GREENPEACE ACTIVISTS LEAVE KAMPAR PENINSULA

Jakarta, Nov 14 (ANTARA) – Greenpeace activists –who set up a camp last month and sealed the heavy-duty equipment of PT Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (RAPP) in Kampar Peninsula, Indonesia’s Riau province, two days ago — left the location on Saturday after police gave them until 6 pm to leave the place. “Fifteen of the volunteers –who came there in protest against deforestation and peatland drainage– have already left the camp while the other 35 are still packing their belongings,” Southeast Asia Greenpeace forest campaigner Bustar Maitar said on Saturday evening.

GOVT READY TO FACE HOUSE PROBE INTO BANK CENTURY CASE

Jakarta, Nov 13 (ANTARA) – The government said on Friday it was ready to face a House motion to probe the Rp6.7 trillion (US$723 million) bailout it had provided for ailing Bank Century. A total of 139 legislators officially submitted on Thursday a proposal to form an inquiry team for the investigation of the bailout. Ailing Bank Century was taken over by the Deposit Insurance Agency (LPS) late last year after it had a liquidity problem and was unable to refund its customers’ money.

RI TO BOOST ECONOMIC GROWTH TO 7 PCT IN 2011

Jakarta, Nov 12 (ANTARA) – With Indonesia’s economic growth rate expected to reach 4.3 percent this year, the government is optimistic the figure will have gradually risen to as high as seven percent by 2014. “Indonesia is now intensifying its development and minimizing the impact of the economic crisis. We hope this year economic growth will reach 4.3 percent. Admittedly it is much lower than the growth we had before the economic crisis but we are convinced it will continue to increase and reach 7 percent in 2014,” President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said in Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday.

RI TOURISM NEEDS CONSISTENT POLICIES

Jakarta, Nov 9 (ANTARA) – The tourism industry in Indonesia has yet to develop maximally. Though the country is rich in tourism potentials, this sector could not yet be fully tapped to give benefit to the nation. Apart from terrorist and natural disaster disturbances in recent years, the government’s inconsistent polices can also be a factor that hampers the country’s tourism development.

RI UPBEAT TO ACHIEVE TOURISM TARGET

Jakarta, Nov 10 (ANTARA) – The Indonesian government is optimistic that it would be able to achieve its target to net 6.5 million foreign tourists this year. Though the number of foreign tourists coming to Indonesia in September alone reached 4.6 million, the target of 6.5 million can be reached as in November and December, the number of foreign tourists to Indonesia is usually increasing.

RI TO BOOST SUGAR PRODUCTION

Jakarta, Nov 7 (ANTARA) – The Indonesian government is planning to revitalize sugar mills in the country in an effort to increase sugar production and meet domestic needs which continue to increase. With a population of about 230 million Indonesia is a big sugar consumer needing about 3.8 million tons per annum. It needs some 2.7 million tons of sugar for direct consumption and 1.2 million tons of refined sugar for industries (1 million for large industries and 200,000 tons for small ones).

POLICE CHIEF INVESTIGATOR RESIGNS OVER ALLEGED FRAMING OF ANTI-GRAFT BODY

Jakarta, Nov 5 (ANTARA) – The head of the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim), Commissioner General Susno Duaji and Junior Attorney General Abdul Hakim Ritonga resigned from their posts over an alleged attempt to frame Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) leaders and undermine the anti-graft body.

HOUSE CALLS FOR PROBE OF PEOPLE MENTIONED IN RECORDINGS

Jakarta, Nov 3 (ANTARA) – The House of Representatives (DPR) called for investigation of all people mentioned in the wiretapped conversations that indicated a alleged plot to frame anti-graft body leaders. Besides the DPR call, the independent Fact-Finding team also urged the Police Chief to suspend Criminal Investigation Department Head Commissioner General Susno Duaji.

SYMPATHY FOR DETAINED ANTI-GRAFT BODY COMMISSIONERS RISING

Jakarta, Oct 31 (ANTARA) – How strongly the Indonesian people wish to see corruption in their country rooted out can perhaps be seen in the growing public sympathy for Bibit Samad Rianto and Chandra Hamzah, two Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) deputy chiefs, who have been detained by police on bribery and abuse of authority charges. 
        Regardless of whether or not the two anti-graft body commissioners are guilty, public sympathy for them is rising partly because of the performance of their institution, the KPK, which has become an icon of the war against corruption.

SPECULATONS ARISE ON POLICE MOTIVE IN ANTI-GRAFT DEPUTIES’ ARREST

Jakarta, Oct 30 (ANTARA) – The detention of suspended Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) deputies Bibit Samat Riyanto and Chandra M Hamzah on Thursday has sparked speculations that police are trying to cover up a wire-tapped conversation which allegedly indicated a plot to fabricate a case that would bring down the two deputies and undermine the KPK.