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.

The news on the resignation of the Bareskrim chief was made public by National Police Chief General Bamgang Hendarso Danuri. “Susno is not suspended from his position. He himself asked to be relieved from his current job,” said Danuri without saying when exactly Susno made the request and his reasons for doing so.

In the meantime, the resignation of Ritonga was revealed by Attorney General Hendarman Supandji. Supandji said Junior Attorney General Abdul Hakim Ritonga had tendered his resignation verbally on Wednesday and would submit the written one on Thursday.

“He said yesterday that he would resign and this morning he would submit his resignation letter,” the attorney general said before attending a cabinet meeting at the presidential office on Thursday.

But he said had not yet received Ritonga’s resignation letter so that he did not know Ritonga’s official reason to resign. By Thursday morning, the attorney general had not yet received Ritonga’s resignation letter. “I went to the presidential office directly so I had no time to check the letter in my office,” Hendarman added.

The attorney general said that in his verbal request to resign on Wednesday, Ritonga said he would resign if he would become a burden to the attorney general’s office as an institution. “If I become a burden to the institution, I will resign,” Hendarman quoted Ritonga as saying.

Ritonga was named in a wiretapped conversation which indicated a plot to frame Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) leaders. The wiretapped conversations which were heard at a Constitutional Court (MK) session on Tuesday suggested the existence of a plot to frame the KPK leaders and undermine the anti-graft body.

In the meantime, Susno’s resignation also followed a growing public clamor for his suspension due to his alleged involvement in a plot to frame two KPK deputy chiefs.

Demands for Susno’s suspension climaxed after a recording of telephone conversations between businessman Anggodo Widjojo, younger brother of corruption suspect Anggoro Widjojo, and certain police and public prosecutors were played in a session of the Constitutional Court on Tuesday.

The conversations in which Duaji’s name was mentioned several times suggested the existence of efforts to engineer a bribery case against KPK deputy chiefs Bibit Samat Rianto and Chandra M Hamzah.

Among those mentioned in the recordings were also vice attorney general Abdul Hakim Ritonga, former deputy attorney general for intelligence Wisnu Subroto, the National Police’s chief detective, Susno Duadji and the former National Police’s deputy chief detective, intelligence Inspector General Hadiatmoko.

An independent Fact-Finding Team which was formed by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, after attending Tueday’s MK session, urged the Police Chief to suspend Susno Duaji.

On Thursday, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono asked for the suspension of police and Attorney General’s Office (AGO) officers whose names were mentioned in the wiretapped conversations.

“I have told (the police chief and the attorney general) that those whose names were mentioned in the wiretapped conversations be relieved from their tasks so that investigations can be conducted properly,” the president said at a cabinet plenary session.

The president also asked the coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs to provide protection for suspended KPK deputy chiefs Bibit Samad Rianto and Chandra Hamzah and the key witness in the bugged eavesdropping so that they could provide testimony with regard to the case.

“I call for protection of their safety. Protection of witnesses, or whoever, is important because our country is a law-abiding nation. There should be no irresponsible hands that would create a chaotic situation through irresponsible actions,” Yudhoyono said.

Police on Tuesday (Sept. 15, 2009 ) named KPK vice chairmen Chandra M Hamzah and Bibit Samad Rianto suspects and later detained them on bribery, abuse of authority and extortion charges.

They were alleged to have abused authority with regard to the issuance of a travel ban on businessman Anggoro Widjojo, director of PT Masaro Radiokom. Aggoro was allegedly involved in a Rp180 billion corruption case with an Integrated Radio Communication System (SKRT) project in the Ministry of Forestry.

Earlier, the KPK had obtained initial proof Duaji had used his power to make ailing Bank Century return a huge amount of deposited funds to their owner unlawfully.

Commenting on the resignation of Duaji and Ritonga, Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR) Marzuki Alie appreciated their decisions to resign, saying it was a gentleman’s attitude. “If he feels he is guilty and then decides to resign, it is a good decision,” Marzuki Alie told the press.

The same opinion was also expressed by legal practitioner Hendardi, who is also chairman of the Setara Institute. “The decisions of Duaji and Ritonga to step down are the fruit of untiring public pressure,” he said. (T.A014/A/HAJM/17:15/a014) (T.A014/A/A014/A/A014) 05-11-2009 17:32:53

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.

The calls were made after the Constitutional Court in its session here on Tuesday listened to a recording bugged by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

Among those mentioned in the recordings are vice attorney general Abdul Hakim Ritonga, former deputy attorney general for intelligence Wisnu Subroto, national police’s chief intelligence Commissioner General Susno Duadji and former national police’s deputy chief intelligence Inspector General Hadiatmoko.

After attending a Constitutional Court (MK) session to listen to a wiretapped recording purporting to show the existence of a plot to frame KPK deputy chiefs Bibit Samad Rianto and Chandara Hamzah, the team’s chairman, Adnan Buyung Nasution, held a press conference at the building of the Presidential Advisory Institution.

Nasution told the press that he had immediately contacted National Police Chief General Bambang Hendarso Danuri with regard to the request of the team to suspend Susno Duaji.

“A quick response needs to be made against law enforcers, particularly the Police criminal investigation department (Barescrim) chief who handled the case of Chandra and Bibit,” Nasution said.

Police on Tuesday (Sept. 15, 2009 ) named KPK vice chairmen Chandra M Hamzah and Bibit Samad Rianto suspects and later detained them in alleged bribery, abuse of authority and extortion charges.

They were alleged to have abused authority with regard to the issuance of a travel ban on businessman Anggoro Widjojo, director of PT Masaro Radiokom. Aggoro was allegedly involved in a Rp180 billion corruption case with an Integrated Radio Communication System (SKRT) project in the Ministry of Forestry.

