai macam obat dan penanggulangannya. Obat-obat yang telah disiapkan seperti oralit, obat diare, cairan infus sedangkan untuk penanggulangan sudah disiapkan kapurit untuk penjernih air, bubuk abate, karbon untuk membersihkan lantai rumah.

beberapa tips dari Suku Dinas Pelayanan Kesehatan.

Jalan di Jakarta Timur Banyak yang Berlubang

2007-02-04T13:57:00.000+07:00

Kualitas jalan protokol di ibu kota tergolong rendah. Betapa tidak, hanya terendam air sekitar lima hari saja sudah bolong-bolong dan rusak.

Menurut antauan, ruas jalan yang berlubang itu ditemui di Jalan Matraman Raya, Jalan Pemuda, Jalan Jatinegara Barat, Jalan Urip Sumoharjo, dan Jalan Cililitan. Di beberapa titik jalan tersebut terdapat lobang-lobang kecil sehingga mengganggu kenyamanan pengguna jalan.

Kepala Suku Dinas Pekerjaan Umum Jalan Jakarta Timur, Djohar Arifin, mengakui beberapa jalan di wilayahnya banyak yang berlubang. Hal itu dikarenakan ruas jalan tersebut memang tidak tahan terhadap genangan air.

”Genangan air yang melanda beberapa ruas jalan membuat aspal menjadi lunak, sehingga aspal-aspal tersebut terkelupas sehingga berlubang,” ujar Djohar.

Pria yang berkantor di Jalan Jatinegara Barat tersebut menuturkan sebelum terjadi banjir beberapa ruas jalan di Jakarta Timur telah di beton sehingga lebih memiliki daya tahan terhadap genangan air.

Ruas jalan tersebut, kata Djohar, di antaranya Jalan Otista, dimana setelah Dinas PU Provinsi DKI membeton jalan tersebut membuat daya tahannya lebih kuat dibanding beberapa ruas jalan yang masih menggunakan aspal. ”Jalan yang telah dibeton di jalan Otista tidak ada yang berlobang, walau banjir juga mengenangi kawasan tersebut cukup besar,” terang Djohar Arifin.

Dia mengungkapkan pihaknya terus memberikan laporan setiap harinya mengenai beberapa ruas jalan di Jakarta Timur yang berlubang akibat terendam banjir. ”Hasil pentauan petugas kami di lapangan langsung dilaporkan ke tingkat dinas,” ungkapnya tanpa bisa merinci ruas jalan mana saja yang berlubang di wilayahnya.

Pihaknya tidak memiliki wewenang untuk memperbaiki jalan yang berlubang di wilayahnya. “Wewenang kita hanya sebatas melaporkan. Untuk perbaikan itu kewenangan dinas,” pungkasnya.

Selain di Jakarta Timur, jalan berlubang dan rusak juga ditemui di Jalan Kyai Caringin, Jakpus, Jalan Tomang Raya, Jakbar, serta Jalan Raya Cilincing, Yos Sudarso, Enggano, dan RE Martadinata di Jakut.

Di Jl Kyai Caringin dekat jembatan Banjir Kanal Barat, Jakpus, terlihat dua lubang besar di jalur menuju perempatan Tomang. Sejumlah lubang serupa juga terlihat di Jalan Tomang Raya, termasuk di jalur busway.

 Bahkan separator busway yang notabene masih baru pun rusak. Hal itu terlihat di Koridor III jurusan Harmoni-Kalideres. Banyak separator yang terlepas dan berserakan di tepi jalan.  

Menjadikan Jakarta Kawasan Bisnis

2007-02-03T13:54:00.000+07:00

Pemerintah Propinsi DKI Jakarta berencana menata wajah Kota Jakarta. Sementara itu Pemda DKI menunggu keputusan presiden (Keppres) akan hal tersebut. Menurut Gubernur, rencana agenda besar masa depan itu dalam jangka panjangnya, Jakarta akan dijadikan kawasan bisnis. Sedangkan kawasan pemukiman akan dipindahkan ke daerah pinggiran yang terintegrasi, seperti Bogor, Depok, Tangerang dan Bekasi (Bodetabek). Namun masalah ini akan masuk dalam agenda kerja Pemerintah Pusat. Untuk itu, diperlukan koordinasi antar pemerintah daerah dan diperlukan pula kekuatan hukum dari pemerintah pusat sebagai penanggung jawab. Padahal rencana pemindahan pemukiman penduduk dari pusat kota ke pinggiran, sudah ada sejak dulu.

