KEY WITNESS IN ALLEGED POLICE CASE BROKERAGE FLEES TO SINGAPORE

Jakarta, March 26 (ANTARA) – Tax official Gayus Tambunan who is wanted by police for alleged tax evasion of Rp25 billion and is a key witness in alleged case brokerage at the police headquarters had fled to Singapore on Wednesday, two days before the Indonesian Police Headquarters requested the immigration office to prevent him from leaving the country.

GASY FORCED TO CANCEL REGIONAL CONFERENCE

Jakarta, March 25 (ANTARA) – Gay organizers are likely to cancel their plan to hold a three-day regional conference beginning Friday in Surabaya, East Java, to discuss the rights of members of the gay, lesbian and transgender communities in Asia after police refused to issue permits and wide rejection by Muslim organizations.

OPPOSITION PDIP PONDERING TO JOIN RULING COALITION

Jakarta, March 24 (ANTARA) – The discourse on the possibility of a coalition between the ruling Democrat Party (PD) and its most bitter rival so far, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), is raising an important question, namely what cabinet portfolio is going to be offered to the latter.

FORMER CHIEF DETECTIVE DISCLOSES POLICE CASE BROKERS

Jakarta, March 23 (ANTARA) – The daring statements by former police chief detective Susno Duadji that two police brigadier generals had acted as case brokers in money laundering and tax evasion cases are seen by some civil society quarters as good public communications and a positive contribution to the creation of a transparent police force.

DELAY IN OBAMA’S PLANNED VISIT GOOD FOR FOCUSED TALKS

Jakarta, March 19 (ANTARA) – US President Barack Obama who has postponed his planned visit to Indonesia to June is expected then to be more able to focus on US-Indonesia bilateral talks when he meets with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. The US President, who is facing a vote on health insurance reform at home, would be more relaxed if he visits Indonesia after the US Congressional deliberations on Obama’s health care legislation are over.

THUMBS UP, THUMBS DOWN FOR OBAMA PLANNED VISIT

Jakarta, March 17 (ANTARA) – Next week’s planned visit to Indonesia of United States President Barack Obama has in the past few weeks sparked pros and cons. Those rejecting it said Obama is no different from warmonger George W Bush who has a predisposition for colonizing other nations and dominating other countries’ economies.

‘FATWA’ ON SMOKING FACING OPPOSITION

Jakarta, March 16 (ANTARA) – Tobacconists, cigarettes makers and even the cabinet member in charge of religious affairs have voiced opposition to an edict or fatwa issued by the country’s Muslim organization Muhammadiyah declaring smoking “haram” or forbidden in Islamic law. Considering that it is harmful to people’s health and could have other negative impacts on the people’s life, the Legal Council (Tarjih) of Muhammadiyah is of the view that smoking is no longer Makruh (should be avoided) but actually ‘haram’, or against Islamic law.

WHAT HAPPENS IF A SMOKER COUNTRY GETS NO-SMOKING ‘FATWA’

Jakarta, March 16 (ANTARA) – Tobacconists, cigarettes makers and even the cabinet member in charge of religious affairs have voiced opposition to an edict or fatwa issued by Indonesia’s Muslim organization Muhammadiyah declaring  smoking “haram” or forbidden in Islamic law.
Considering that it is harmful to people’s health and could have other negative impacts on the people’s life, the Legal Council (Tarjih) of Muhammadiyah is of the view that smoking is no longer Makruh (should be avoided) but  actually ‘haram’, or against Islamic law.

However, smoking is closely linked to the livelihoods of tobacco farmers and cigarette industries so that a ‘haram’ fatwa on it will, if implemented, affect the livelihoods of millions of people and state income.

OBAMA’S VISIT GETS THUMBS UP, THUMBS DOWN

Jakarta, March 17 (ANTARA) – Next week’s planned visit to Indonesia of United States President Barack Obama has in the past few weeks sparked pros and cons.

Those rejecting it said Obama is no different from warmonger George W Bush who has a predisposition for colonizing other nations and dominating other countries’ economies.

Despite opposition from conservatives, however, Obama, who once spent several years of elementary school in Jakarta, is largely welcomed by the predominantly moderate Muslims in a country of more than 230 million.

FREE TRADE TO AFFECT INDONESIA’S INDUSTRY, WORKERS

Jakarta, Jan 9 (ANTARA) -  Certain industrial sectors of the  Indonesian economy  that are not yet ready  for the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA) effective  January 1,2010  may  be forced to reduce or stop entirely their operations and thus cause the laying off of perhaps millions of workers.