Earlier, the KPK had obtained initial proof Duaji had used his power to make ailing Bank Century return a huge amount of deposited funds to their owner unlawfully.

However, many quarters questioned the arrest of the two KPK leaders.

Thus, the independent verification team was formed by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to investigate the legal facts on the detention the two suspended KPK commissioners.

Adnan Budyung Nasution said that the police chief had positively responded to the team’s request.

Besides asking for the suspension of the Bareskrim head, the team had also suggested that the Police Headquarters take quick action against Anggodo Widjojo.

“We all agree that Anggodo who is the central figure in the wiretapped conversations and has extensive relations with law enforcers, must be dealt with and not allowed to remain free to go anywhere,” he said.

In the meantime, House Speaker Marzuki Alie has asked for the investigation of all the people mentioned in the wiretapped recording listened to at a Constitutional Court (MK) session on Tuesday.

“By making it transparent, the people will know and will not become confused with regard to the case,” he told newsmen at the parliament building here on Tuesday.

Marzuki said the law enforcers must be frank in giving information to the public on dealing with the case of suspended antigraft commissioners Chandra M Hamzah and Bibit Samad Ryanto.

The law enforcers, he said, must work professionally and those who are really guilty including police members must be dealt with according to the law.

Marzuki said those mentioned in the recording must be investigated to clarify the case.

“It would be better for those people to be summoned for investigation,” he said.

Constitutional Court (MK) judge Akil Mochtar meanwhile said the team must immediately investigate Anggodo to avoid bureaucratic hurdles.

Akil said the team which was set up based on a presidential instruction to collect legal facts surrounding the detention of suspended antigraft commissioners Bibit Samat Ryanto and Chandra M Hamzah to move quickly to uncover the case.

He said Anggodo’s investigation would also help the team investigate the Bibit-Chandra case.

Akil said the status of the brother of corruption suspect Anggoro Widjojo was personal, not institutional like KPK, the Attorney General’s Office or the police, and therefore could be immediately processed based on the recordings as Anggodo had also mentioned the name of the President in the recordings.

In order to verify those mentioned in the recordings, the independent Fact-Finding Team will hold a series of meetings with various sides before it submits a recommendation to the president.

“We have meeting agendas on Wednesday and Thursday,” Nasution said after attending a session on a judicial review of Law No. 30 / 2002 on the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) at the Constitutional Court (MK) here on Tuesday.

Speaking to the press at the Presidential Advisory Building, Nasution said that the team would meet a number of prominent figures, including non-governmental organization (NGO) activists, on Wednesday.

On Thursday, the team will meet various sides suspected of involvement in an alleged plot to frame two KPK leaders Bibit Samad Rianto and Chandra Marta Hamzah.

It will also meet with former KPK chairman Antasari Azhar, businessman Anggodo, former junior attorney general for intelligence affairs Winu Subroto and chief of Police’s Criminal Investigation Department, Susono Duaji.

He said that the most important thing was to ask for explanations from Anggodo which was the central figure in the alleged plot to frame the KPK leaders.****4*** (A014/A/H-NG/a014)

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.

        Thus, its deputies are able to gain sympathy from the public when they are now in police custody, no matter who they actually are, wrong or right. In addition, the circulation of the transcript of a wiretapped telephone conversation suggesting the existence of a plot to frame the two anti-graft deputies and undermine the KPK itself, has helped to create public suspicion about why they arrested.

        On Thursday, police detained Bibit Samat and Chandra Hamzah who had been named suspects over alleged abuse of authority with regard to the issuance of a travel ban on businessman Anggoro Widjojo and also the issuance of a travel ban and later its revocation for businessman Djoko Tjandra.

        Anggoro Widjojo was previously investigated by the KPK over an alleged corruption in a forestry ministry project. Bibit and Chandra were suspected to have received a bribe of Rp7.6 billion from Anggodo Widjojo, a brother of Anggoro Widjojo.

        Up to Saturday, the tapped conversations had yet to be opened to the public although its transcript had been widely published by the media.

        In the meantime, expressions of public support for Bibit and Chandra continue to multiply. Even, former president Abdurrahman Wahid came to the KPK office to express readiness to vouch for the innocence of the two arrested KPK deputy chiefs.

        “I came to add more support for their release from detention. I am prepared to put my name on the line in this case,” Abdurrahman Wahid who is popularly called ‘Gus Dur’ said after visiting the KPK office on Saturday.

        Gus Dur’s action for the release of the suspended KPK deputy chiefs Bibit Samad Rianto and Chandra Hamzah came after several other national figures had also declared their conviction that the two KPK leaders’ arrest was a mistake. Inside the anti graft body’s office, Gus Dur met KPK Vice Chairmen Haryono Ahmad, Mas Ahmad Sentosa and Waluyo along with other KPK officials.

        Other reactions also came from the Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW), which regretted the arrest of Bibit and Chandra.

        “We regret the detention of the two KPK leaders at a time when they are submitting a judicial review over the KPK law to the Constitutional Court,” ICW researcher Febri Diansyah, said.

        Golkar politician Yuddy Chrisnandi in the meantime visited the KPK office on Saturday to express his support to KPK. Chirsnandi said although the two suspended KPK deputy chiefs, Chandra M Hamzah and Bibit Samad Rianto, were currently facing legal trouble, he would continue to support the Commission.

        “We come here to the KPK office to give our support for the Commission to continue eradicating systematic corruption,” Chrisnandi said. “Let people give their support for the arrested KPK chairmen,” he added expressing doubt about President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s commitment to supremacy of the law. He was certain that the president was just accepting every measure taken by the police, including an allegedly illegal effort to frame the KPK leaders as indicated in the alleged wiretapped telephone conversations.