Sweeping Hari Pertama Jaring 11.537 Ekor Unggas

2007-02-02T12:43:00.000+07:00

Sweeping unggas hari pertama pada 1 Februari 2007 di pemukiman warga berhasil menjaring sebanyak 11.537 ekor unggas. Dari jumlah tersebut jenis unggas terbanyak yakni ayam dan burung merpati. Demikian diungkapkan Kepala Biro Humas dan Protokol DKI Jakarta Arie Budhiman, Jumat (2/2) pagi.

Ari merinci untuk wilayah Jakarta Selatan sebanyak 397 ekor, Jakarta Timur 4.226 ekor, Jakarta Barat 2.953 ekor, dan Jakarta Utara 3.961 ekor.

"Unggas tersebut langsung dimusnahkan," kata Ari.

Ari menambahkan, Pemerintah Provinsi DKI Jakarta akan terus merazia unggas yang ada di pemukiman warga. Upaya tersebut, kata dia, dilakukan untuk memutus mata rantai penyebaran virus flu burung.

Empat RW di Petamburan Tergenang

2007-02-01T12:41:00.000+07:00

Hujan deras yang menggyur Jakarta hingga Kamis (1/2) membuat sejumlah pemukiman terendam air. Di Kelurahan Petamburan misalnya, empat RW di wilayah itu tergenang air dengan ketinggian antara 40 centimeter hingga 80 centimeter. Genangan itu berlangsung sejak pukul 14.00 WIB akibat meluapnya air dari Sungai Ciliwung dan Banjir Kanal Barat (BKB).

Keempat RW tersebut, yakni, RW 01, 02, 03, dan RW 04. RW yang paling parah terkena genangan air tersebut berada di RW 03 RT 16 dengan ketinggian mencapai 80 cm. Kendati demikian, warga belum mengungsi. Sebagian warga mengaku baru akan mengungsi jika ketinggian air mencapai satu meter lebih.

Saat ini di Petamburan tersebut telah disiapkan dapur umum, satu unit perahu karet, tiga unit sampan, dan obat-obatan guna mengantisipasi pengungsi setelah terjadinya banjir di daerah tersebut.

Lurah Petamburan, Munawar, mengatakan, pihak Kelurahan Petamburan sudah menyiapkan sarana dan prasarana bagi warga yang mengungsi, seperti, penyediaan dapur umum dan sembilan bahan pokok (sembako).

“Kami sudah sejak jauh-jauh hari mempersiapkan sarana dan prasana bagi korban banjir di Petamburan, karena wilayah ini sudah menjadi langganan banjir setiap tahunnya,” kata Munawar, Kamis (1/2).

Sementara itu Kepala Suku Dinas Bina Mental dan Kesejahteraan Sosial Jakarta Pusat, Sangidun, mengatakan pihaknya hari ini telah menyerahkan bantuan kepada warga korban banjir di Petamburan. Bantuan yang diserahkan itu antara lain 20 lembar tikar, 50 selimut, 25 dus mie instant, 300 kaleng ikan sarden, 144 botol kecap dan saus, 24 liter minyak goreng. “Sedangkan bantuan satu ton beras sudah diserahkan kemarin,” kata Sangidun.

Sementara itu, untuk memompa air ke kali Banjir Kanal Barat, enam pompa dioperasikan di Waduk Melati, Kebon Melati, Jakarta Pusat, Kamis (1/2), sejak pukul 09.30. Ketinggian air di waduk tersebut mencapai 246 centimeter dari batas normal 130 centimeter. Waduk ini berfungsi untuk mengurangi genangan di Jalan Thamrin.

Saat ini beberapa ruas jalan di sekitar Waduk Melati tergenang air seperti Jalan Sungai Gerong, Jalan Plaju, Jalan Tanjung Karang, Jalan Talang Betutu. Genangan di wilayah itu mencapai setengah ban mobil.

Selain Waduk Melati, lima pompa di Waduk Setiabudi Timur juga dioperasikan. Sedangkan satu pompa rusak. Sohid, Komandan Waduk Setiabudi mengatakan ketinggian air mencapai 278 centimeter dari batas normal 250 centimeter.

