Asia Pacific Voices » indonesia

Malaysia to hang three Indonesian drug traffickers

Pim-orn — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 07:47:40 +0000

On July 18, the Malaysian High Court sentenced three Indonesian men to death for drug trafficking. Amri Alamsyah, aged 42; Iskandar Ibrahim, aged 33; and Muham¬madiah Hassan, aged 31; all from Aceh, were arrested in April 2005, and found guilty of trafficking 1,858.6 grams of cannabis in front of a motorcycle shop on Jalan Kampung Baru in Sungai Petani. The drugs were found in a plastic bag on the floor of the car Amri was driving.

When making their defense, the three testified that they were waiting to meet with a man at a restaurant in Sungai Petani for a roof repair job when they were arrested. They also claimed to only knew of the cannabis when it was shown to them at the police headquarter after the arrest. However, provided the proofs from the witnesses, Justice Datuk Zamani A. Rahim rejected their claims, and announced the death sentence.

The men remained calm when the sentence was delivered. It is reported, however, that they are set to appeal against the conviction soon.

Three Indonesians to hang for drug trafficking [The Star, 19 July 2010]

Thirteen countries meet in Bali to discuss tiger conservation

Pim-orn — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 02:34:47 +0000

Delegates from 13 countries are meeting in Bali, Indonesia from 12-14 July at the Pre-Tiger Summit Partners’ Dialogue to discuss plans to prevent tiger extinction. The meeting, sponsored by the World Bank’s Global Tiger Initiatives program, is attended by senior officials from countries which still have wild tiger population, namely India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, China, Russia, Laos, Cambodia, Burma, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, as well as non-governmental organizations. The meeting will serve as a preparatory meeting for the upcoming Tiger Summit for Heads of Governments in St. Petersburg, Russia, in September.

In his opening remark on July 12, Indonesia Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan highlighted that now is the critical time to act against tiger extinction. Global tiger population is currently estimated at 3,200, an all-time low record, with only six sub-species remaining out of nine. More rigorous law enforcement is required from all countries to put an end to massive habitat destruction and illegal trading, the main threats to tiger population in the wild.

Global plan to rescue tigers being formulated [The Jakarta Post, 12 July 2010]
Countries Meet In Effort to Tackle Illegal Tiger Trade [Jakarta Globe, 12 July 2010]

Indonesia puts on hold plan for nuclear power plant

Pim-orn — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 04:09:35 +0000

The President of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on June 18 that his government currently has no plan for a nuclear power plant, and that the discussion on the topic is temporarily halted. Future governments may finally reconsider such a plan, “but for now, the current government has no definitive plan for that,” Yudhoyono explained.

For many years, Indonesia has been envisioning a nuclear power plant as a solution to the over-dependence on non-renewable energy sources such as coal, oil, and gas, on which the country relies for electricity generation. In 2004, Yudhoyono ordered a careful study on nuclear energy, then in 2006 he finally announced a plan that a nuclear power plant will be completed by 2016 in Jepara, Central Java.

However, the government has since faced with various oppositions to the plan. Local NGOs and Greenpeace staged a rally against the proposal in 2007, while Singapore, Malaysia, and Australia raised concerns that such plan will bring Indonesia a step closer to producing nuclear weapons. Experts also pointed out serious dangers due to high volcanic and seismic risks in the region. In mentioning these negative reactions during the interview on June 18, Yudhoyono noted that “we need to be very careful. We are not sure whether people in Indonesia – as well as people of other countries – would welcome such a nuclear plant.”

No plans for nuclear power in Indonesia [The Straits Times, 19 June 2010]
President says nuclear power plant not a priority [The Jakarta Post, 19 June 2010]

Indonesia Finance Minister Sri Mulyani quits

Lim May-Ann — Thu, 06 May 2010 02:42:22 +0000

Indonesia’s Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has resigned from her post to join the World Bank as a Managing Director in June.

This move is a huge setback to Indonesia’s anti-corruption efforts, and sent share prices into a sharp drop following the announcement.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said of her resignation: "We are going to lose one of our best ministers."

Her resignation follows months of intense pressure from political enemies to quit, especially because of her alleged ties with the Bank Century graft case.

Analysts are saying that her announcement sent a shock through the market, and "investors have yet to see anyone credible to replace Sri Mulyani so they feel anxious."

The SIIA recognised Dr. Sri Mulyani one of ten leaders of Rising Asia in 2008.

Source:

Sri Mulyani quits, joins WB [Straits Times 6 May 2010]

Indon Finance Minister quits [TODAY, 6 May 2010]

From Finance Minister to World Bank MD [TODAY 6 May 2010]

Indonesia, Australia launch A$30 mln forest CO2 project

Phir — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 03:52:49 +0000

Indonesia and Australia launched a A$30 million project on Tuesday to fight deforestation in Sumatra as part of efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions and boost a planned forest-carbon trading scheme.

The project, to target Sumatra’s Jambi province that has suffered rapid deforestation, is the second joint venture between the neighbouring countries keen to learn how to save forests by giving local communities incentives to keep the trees standing.

Australia and Indonesia are major supporters of a U.N. backed scheme that could potentially channel billions of dollars to developing nations that preserve and enhance their forests.

Called reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD), developing countries would earn money from carbon credits sourced from forest preservation projects by selling them to rich nations that must meet mandated emission reduction targets.

The U.N. hopes the scheme will start from 2013 as part of a broader climate pact to succeed the existing Kyoto Protocol.

Source:

Indonesia, Australia launch A$30 mln forest CO2 project [Reuter India]

Indonesia: police to deploy thousands for Dec. 9 anti-graft protest

Bill Hatch — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 02:55:23 +0000

In the latest development in the ongoing anticorruption saga in Indonesia, thousands of police officers will be deployed to maintain order at an expected anti-graft protest tomorrow in Jakarta. The protests will coincide with World Anti-Corruption Day.

Popular pressure in Indonesia continues to mount over corruption allegations against the Yudhoyono government. The president has been slow to discipline the officials involved, causing onlookers to call his actions “out of touch” with the strong Indonesian sentiment against anticorruption.

Source: AFP (through Channel NewsAsia), “Indonesia police to deploy thousands for anti-graft protest”, December 9, 2009, http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/1023500/1/.html

Indonesia to drop charges against anti-graft officials

SIIA — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 02:07:28 +0000

JAKARTA – Indonesia’s attorney general will drop allegedly bogus charges against two senior anti-graft investigators at the centre of a bitter feud with police, an official said Monday.

The culmination of a scandal that has gripped the nation for months is expected Tuesday when a Jakarta court is scheduled to approve an order to terminate the police probe, the official said.

“Their case will be stopped as it’s legally unworthy to be brought to the court,” Attorney General’s Office deputy for special crimes Marwan Effendi told
reporters.

Click here to read the full article

Source: AFP (through Channel NewsAsia), “Indonesia to drop charges against anti-graft officials,” November 30, 2009, http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/1021588/1/.html