        He also said he was sure the case involving the KPK leaders had something to do with “something of a larger scope” which was now beginning to be perceived by the public.

        “I personally am certain that their (Bibit and Chandra’s) case has something to do with the Bank Century scandal,” Chrisnandi said referring to the ailing bank which neglected their customers but has received a much-criticized bailout of Rp6.7 trillion.

        The president’s special adviser for law affairs Denny Indrayana acknowledged that the charges the police had cited for detaining the KPK commissioners were not fixed and this had caused pros and cons.

        “So far the police have been uncertain in determining the charges for detaining them and therefore pros and cons emerged in the public,” Denny Indrayana said.

        He said there were questions regarding the police’s decision with regard to the development of the case of KPK commissioners. The police had mentioned bribery, attempt to bribe and power abuse as their charges but later they were changed into power abuse and now extortion was also included in it. “The uncertainty of the charges has created pros and cons among the public,” he said.

        In this case, House Commission III will invite the national police chief to explain about the police’s decision to detain the two suspended KPK vice chairmen.

        “We, in Commission III in the House of Representatives (DPR), think there is no strong argument for the police to detain the two KPK deputies,” he said after a discussion on “Polemics: Drama over Bibit and Chandra’s detention.”

        Gayus said the meeting between the national police chief and the commission that deals with law, security and human rights affairs was a routine event because the police was the commission’s working partner.

        On Friday, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono called on the authorities concerned to investigate and uncover the parties behind the circulation of the transcript of a tapped phone conversation purporting to prove the framing of the two KPK commissioners.

        “Regarding the transcript, I have asked for a thorough investigation of the case and into those recorded to see if they lead to the case of KPK chairmen Bibit and Chandra. Open it, explain it and investigate it thoroughly,” he said in a press conference.

        In the meantime, National Police Chief General Bambang Hendarso Danuri has promised to investigate the case and had ordered the force’s Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) to carry out the investigation.

        “The police will investigate the case. I have ordered the Bareskrim to conduct a probe and investigation,” he said.***4*** (T.014/A/HAJM/22:45/a014) (T.A014/A/A014/A/A014) 31-10-2009 23:00:15

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.

        “We are afraid that the detention is an effort to cover up reports on the recordings which were allegedly a fabrication to get the two KPK deputies jailed,” Zainal Arifin, coordinator of the Anti-Corruption Research Center (PuKat) of Gajah Mada Univsity, said on Friday.

        On Thursday, police detained Bibit Samad and Chandra Hamzah who had been named suspects over alleged abuse of authority with regard to the issuance of a travel ban on businessman Anggoro Widjojo and also the issuance of a travel ban and later its revocation for businessman Djoko Tjandra.

        The arrest has drawn mixed reactions. Many saw the case as the result of a rivalry between the KPK and Police. Earlier, over the investigation of its deputies, the KPK accused the National Police’s chief detective, Commissioner General Susno Duaji, of carrying out nonprocedural examinations, and the police had thus acted against the two KPK vice chairmen on trumped-up charges.

        In order not to make the public confused, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono summoned National Police Chief Bambang Hendarso Danuri and other related ministers to discuss the matter on Friday.

        The president asked the police chief to give the public an explanation about the arrest of two suspended KPK (Corruption Eradication Commission) leaders. “Please explain the matter to the public to clear it up,” President Yudhoyono said prior to a closed-door meeting .

        President Yudhoyono himself said the detention of Bibit Samad Riyanto and Chandra Hamzah was not due to an institutional conflict between police and the KPK. This must be explained to the public.

        “The president said that he kept on monitoring developments of the KPK case, where its deputies Bibit and Chandra have been detained. He stressed that it was not an institutional conflict. It was a legal matter being handled by police, KPK and the prosecutors that involved individuals,” Minister of Communications and Informatics Tifatul Sembiring who attended the meeting said. “Therefore, the president stressed that the problem should be left to the legal procedure,” the minister said.

        In the meantime, National Police Chief General Bambang Hendarso Danuri said police decided to detain Chandra M Hamzah and Bibit Samat Riyanto because they had hindered investigations into their case. “Because they hindered the investigations, the police took them into custody as they are authorized to do under the law,” Danuri said at a press conference.

        Danuri said police investigators remained confident that Chandra M Hamzah and Bibit Samad Rianto had received a bribe from businessman Anggoro Widjojo, director of PT Masaro Radiokom who was allegedly involved in a corruption case in connection with an Integrated Radio Communication System (SKRT) project in the Ministry of Forestry. The case was handled by KPK.

        The Police chief admitted however it was difficult to charge a person in bribery case if she or he was not caught red-handed but (in this case) there were witnesses who supported the allegation.

        He admitted that up to now police did not yet have evidence of the alleged Rp6.7 billion bribe given to Chandra and Bibit in August and September last year. “The money reportedly did not reach both suspects but there was a suspicious effort, namely a travel ban,” he said.

        Danuri said that even though the travel bans had been issued for businessmen Anggoro Widjoyo and Djoko Tjandra, the KPK did not follow up the bans with investigations until one year later. “Travel bans had been issued but the cases were not investigated. They began to investigate only when police began their own investigation,” he said.

        The police chief said that police had submitted the dossiers of the two KPK deputies to the Attorney General’s Office (AGO).

        Danuri also explained that police had also named Ari Muladi as a suspect, not in a bribery case but rather for fraud. Police released Ari four days before his detention period was completed because police found it difficult to complete his dossiers.

        In this case, Anggodo Wijdojo, younger brother of Anggoro Widjoyo, a KPK fugitive, had handed over bribe money several times amounting to Rp7.6 billion in August and September.