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30 Ekor Unggas di Jaksel Disita

2007-01-31T12:39:00.000+07:00

Sebanyak 30 ekor unggas di Kelurahan Kebayoran Lama Utara dan Bintaro, Jakarta Selatan disita petugas Suku Dinas Peternakan, Perikanan, dan Kelautan setempat, Kamis (1/2). 27 ekor ayam yang disita tersebut milik Diding dan Rudi, warga Kelurahan Kebayoran Lama Utara. Sedangkan sisanya milik Edi Bowo, warga RT 08 RW 10, Kelurahan Bintaro, Kecamatan Pesanggarahan, Jakarta Selatan.

"Kita tetap pada komitmen semula. Unggas di pemukiman akan disita,” kata Wakil Wali Kota Jakarta Selatan, Budiman Simarmata, di sela-sela acara sweeping unggas, Kamis (1/2).

Unggas yang berhasil disita tersebut, kata Budiman, akan diserahkan kepada petugas kelurahan masing-masing. “Pihak kelurahan akan memusnahkan unggas tersebut, baik dengan dibakar ataupun dipotong kemudian dikonsumsi,” jelasnya.

 Namun aksi sweeping unggas yang dimulai pukul 10.00 WIB sempat diprotes warga. Istri Diding, Nora, keberatan saat petugas menyita unggas peliharaan mereka. Namun setelah mendapatkan penjelasan, akhirnya mereka merelakan unggas peliharaannya dibawa petugas.

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dikutip dari berita jakarta

Sertifikat 140 Unggas Milik Ferry Ditarik Kembali

2007-01-30T11:33:00.000+07:00

Sertifikat bebas flu burung yang diberikan kepada 140 burung merpati milik Fery Syarial, warga Kelurahan Bungur, Jakarta Pusat, akan ditarik kembali. Sebab, sesuai dengan Peraturan Gubernur (Pergub) No. 15 tahun 2007 tentang Pelaksanaan Pengendalian Pemeliharaan dan Pengendalian Unggas, unggas tersebut dilarang di pemukiman penduduk.

Wali Kota Jakarta Pusat, Muhayat mengatakan Pemkot Jakarta Pusat tidak akan menarik sertifikat yang telah dikeluarkan Dinas Peternakan Perikanan dan Kelautan DKI Jakarta itu asalkan pemilik unggas menempatkan unggas tersebut jauh dari pemukiman penduduk.

”Bila pemilik unggas (Fery Syarial) mau menempatkan unggas jenis burung merpati tersebut jauh dari pemukiman, maka sertifikat tidak akan dicabut, karena sesui peraturan para peternak unggas akan ditempatkan dalam jauh dari pemukiman dan akan diawasi oleh petugas,” jelas Muhayat.

“Bila sampai saat ini ada warga belum mendapatkan sertifikat, tetapi sudah mendaftarkan unggasnya di kantor kelurahan maupun kecamatan mulai besok pagi tidak akan kami sweeping. Akan tetapi, bagi mereka yang sampai saat ini belum mendaftarkan unggasnya, mulai besok kami perintahkan pada petugas mulai dari tingkat RT untuk melakukan sweeping”, jelas Muhayat.

Sementara itu, Kepala Suku Dinas Ketertiban dan Keamanan Jakpus, Subandi, menjelaskan bahwa sweeping yang akan dimulai besok. Kami serahkan prosesnya pada masing-masing tingkat kelurahan. Karena yang mengetahui kondisi lingkungan dan pemilik unggas adalah petugas di kelurahan. Tetapi bila mana memerlukan bantuan kami akan lakukan koordinasi dari petugas kecamatan dan petugas dari Kodya Jakpus akan kami turunkan, “ucapnya.

Di tempat terpisah, Imam Suhardi, Kasie Kesehatan Veteriner dan Kesehatan Hewan, Sudin Peternakan dan Perikanan Jakpus, mengatakan sampai sore ini sudah sebanyak 2.903 pemilik unggas yang mengajukan permohonan untuk mendapatkan sertifikat. “Namun dari jumlah itu baru 1.943 unggas yang telah diberikan sertifikat bebas flu burung,” pungkasnya.

