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Showing posts from March, 2010

Whoever became Indonesia President, Little people will always suffer

These days taxi driver Rusdi often earns little more than 50,000 rupiah (US$5.50) for driving a 17-hour shift through Jakarta's congested traffic. The increased cost of petrol is stealing a large chunk of his income. The Indonesian government decided in May to raise fuel prices by 30 percent, forcing Rusdi to spend significantly more on petrol, but the taxi company for which he works has neither increased fares nor reduced his daily fee to drive the taxi. "My company doesn't care about our problems," he told IRIN. "Now we're the ones who have to subsidise fuel for the company." The additional charges for petrol, plus the costs of repairs and the daily cab rental fee, are forcing taxi drivers like Rusdi to work longer and longer hours. When the government raised fuel prices, the move sparked protests throughout the country where millions of poor people were already hit by rising food prices. An increase in fuel costs means higher prices of essential commo

US-Indonesian ties will require

Indonesia is weighing the pros and cons of a new strategic partnership with the United States ahead of President Barack Obama's visit scheduled for March 20. The two sides are expected to sign a comprehensive agreement that some analysts believe could signal a strategic shift in US policy towards the region. More cooperation on issues such as security, education, infrastructure development and climate change are all in the cards as Washington bids to shore up ties with a country that has seen extraordinary democratic gains since President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono first took office in 2004. Indonesia is a symbolically attractive partner in Washington in light of the significant backsliding in democracy and human rights seen in recent years with its traditional strategic regional allies, Thailand and the Philippines. Efforts by the United States to draw closer to Indonesia also reflect the perceived need in Washington for a stable partner in the 10-member Association of Southeast Asi

the controversial Bank Century bailout

INDONESIAN politics was in uproar yesterday after a parliamentary vote on the controversial Bank Century bailout revealed almost all support had ebbed from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's ruling coalition. After a marathon sitting, the house declared by 325 votes to 212 on Wednesday night that last year's 6.7 trillion rupiah (about $800 million) bailout was illegal. Dr Yudhoyono's Democrat Party and the uninfluential National Mandate Party of former "reformasi" hero Amien Rais had been the only ones pushing a resolution backing the bank rescue deal. However, despite wild fisticuffs on the floor of the house preceding the decision, and a sense of gloom pervading analysts' views of it yesterday, there were also warnings that the development was "entirely meaningless" ."This has no legal import whatsoever, and is simply an argument that the people in the (parliament) are having with themselves," said Australian academic and Indonesia law