        The money was allegedly given to the KPK leaders in an attempt to persuade the KPK to lift the travel ban on Anggoro. However, Anggodo did not give the money directly to the KPK leaders but through Ari Muladi. Ari then gave the money to someone known only by the initial Y who up to now is still at large.

        However, all this was based on an alleged wiretapped conversation which is a plot design to undermined the KPK and frame two of its deputies.

        Minister of Law and Human Rights Affairs Patrialis Akbar, therefore, called on the KPK leadership in whose possession the recording now was to open it to the public. “The recording had better be opened to the public so that the people will not speculate on the issue,” the minister said.***4*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/23:45/H-YH) (T.A014/A/A014/A/H-YH) 31-10-2009 00:06:40

Jakarta, Oct 29 (ANTARA) – When ailing Bank Century was taken over by the Deposit Insurance Agency (LPS) in September last year and the government moved by providing bail-out funds totaling Rp6.7 trillion , the bank’s customers hoped they would get their money back soon. 
        However, the bank’s customers had hoped in vain because until now, none of them has received refunds on his or her deposit. As a consequence, many of them suffered extreme stress while others attempted or committed suicide. Where did the Rp6.7 trillion in bailout funds go?

        These facts raised serious questions among the public. People then also questioned the legal basis of the decision to provide the bailout funds in such a huge amount. The initial bailout amount discussed with the House of Representatives (DPR) was only Rp360 billion – Rp1.3 trillion.

        The public discourse on the Bank Century case lately focused on the possibility of crimes having been committed in it. Moreover, former Vice President Jusuf Kalla early last month said that he had all along been against bailing out the bank as it would amount to “plain robbery.”

        A preliminary report to the House by the State Audit Board (BPK) also indicated that crimes had been committed in the Bank Century case. However, the Attorney General’s Office said there were no indications of potential crimes in the BPK’s report.

        Therefore, an inquiry into the case by a DPR special committee was deemed necessary to assist the BPK in its investigation. “The use of the House’s inquiry right can help BPK complete its probe into the matter,” economic observer Dr Drajad Wibowo said.

        Wibowo said he had suggested that the DPR use its inquiry right because there was inconsistency between the BPK report and the statement by the Attorney General’s Office. BPK’s investigative audit results indicated there were crimes while the statement of the deputy attorney general for special crimes said there was no potential crime in the report.

        Indications of criminal offenses in the Bank Century case were revealed during a closed-door meeting of the DPR’s Commission XI for financial affairs on Sept. 29, 2009 on the interim report of BPK. The House found that various banking crimes had taken place with the bank.

        “The banking crimes included misappropriation of promissory notes, fictitious credits, violation of the maximum limit of credit provision (BNPK), fictitious spending and violation of the foreign exchange reserves requirement,” Commission XI chairman Achmad Hafiz Zawawi said after the meeting.

        The BPK’s interim audit report also indicated that abuse of authority or error of judgment by Bank Indonesia (BI/the central bank) and the Financial Sector Stability Committee (KSSK) had also occurred causing the state to suffer conisderable financial losses.

        Besides, there was an error of judgment at a meeting of the KSSK which had concluded that a collapse of Bank Century could have a systemic impact so that the injection funds which initially only amounted to Rp630 billion were increased to Rp6.76 trillion.

        After all, the funds were disbursed under Government Regulation in lieu of Law No. 4 / 2008 on Financial System Safety Net (JPSK) which basically was never approved by the House.

        With such a condition where the Attorney General’s Office said there was no potential crimes involved, the DPR should form a special inquiry committee to help BPK complete its audit.

        “An inquiry committee by DPR could help BPK complete its investigation,” Drajad Wibowo said on the sidelines of a discussion on the establishment of a special committee on Bank Century scandal.

        In order to bring light to the case, Megawati Soekarnoputri, leader of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) ordered her cadres in the House to use their inquiry rights to investigate the disbursement of the Rp6.7 trillion bailout.

        “The PDIP leader made the instruction in a leadership meeting today and it has been the party’s decision,” PDIP Secretary General Pramono Anung said on Wednesday (Oct 28, 2009).

        Besides, PDIP will also set up a fact-finding team with the party to gather information on the real case of Bank Century so that the public would have transparent information about the Bank Century problem.

        Pramono Anung said the PDIP faction in the House was serious with the formation of the inquiry committee but admitted this could not be done by the PDI faction alone. Therefore, Anung who is also a DPR deputy would lobby and hoped that other factions would support the initiative.

        In the meantime, the United Development Party (PPP) faction said it was ready to support the establishment of a House special inquiry committee to thoroughly investigate the Bank Century case.

        “We support efforts to probe into the Bank Century case and the efforts should be made as soon as possible ,” Lukman Hakim Saefuddin, PPP Chairman, who is also a deputy of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR), said.

        He said that the BPK auditors had said they had found irregularities in the disbursement of Rp6.7 trillion to bail out the bank. The bailout amount was far bigger than the Rp1.3 trillion previously agreed with the House.

        Lukman said the case must be followed up even if the BPK had not yet complete its investigation, and it was still facing difficulties in tracing the transfers of Bank Century customers’ funds.

        PPP faction chairman in the House Hasrul Azwar said his faction was ready to sponsor the establishment of the inquiry committee.

        However, the faction chairman of the the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) in the House, Mustafa Kamal is of the view that the results of the BPK auditing should be waited for before an inquiry committee was established.

        He said there was a special mechanism that had to be met first such as deliberations in the DPR’s Consultative Board and plenary sessions before the House could officially set up the committee.