__________

sumber.

iPhone, Inovasi Baru dari Apple

2007-01-29T15:51:00.000+07:00

Kini kita tak perlu ribet lagi mendengarkan musik, menerima telepon, koneksi internet secara terpisah, setelah Apple mengusung produk baru mereka, iPhone, tepat pada event Macworld Conference & Expo 9 Januari 2007. Dengan iPhone, Apple tampaknya melebihi perkiraan banyak orang bahkan para penggemar Apple yang memiliki banyak tuntutan. Alat berlayar lebar dari Apple ini berbentuk cantik dan merupakan perpaduan iPod, telepon genggam, dan komputer, bahkan menjelajah dunia maya. iPhone ini dilengkapi fitur layar sentuh saat kita menelpon dan mendengarkan musik.

Namun kehadiran iPhone ini juga dibarengi berbagai keraguan yang mempertanyakan apakah telepon ini berdampak besar di pasaran. Mengingat harga jual iPhone (sekitar US$499) terlalu mahal bagi banyak konsumen.

iPhone ini juga disambut baik para penggemar Mac karena Apple menyempurnakan fitur iPhone untuk memenuhi kebutuhan konsumen yang berpengalaman dalam teknologi dan mempertahakan desain khas Apple yang terkenal.

Sebenarnya jika kita lihat di balik rancangan Apple ini, tak banyak teknologi yang berbeda dari yang ditawarkan perusahaan-perusahaan lain, yang membedakan hanya Apple yang mengeluarkan iPhone dan merekalah yang menjual produk ini, jelas Ben Wood dari perusahaan peneliti CCS Insight.

Namun harga iPhone yang lumayan membuat kantong ludes ini sepertinya tak begitu bermasalah bagi editor majalah MacFormat, Graham Barlow, yang memutuskan akan membeli dua iPhone, berapapun harganya.

Seperti halnya banyak orang lainnya, Barlow sangat terkesan dengan teknologi layar sentuh (multi-touch) yang ditawarkan iPhone, dan telah dipatenkan Apple.

Layar sentuh lahir dari kekesalan Apple CEO, Steve Jobs, dengan pemakaian telepon genggam saat ini. Dengan rancangan yang ditawarkan iPhone, pengguna tinggal menyentuh layar iPhone yang berukuran 3,5 inci untuk menyambungkan telepon. Jika ada telepon yang masuk, pengguna tinggal menyentuh logo kedua. Logo ketiga disentuh untuk menggabungkan kedua sambungan telepon menjadi pembicaraan tiga orang.

Dengan gebrakan layar sentuh yang ditawarkan iPhone, teknologi layar sentuh ini kelihatannya akan berdampak sama pada pasar telepon selular seperti halnya pengaruh mesin Nintendo Wii yang dapat mendeteksi gerakan pada pasar game.

Sebelum mengenalkan iPhone, Apple pernah bereksperimen dengan teknologi layar sentuh. Apple pertama kali mencoba dengan PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) jenis Newton. Perusahaan lainnya seperti SonyEricsson dan Nokia juga pernah memiliki alat dengan layar sentuh namun sayang banyak yang tak berhasil.

Yang membuat iPhone ini istimewa dibanding gadget sejenis adalah inovasi kecil pada iPhone seperti sensor gerakan yang secara otomatis mendeteksi ketika pemakai memutar alat dari posisi berdiri menjadi tidur dan mengubah tampilan sesuai dengan posisi layar telepon.

Sebagian orang berpikir iPhone akhirnya berhasil memperbaiki masalah selama ini tentang bagaimana berbagai fungsi bisa disatukan dengan baik dalam satu alat. Tetapi pengamat telepon selular dari perusahaan peneliti Jupiter, Tom Hussen, tidak terlalu yakin akan hal itu.

Dalam wawancaranya dengan BBC, Hussen mengatakan bahwa menyatukan fungsi tanpa ada kompromi sangat sulit dicapai.

Hussen juga menemukan beberapa hal yang mungkin akan menimbulkan masalah seperti kemampuan bertahan baterai (lima jam untuk menelpon dan sekitar 16 jam untuk mendengar musik), keamanan sistem operasi iPhone yang membolehkan program dan piranti lunak dari produsen lain.

Namun apapapun komentar dari berbagai pihak, yang jelas bagi penggemar produk Apple, kehadiran iPhone yang menggunakan sistem operasi Appke OS X di iPhone sudah membuat mereka gembira dan merasa tertolong bisa melakukan berbagai aktivitas dalam dalam satu tool.

Meski sangat ingin membeli iPhone, Barlow sadar bahwa alat ini mudah tergores. Selain itu untuk harga US$499 iPhone menawarkan kemampuan menyimpan yang tergolong rendah yaitu hanya 4GB. Untuk model 8GB konsumen harus mengeluarkan US$599.

