INDONESIA A NEWS

The Indonesian government has told the United Nations not to impose harsh sanction against Iran in connection with the Country's nuclear development because it could spark new problem later. "Both Iran and five permanent members of the United Nations' Security Council have to reach best solution without imposing harsh and excessive sanctions," President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was quoted by Antara news agency as sayingFriday. The president was speaking in an unscheduled press conference Friday. Yudhoyono said he closely followed the progress in the UN Security Council on Iran issue through Indonesian Ambassador in the world body Rezlan Ishar Jenie. The president also contacted South Africa and Iranian leaders discuss the issue. He said that Indonesia and South Africa would continue their diplomatic effort to solve dispute between Iran and five permanent members of UN Security Council. Speaking about the draft of UN Security Council resolution against Iran, Yudhoyono

Corrupted pipe dreams in Indonesia By Bill Guerin JAKARTA -The opening of a new US$1.1 billion gas pipeline would appear to mark a rejuvenation of Indonesia's until now woefully inefficient natural-gas sector and boost the fortunes of publicly listed, majority state-owned gas-distribution company PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (PGN). But enduring regulatory uncertainty and allegations of foul play among PGN's top managers threaten to scupper those prospects. After a four-month delay, PGN's 375-kilometer pipeline came on-stream on March 11. It represents the first segment of PGN's planned 1,101km South Sumatra West Java (SSWJ) gas-pipeline network. Two big take-or-pay contracts for a total of 3.3 trillion cubic feet of gas, including a 17-year deal with the United States' ConocoPhillips, as well as a 15-year arrangement with state-owned oil-and-gas company Pertamina, provide a guaranteed revenue stream. The new pipeline is scheduled to carry 30 million cubic feet of natura

All streets in the Indonesia's main resort of Bali Island were quiet Monday as residents celebrated the Hindu Day of Silence for 24 hours. During the Day of Silence, residents on the island, occupied by some 3.2 million of people are prohibited from igniting fire, carrying out any working activities, organizing entertainments, and traveling. Only traditional policemen or pecalang were allowed to walk along streets to monitor situation. They are authorized to arrest anyone, who violates those 'regulations' . Meanwhile, Elshinta radio reported that all seaports were closed Monday as no ferries were allowed to head to the island. Thousands of people, mostly migrant workers had leaved the island to have their holidays outside Bali

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has won high marks from both the United States and Australia for his government's efforts to combat terrorism, including the recent capture or elimination of at least 200 terror suspects. But a new front may be opening in strife-torn Sulawesi. Security analysts have noted that since the elite counter-terrorism Detachment 88, supplied and trained by the US and Australia, ramped up its counter-terrorism operations, there have over the past 18 months conspicuously been no new major terrorist attacks against local or Western targets. Now, however, a dangerous new front is opening in the Poso area of Central Sulawesi province that threatens to spiral into a new regional security hot spot and raises new questions about the effectiveness of Indonesia's anti-terrorism operations. Fear, loathing and violence are not new to religiously divided Poso. An estimated 2,000 people were killed in communal fighting between Muslims and Christians in t

The Attorney General's Office (AGO) will submit the banning of history book containing the 2004 curriculum, which was related to the incident of the September 30, 1965, Movement, to the publisher.According to Deputy Attorney General for Intelligence Muchtar Arifin, since the verdict of the AGO on the banning of the history book was announced in the state journal, the general public is considered to have taken notice of the banning."The sanction over the supply and circulation of Junior and Senior High School students' books containing the 2004 curriculum was validated last Friday," he said on Monday (03/12). The mechanism of the book removal, Muchtar explained, will be implemented by officials under the Attorney General. "There are senior attorneys and district attorneys that will carry this out," said Muchtar, adding that the large cost of removal, he added, will be coordinated later.The history book has been removed since it did not mention the PKI (the In

Indonesia's already faltering war against corruption risks grinding to a total halt if a new anti-corruption draft law now circulating in Parliament and executive offices is finally passed. In its present form, the draft legislation boldly calls for the abolition of the recently established Corruption Court, which would in turn render the already understaffed and underfinanced five-member Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) a toothless tiger. The two independent institutions had been widely credited with taking the fight to Indonesia's endemic culture of official graft and corruption, which has resulted in a handful of high-profile convictions. The Corruption Court started to have impact soon after President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono rose to power in 2004 and declared a high-profile war on graft. According to Transparency International, a global corruption watchdog, Indonesia consistently ranks among the most corrupt country in the world. That has historically diverted subst