        “The PKS faction calls on us all to wait for the investigative auditing results of the BPK. We have asked it to do it. So, let’s give it a chance to accomplish its task,” he said.***1*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/17:00/a014)

        (T.A014/A/A014/A/A014) 29-10-2009 20:09:31

Jakarta, Oct 28 (ANTARA) – Students and youth organization members took to the streets in different parts of the country on Wednesday to observe the 81st anniversary of the Youth Pledge. They called on the government to eliminate various kinds of deviations, create justice and equitable prosperity.

        “We are taking to the streets to organize a peaceful rally. We have to observe Youth Pledge Day because we consider it a scared declaration where youths have the obligation to remind the government of the many deviations that still take place in the country,” said Melki AS, coordinator of a rally by Tamansiswa Sarjanawiyata University students in Yoyakarta on Wednesday.

        The students were of the view that they had to remind the government of the deviations now still taking place. On the occasion of Youth Pledge Day, youths had to reaffirm their role and continue to guard the nation and remind the government of the need to serve the people’s interest. “For this, Indonesian youths must rise and abandon hedonistic and apathetic attitudes which dishonor the spirit of nationalism,” Melki said.

        Instead, unity must continue to be reinforced so that the pledge that was declared 81 years ago on the need to build one country, one nation and one language would not remain a mere routine ritual.

        Therefore, the “Karang Taruna” youth organization of Bekasi, West Java, called on all layers of society to return to the youth pledge’s basic meaning of unity.

        “We are calling on all of us to return to the pledge’s basic meaning so that it will not be observed merely as a routine ritual,” Hilaludin Yusri, secretary of the Bekasi Karang Taruna said.

        He said that of late people almost no longer felt the sacred meaning of the pledge so that its commemoration was felt as if it was only a meaningless and routine event. This is partly because of the country’s failure to bring prosperity to the people. While in fact, the spirit of unity had ushered the nation into its independence.

        The pledge had united the people of various youth groups, races, religious faiths and political convictions to face the colonial regime. However, after independence was obtained, it seemed that the country had still failed to bring well-being to its people.

        Thereby, the government needs to heed the people’s aspirations, and fight against deviations that are taking place which would hamper the country’s progress to bring welfare.

        With regard to this, on the occasion of the Youth Pledge’s anniversary, the Communications Forum of Central Sulawesi’s Students Executive Board (Forkom), the People’s Struggle Front, the Muhammadiyah Students Association (IMM) and the Democratic National Students League (LMND) of Central Sulawesi also took to the streets to voice their aspirations.

        They demanded that the government improve the welfare of the people. The people’s struggle front raised the issue of fishermen and laborers. “With the declaration of the Youth Pledge and the country’s journey after independence, the Indonesian people should by now have become prosperous but they have not,” Iwan, an activist of the rally, said.

        Therefore, other students in Cilacap, Central Java, took up the pro-people theme in their rallies on Wednesday. Tens of students grouped in the Students Executive Board of the Ghazali Institute of Islamic Studies (BEM-IAIG) demonstrated outside the Hall of the Cilacap district head’s office.

        They waved posters conveying various demands which in principle asked the government to adopt pro-people policies. “So far, many government policies have been implemnted that did not serve the people’s interest,” Agus Saeful Ujab, rally coordinator, said.

        Besides waving posters, they also held orations and sang different kinds of songs critical of the government.

        In Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, the Indonesian Muslim Students Action Front (KAMMI) carried a bier and demonstrated outside the building of the Regional Legislative Assembly (DPRD). “We carry a bier to symbolize that our representatives in the House have forgotten the youths’ participation in freeing the nation from the colonizers in the past,” a KAMMI representative said in his oration.

        In its declaration, the KAMMI among others called on youths and students in the country to work hand-in-hand in developing the country and to fight against liberalism and capitalism. It also called on students to take the side of the opposition . Opposition is needed in an effort to exercise the check-and-balances principle.

        According to Ali Akbar, coordinator of a student rally in Bandarlampung, Lampung province, an opposition was needed nowadays because democracy was under threat.

        “There is a serious threat to democracy at present because the government has embraced an ‘elite opposition’ so that what happens now is the concentration power in one person. This is not good in a democratic state,” he said.

        He said that youths should refer to the basic principle of the Youth Pledge in giving answers to the nation’s problems in an effort to create sovereignty in politics, economy and culture.

        The nation’s culture must be nurtured and protected. The nation should not be robbed of its cultural heritage.

        “The youths should be united in fighting against capitalism, imperialism and oppression. We have to condemn outsiders who claim our cultural heritage and try to seize Indonesian territory,” said Andri Firman Alamsyah, field coordinator of a student rally conducted by the Al-Musaddadiyah Institute of Islamic Studies (STAI) in Garut, West Java.***4*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/A/S012) 18:05/…. ) (T.A014/A/A014/A/S012) 28-10-2009 19:02:49

Jakarta, Oct 27 (ANTARA) – Indonesia has to prepare a program so that it would not depend too much on other countries for its energy needs in the future.     Once an oil exporting country, Indonesia is now facing the problem of oil reserves depletion. With a daily production of only about 1 million barrels against its consumption of 1.4 million, the energy sector could serve as a time bomb ahead if a solution is not worked out, an oil businessman says.

        Therefore, newly appointed Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Darwin Sahedy Saleh must work out an oil self-sufficiency program so that the country would not stay dependent on other countries.

        “The new minister needs to find a solution to the energy problem. The preparations for the energy self-sufficiency program should be completed soon while the implementation of the existing programs should be accelerated,” Effendi Siradjuddin, chairman of the National Oil and Gas Company Association (Aspermigas), said.

        After all the current domestic oil consumption has reached 1.4 million barrels per day (bpd), while 70 percent of which is absorbed by the transportation sector. Indonesia’s oil production is only 1 million barrels per day, and half of the production belongs to foreign companies.