Minimnya kemampuan menyimpan berarti banyak orang tidak akan dengan begitu saja mencampakkan iPod dan beralih ke iPhone. Graham Barlow menilai iPod akan terus menikmati penjualan yang sehat dan bersaing dengan saudara mudanya.

Fitur iPhone

Ukuran: 115 x 61 x 11.6 mm
Berat: 135 gram
Display: Touchscreen 3.5 inc, 16 juta warna, resolusi 320 x 480 pixel
Ringtones: Polyphonic, MP3, Vibrate
Memori internal: 4 dan 8 GB
Konektifitas: GPRS, EDGE, WiFi, Bluetooth, USB
OS: Mac OS X v10.4.8
Messaging: SMS, MMS, Email, Instant Messaging
Browser: HTML (Safari)
Warna: Hitam
Kamera: 2 MP, 1600x1200 pixel, video
Fitur: Google Maps, Widgets applications, iPod audio/video player, PIM termasuk calendar, to-do list, Photo browser/editor, Voice memo, Integrated handsfree
Talktime: 5 jam (bbc/apple/engadget/rit)

Toyota Ciptakan Mobil Non-Alkohol

2007-01-28T14:47:00.000+07:00

Perusahaan otomotif raksasa, Toyota Motor Corp, baru-baru ini menciptakan alat sensor baru untuk meningkatkan keamanan berkendara. Alat ini digunakan pada mobil untuk mendeteksi kadar alkohol pengemudinya. Jika sensor mendeteksi kadar alkohol cukup tinggi atau melebihi batas, maka mesin mobil akan tiba-tiba berhenti atau mati.

Mobil dipasangi sistem pendeteksi dimana mobil tidak akan bisa menyala/start jika sensor keringat yang ada pada stir mobil mendeteksi kadar alkohol dalam darah pengemudi melebihi batas.

Sistem dapat juga menghentikan mobil secara tiba-tiba jika sensor mendeteksi penyetiran mobil dalam keadaan ngawur. Atau juga jika kamera spesial pada kaca mobil mendeteksi pupil pengemudi tidak fokus ke jalan. Mobil akan mendadak berjalan perlahan dan berhenti sama sekali.

Gardu Listrik PT PLN Meledak

2007-01-27T13:44:00.000+07:00

Gardu listrik milik PT PLN (Perusahaan Listrik Negara) di Jln. Raya Pancalang Desa/Kecamatan Pancalang Kabupaten Kuningan meledak dan terbakar, Minggu (28/1) sekira pukul 1.00 WIB.

Belum diketahui dengan pasti apa penyebab terbakarnya gardu listrik yang berada di jalur saluran udara tegangan ekstra tinggi (SUTET) tersebut. Namun, akibat kejadian menghebohkan tersebut PT PLN ditaksir mengalami kerugian hingga Rp 5 miliar lebih menyusul rusak beratnya berbagai komponen yang berada dalam trafo di dalam gardu listrik tadi.

Kebakaran hebat tadi baru bisa dipadamkan sekira pukul 6.30 WIB atau lima jam setelah api menyala. Itu pun setelah dikerahkan 5 unit mobil pemadam kebakaran masing-masing 2 unit dari pemadam kebakaran Pemkab Kuningan, 2 unit dari pemadam kebakaran Pemkot Cirebon dan 1unit mobil khusus berbahan pemadam api kimia yang didatangkan dari PT Indocement Tunggal Perkasa (ITP) Palimanan Kabupaten Cirebon.

Tidak ada korban jiwa dalam kejadian tersebut. Pasalnya, pada saat kejadian beberapa satpam yang menjaga kompleks gardu tersebut tengah berada di pos pengaman satpam yang berada di bagian depan kompleks. Jarak antara pos satpam dan gardu listrik yang terbakar tadi diduga antara 100 m hingga 200 meter.

Flu Burung Meluas di Cimahi

2007-01-26T17:45:00.000+07:00

Penyebaran flu burung kian meluas di Kota Cimahi. Kamis (25/1), empat ekor ayam yang mati             mendadak di dua RW di Kel. Padasuka, Kec. Cimahi Tengah, Kota Cimahi, diketahui positif             terjangkit virus flu burung. Akibatnya, petugas bersama warga memusnahkan belasan ekor             ayam lainnya yang berada di satu kandang.