        “This means that Indonesia has to import almost 900 thousand tons of fuel oils and crude per day,” he said.

        Indonesia, once one of the most important oil exporters in the world, has become a net oil importer in recent years due to the continued decline in its crude production.

        The country is in dire need of private investment to boost oil and gas output at its aging fields. Its oil production reached a first peak in 1977 at approximately 1.6 million barrels per day, rising from 500,000 barrels per day in only 10 years. Production peaked a second time in 1995, again just over 1.6 million barrels a day.

        Since 1995, production has steadily declined and in 2006 was down to just 1 million barrels per day, or roughly a 37.5 percent decline, making the country a net oil importer.

        Natural gas has fared better, with production averaging approximately 8.3 billion cubic feet per day, down just 3.44 percent from its peak of 8.7 billion cubic feet per day in 1996.

        Early in 2007, the government announced a target of increasing oil and gas production by 30 percent to 1.3 million barrels per day and 8.5 billion cubic feet per day, respectively by 2009.

        According to Effendi Siradjuddin, however, Indonesia’s present production is only 1 million barrels per day while its consumption reaches 1.4 millions.

        The challenge being faced becomes heavier and heavier because each year Indonesia is also facing a ‘crazy’ growth of motor vehicles. Based on Aspermigas data, new motorcycle sales reaches one million units per annum. In the meantime, car sales reaches 500 thousand units annually.

        The increase in the number of motor vehicles will automatically increase fuel oil consumption which at present had reached 1.4 million bpd amid the threat of crude price increases to about US$100 per barrels in the coming one to two years.

        Unluckily, the Indonesian people, for tens of years, have been so absorbed because they could obtain energy so easily. What then happened was that the growing habit of wasting energy which should have been stopped years ago. “There must be a bold step to break this vicious circle,” Effindi said.

        Looking at the complexities of the problems Indonesia is facing with regard to the energy sector, Effendi is of the view that a national agenda should be worked out in order to create self-efficiency in the energy sector.

        The national agenda should involve multi-sectors and parties as well as inter-departmental agencies and in cooperation with businesses and academicians.

        With the energy sector becoming a main national agenda, it would no longer become the responsibility of the Ministry of Eenergy and Mineral Resources alone. “By making it a national agenda, the program must be supported by the president,” Effendi who is also chairman of the National Oil and Gas Caucus, said.

        He said that with the growth of cars reaching 500 thousands and motorcycle 1 million units per annum the fuel oil consumption will also increase.

        “In this case, the ministry of trade and the ministry of transportation need to cooperate to convert fuel-generated vehicles into electric vehicles. They also need to accelerate the creation of a mass transportation system and prepare fuel-free roads for bicycles and electric- or gas-vehicles in all cities in the country,” he said.

        In the meantime, coordination with the ministry of finance is also needed to provide fiscal incentives. And what is more important is that the minister for energy and mineral resources should refer the management of the country’s mineral resources to the message of the 1945 Constitution, particularly article 33. This is because most of the oil mining activities in the upstream areas are now dominated by foreigners.

        In this case, the energy and mineral resources minister should take a clear stand in taking sides with the national interest and it should be supported by all stake-holders so that the management of oil and gas wells will in stages be taken over from foreigners.

        “This will have extra-ordinary multiplier effects. Not to mention if the take-over from foreigners is done in the down stream areas, including supportive industries,” he said.***2*** (T.A014/A/H-NG/a014)

Jakarta, Oct 23 (ANTARA) – The government in the past five years has focused its infrastructure development in Java, while infrastructure in disadvantaged regions outside Java has yet to be developed maximally so that people’s prosperity could not yet be developed evenly. 
        Therefore, the next government must give serious attention to the development of infrastructure outside Java in order to stimulate economic activities in the regions which in fact have big economic potentials.

        “I hope the next government will give serious attention to development of infrastructure networks in an effort to galvanize economic activities in the regions,” former industry minister Fahmi Idris said.

        The same expectation was raised by Revrisond Baswir, economic observer of Gajah Mada University (UGM), who said that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s Second United Indonesia Cabinet (UIC) which was inaugurated on Thursday for the 2009 – 2014 term should be serious in developing infrastructure in disadvantaged regions outside Java so that the people’s prosperity would be developed evenly.

        According to Baswir, the development of infrastructure so far has been focused on certain regions without being based on approaches to the problems. That’s why the efforts were less effective.

        “Infrastructure development must be given particular attention by the Second United Indonesia Cabinet in its 2009 – 2014 term because the First United Indonesia Cabinet has not yet maximally handled this sector in the last five years,” Bawsir said.

        Another perspective is needed in developing the infrastructure problem such as the application of the concept of equitable distribution of development in disadvantaged regions. And this must be discussed with the relevant agencies, such as the National Development Planning Board (Bappenas), the Ministry of Public Works and the Ministry of Disadvantaged Regions.

        However, the First UIC for the 2004 -2009 period ignored this matter. The infrastructures it was handling were only those in big cities such as Jakarta while those in the regions were ignored.

        If the infrastructure networks in least developed regions are developed, the prosperity of the people in these regions would be improved and economic development would spread evenly.

        “I am basically pessimistic about the Second UIC for the 2009-2014 term. I wonder whether it will be able to make changes for the better. I think the conditions ahead will not be different from those exisitng in the past five years,” he said.

        The lack of infrastructure development outside Java is also acknowledged by former industry minister Fahmi Idris. He said that the lack of infrastructures outside Java was the main reason for the government’s inability to optimize the development of natural resources in regions outside Java.

        “Sumatra, Kalimantan and Papua are rich in natural resources but these regions could not develop because of lack of infrastructure,” Fahmi Idris said.