Kematian ayam secara mendadak terjadi di RW 2 dan RW 6, Kel. Padasuka. Di RW 2, dua             ekor ayam milik M. Hasan, kemarin, mati mendadak dan tiga ekor lainnya mati, Rabu (24/1).             Berdasarkan hasil pengujian rapid test, kedua ekor ayam yang mati itu positif             terjangkit virus flu burung. Karenanya, petugas langsung memusnahkan enam ekor ayam milik             Hasan.

Sedangkan di RT 5 RW 6, Kel. Padasuka, kemarin, dua ekor ayam milik Ny. Ilah mati             mendadak. Bangkainya sempat dibuang ke sungai, sehingga petugas terpaksa mengambil bangkai             ayam itu di sungai untuk diperiksa. Berdasarkan hasil rapid test, kedua ekor ayam             itu pun positif terkena virus flu burung. Untuk itu, petugas kemudian memusnahkan lima             ekor ayam Ny. Ilah bersama kandangnya .             

Menurut drh. Irfan Fazar, petugas Pelaksana Teknis Pengawasan Mutu Hasil Produk Pertanian Disperekop Cimahi, Jumat (26/1) ini akan dilakukan vaksinasi massal terhadap unggas untuk mengantisipasi penularan virus flu burung.

Dalam beberapa hari terakhir ini, sedikitnya 40 ekor ayam mati mendadak di Kota Cimahi. Dari jumlah tersebut, 20 ekor di antaranya terserang virus flu burung.

 DRH. Irfan Fazar, petugas pengawas mutu                 produk hasil pertanian pada Dinas Perekonomian dan Koperasi (Disperekop) Kota Cimahi memeriksa ayam yang mati mendadak dan dibuang warga ke sungai, di RT 5 RW 2, Kel.                 Padasuka Kec. Cimahi Tengah, Kota Cimahi, Kamis 

Malaysia Akui, Pusat Pelatihan Indonesia Baik

2007-01-25T17:47:00.000+07:00

Pusat pelatihan industri dan manufaktur Indonesia mempunyai reputasi baik di tingkat Asean maupun internasional. Selain lulusannya siap pakai, mereka pun dibekali dengaan sertifikat keandalan yang dapat dipertanggungjawabkan dan berskala dunia.

“Oleh karena itu, pemerintah Malaysia harus belajar banyak terhadap pusat-pusat latih seperti ini. Agar kemajuan yang sudah diraih Indonesia dapat diikuti oleh Malaysia,“

Semua kemajuan tersebut, mendorong Malaysia untuk menjajaki berbagai kerja sama dengan pusat latih yang ada di Indonesia. Seperti kerja sama pertukaran mahasiswa, pengiriman mahasiswa Malaysia untuk belajar di Indonesia, ataupun pengiriman ahli-ahli di bidang industri dan manufaktur untuk mempelajari berbagai keahlian tersebut.

Diharapkan, kemampuan sumber manusia Malaysia akan lebih baik dan dapat menyokong kemajuan negara Malaysia, terutama untuk kemampuan sumber manusia di bidang industri dan manufaktur.

Pemerintah Malaysia saat ini, sedang mengembangkan 4 konsentrasi kemajuan industri, yakni industri pertanian dan asas taninya, industri manufaktur, industri minyak dan gas, serta industri penerbangan.

Khusus untuk industri penerbangan, pemerintah Malaysia memberikan penghargaan yang tinggi kepada Indonesia yang sudah berhasil membuat pesawat terbang jenis ringan maupun helikopter, seperti yang berhasil dilakukan IPTN.

Contohnya sertifikat untuk program Welding Training Center. Pusat latih ini mendapat sertifikasi dari International Institute of Welding (IIW) dari Austria. Selain itu, beberapa program studi sudah mendapat autorisasi, seperti Authorized Certificate Training Centre (ACTC) Welding (Approved by WTC-ATB Switzerland), Authorized Certification Training Center (ACTC) Pneumatics Hydraulics (Approved by Festo-Germany), Authorized CATIA Education Provider (Approved by IBM), CISCO Certificate Networking Associate (CCNA), dan Sofware Training Centre.

elo siapa ..???: Mencari Berbagai Informasi Secara Mudah di Search Engine

2007-01-24T19:02:00.001+07:00

elo siapa ..???: Mencari Berbagai Informasi Secara Mudah di Search Engine