        He said that even though Sumatra already had the Eastern and Western Trans-highways, those in Java were much better. The same thing was also true in Kalimantan, where economic potentials could not be maximally tapped due to the lack of infrastructure.

        “Because Kalimantan’s infrastructures are not yet developed well, its economy could not yet be developed well either,” Fahmi said.

        That’s why, the industrial sector outside Java is facing difficulties to be progressive. It lacks infrastructures. “Infrastructure is one of the main constraints faced in boosting the growth of industries,” he said.

        Virtually, the government is determined to develop infrastructures in an effort to boost the country’s economic growth.

        Based on the estimate of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), Indonesia will need a fund of Rp2,855 – Rp2,910 trillion to finance its infrastructure development in the 2010 – 2014 period.

        According to former minister of national development planning/former head of Bappenas, Paskah Suzetta, the government will stimulate investment in infrastructure development in order to boost economic growth to about 6-7 percent in the coming five years.

        “We hope for a total investment of Rp2,000 trillion while actually we will have an investment of about Rp1,600 trillion in the coming five years in order to achieve this growth,” he said.

        Owing to the big investment needed to develop infrastructure, the government has to promote its infrastructure development to the private sector as it could only finance 30 percent of the total funds needed for the projects.

        About 70 percent of the infrastructure projects are expected to be financed by private companies, among others through a private public placement (PPP) scheme.

        “The government will support the PPP scheme by providing a good regulation. It is revising its regulation No. 67 on the government’s guarantee,” Suzetta said.***2*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/A/S012) 21:15/…. ) (T.A014/A/A014/A/S012) 23-10-2009 21:19:38

Jakarta, Oct 20 (ANTARA) – Many parties have opposed the nomination of Boediono as vice president even though the former Bank Indonesia governor has tried several times to explain he is not what his critics say about him.    The opposition seems to still exist as shown by the rallies by students and activists in a number of regions when President-elect Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Vice President-elect Boediono were officially installed on Tuesday.

        Initially, at least 14 groups of students from various elements would hold rallies outside the Parliament building where the presidential inauguration was held. However, about 17,000 security personnel from the police and the military were deployed to safeguard the event. They managed to prevent demonstrators from coming closer to the Parliament building.

        According to the Jakarta Police’s Traffic Management Center (TMC), at least 15 groups of various elements had given notice of their plans to stage rallies, of which 14 would be held in front of the Parliament building.

        The demonstrators among others held rallies in Jl HR Rasuna Said and in front of the ministry of manpower and transmigration on Jalan Gatot Subroto, both in South Jakarta.

        Rallies also took place in other regions such as West Nusa Tenggra (NTT), several cities in East Java and in West Kalimantan.

        In Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara, a group of 100 students representing various campus elements demonstrated on Jalan Udayana criticizing the performance of Yudhoyono’s government in the past five years.

        Field coordinator L Joni Suryadi said Yudhoyono’s leadership had failed to bring prosperity to the people. There were still groups of people who were suffering from poverty. Seizure of people’s land often happened while big companies were given a chance to monopolize vast expanses of land.

        In Bandung, West Java, about 400 demonstrators from the Bandung Students Executive Board (BEM) Bandung had planed to launch a rally in Jakarta during the inauguration but they were foiled by police.

        “Police blocked 10 buses which we had planned to use to go to Jakarta and thet sent the buses back to their owners” coordinator of the All-Bandung BEM, Mei Susnato, said. He said that some students had already gotten on the buses but police asked them to get down again.

        Bandung Police Headquarters’ chief Senior Commissioner Imam Budi Supeno said his side had not forbidden the students to travel to Jakarta. “We did not forbid then to go to Jakarta but why should they go at a time like this,” Supeno said.

        He said his side had deployed over 1,000 personnel to maintain security during the installation of Yudhoyono as president.

        Similar rallies were also held by students and activists in East Java. About 150 poor people who were grouped in the People’s Front for the Indonesian Poor (FSRMI) demonstrated around the Submarine Monument (Monkasel) in Jalan Pemuda to express their objections to what they called “neo-liberalist” programs.

        “We are calling on SBY and Boediono not to continue neo-liberalist programs. Neoliberalist polices have brought hardship to the people,” rally spokesman Hendraven said.

        On the sidelines of the rally –attended by activists from Malang, Mojokerto, Jombang, Ngawi, Madiun and other districts in East Java– Hendraven accused Yudhoyono and Boediono of having implemented the concept of neo-liberalism. He mentioned that some state assets had been sold through foreign capital investment. Likewise, the Bank Century case had also caused a loss of Rp6.7 trillion to the state, he said.

        Other sectors such as employment and health had also been liberalized. Employment was liberalized through the legalization of the work contract system while liberalization of the health sector had caused the health care service to become expensive.

        “Therefore, we are calling on Yudhoyono’s government to stop its programs which are neolib in nature by lifting pro-neolib laws such as Law No. 12 / 2003 on Manpower, Law No. 22 / 2001 on Oil and Gas, Law No. 25 / 2007 on Capital Investment, Law No. 9 / 2009 on BHP (legal entity status of education) and other laws on special economic zones,” he said

        Rallies also took place in the East Java town of Malang. About 500 students demonstrated in front of the local Legislative Assembly (DPRD) and of the office of the Malang city mayor.

        “We are not rejecting the inauguration but we are calling on the next government to adopt a firmer stance. We have to guard the government in the next five years,” Hendra Wibisono, one of the demonstrators, said.

        He said that the government in the next five years would face a steep road because it was not balanced where the opposition strength was almost meaningless. “The grand coalition being built by the Democrat Party is not balanced with the strength of an opposition,” he said.

        Therefore, the only power that could balance the government in the next five years is the extra-parliamentary power or street parliament, he said.

        In the meantime, in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, tens of students held a rally around the University of Tanjung Pura (Untan) to warn the people of neo-liberalist concepts.

        The students were grouped in the Indonesian Muslim Students Action Front (KAMMI) for West Kalimantan. KAMMI field coordinator Rohsyandi Sandika said the victory of the Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono – Boediono pair (SBY-Boediono) happened amid the crisis that occurred due to imperialism.

        The students said they rejected any intervention into the efforts made by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to fight corruption. So, they were against the scrapping of the KPK rules by the issuance of a new law on corruption crimes which had the potential to give a chance to the rebirth of corrupters.

        “We are holding this rally without any intention to oppose the government but to guard the new administration so that it will be free from corruption, collusion and nepotism,” he said. ***1*** (T.014/A/HAJM/22:30/a014)

        (T.A014/A/A014/A/A014) 20-10-2009 22:39:30

Jakarta, Oct 18 (ANTARA) – Though he has begun on Saturday fit-and-proper tests on some prospective ministers for his second edition United Indonesia Cabinet, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is still waiting for the decision of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) whether or not it will joint his Democratic Party (PD) coalition.

        “If PDIP decides to join the coalition a ministerial post will be made available for it but if it takes the opposition stance the ministerial post will go to other party,” PD Deputy General Chairman Achmad Mubarok said.

        He said Yudhoyono who is the chief patron of PD, would wait PDIP’s decision until Tuesday evening (October 20, 2009), the last minutes before he finally announces the composition of his cabinet for the 2009-2014 term.

        Mubarok said the president was likely to provide one or two ministerial posts for PDIP in the second edition United Indonesia Cabinet if it decided to join the coalition, but the decision must be made by PDIP leader Megawati Soekarnoputri, not by its cadres.

        Earlier, an SMS tax message circulated among journalists from Arisa Junaedi, a staffer of Megawati. Megawati, through the SMS message sent on her behalf, stressed that the aim of a political party was to fight for the people’s aspirations not for a temporary interest. “Therefore, I call on the 94 PDIP cadres in the House of Representatives (DPR) to remain independent.”

        The problem now being faced by PDIP is a division with regard its opposition stand against the government. While PDIP is willing to maintain its opposition, there is an idea to ask PDIP Secretary General Pramono Anung (now a DPR deputy), associate chairwoman Puan Maharani, daughter of Megawati, and PDIP senior figure Tjahyo Kumolo to join Yudhoyono’s cabinet.

        “There are many PDIP cadres who are qualified for a ministerial post. But Megawai has made such a statement, I could not reject it. But if the cadres are asked to fill in a post in the cabinet, Megawati may not either reject it,” Taufik Kiemas who has been named chairman of the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) and who is also Megawati’s own husband, said.

        Yudhoyono’s offer to PDIP to join his government’s coalition is basically an attempt to control the majority votes in the DPR. He wants to make sure he can run the country over the next five years without political trouble.

        “To ensure that his administration in the next five years will be stable and secure, political support in the executive as well as legislative branches must be made dominant,” observer Muhammad Qodari, executive director of Indo Barometer, said.

        Virtually, with its coalition formed before the presidential elections, PD has controlled 56.07 percent (314 seats) of the House of Representatives. But this is not yet considered safe. That is why PD is keen on coalescing with Golkar Party (with 107 seats in the House) and PDIP (95 seats).

        Golkar has officially declared its decision to join Yudhoyono’s coalition. The coalition was the result of Golkar’s first meeting led by its new general chairman, Aburizal Bakrie Thursday after the party held its national congress in Pekanbaru, Riau province recently.

        According to Qodari, the PD-led coalition without Golkar and PDIP will have only 314 votes in the DPR or 56.07 percent of the House membership and this is still unsafe for the stability of Yudhoyono’s administration in the coming five years. If one of the supporting parties reneged on its commitment to support him, Yudhoyono’s power base in the parliament could drop to less than 50 percent and this was not safe.

        Therefore, Qodari said, Yudhoyono was still making efforts to include the Golkar Party and PDIP in his coalition. Golkar with 107 seats in the parliament had already agreed to support him but he still had yet to get the support of PDIP that had 95 seats in the parliament.

        However, considering that PDIP’s chief Megawati Soekarnoputri had remained silent over Yudhoyono’s overtures, Qodari predicted PDIP would choose to stay out of the next administration.

        He said if PDIP stayed out of the government while Golkar coalesced with the government, the votes that would support the next government in the parliament could reach 421 or 75.17 percent while the votes outside the coalition, namely from PDIP, Gerindra and Hanura would total 139.

        “With this equation, Yudhoyono’s government in the next five years will be safe and stable,” he said. However, in practical politics communications among the supporting parties could not be guaranteed to be always harmonious but could be dynamic in line with their respective interests.

        Supposed that PDIP in last minutes decides to join his coalition government, President Yudhoyono will practically face no major opposition in running his government. With a parliament mostly consisting of representatives of pro-government parties, parliamentary control over the government would never be strong enough because it was not likely that these parties would be able to exercise effective supervision over their own cadres in the government.

        Therefore, extra-parliamentary forces like academics, the press and non-governmental organizations should play a greater role in watching over the new government as Yudhoyono is to have “single majority” clout in the parliament, political observer Mikael Tommy Susu of the Political and Social Sciences of the Unika Widya Mandira University, said.

        “Therefore, the only parties that are expected to be able to watch over the conduct of the government are academics who are still neutral, non-governmental organization activists and the press. Only these forces will be free to counter-balance the big parties coalescing with the Yudhoyono government over the next five years,” Mikael said.***1*** (T.A014/A/f001) (T.A014/A/A014/A/F001) 18-10-2009 11:46:44