[I think last semester I posted up an article about a few people being infected by Polio in Indonesia, which hasn't been in the country for years. This is the follow up of what Indonesia is doing to prevent Polio.]
Indonesia begins huge polio drive
Article by Ania Lichtarowicz
Indonesia is launching its largest ever immunisation campaign against polio, which is expected to reach 24 million children under the age of five.
The country was free of the disease for 10 years - but in March 2005 the virus paralysed a 20-month-old boy in Java.
Since then 225 Indonesian children have been paralysed by polio which was imported from Sudan.
The World Health Organization warns the virus could spread to countries like Malaysia, China and the Philippines.
Setback
More than 750,000 health care workers and volunteers are involved in the initiative stretching across 6,000 islands in Indonesia.
If the virus was to spread to other countries, this would be another setback for the global polio eradication initiative.
Since 2003, 18 previously polio-free countries have been re-infected with the virus.
Two more vaccination campaigns are planned in September and November, by which point the world will know if the target of stopping transmission by the end of this year will be met.
Taken from BBC News
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Sunday, August 28, 2005
Aussies flout law: Bali drug pushers target tourists
AUSTRALIAN tourists continue to flout Indonesia's harsh and unforgiving drug laws, despite the risk of a 15-year jail term.
An investigation by The Sunday Times found Australian tourists were ignoring the fate of Schapelle Corby, the Bali Nine and now model Michelle Leslie, and remain the "best customers" for drugs, according to Bali's street dealers.
The investigation revealed the trade was flourishing, with tourists buying ecstasy pills and marijuana from roadside dealers and in nightclubs.
Many young Australians still believe that minor transgressions – buying an ecstasy pill or smoking marijuana – will be leniently dealt with or even ignored by Balinese authorities.
Some believe they can bribe their way out of trouble if they are caught.
Within hours of arriving in Bali, Australians are targeted by street dealers who openly tout for business, despite a police anti-drug campaign.
One drug supplier told The Sunday Times that business was booming with young backpackers.
"For now, we are busy because many tourists now come," he said through an interpreter.
He said he sold marijuana, ecstasy and shabu-shabu (crystal methamphetamine) to dealers who distributed it on the streets or at bars and nightclubs to tourists, mainly Australians.
"They are almost always Australians. Ecstasy is the most popular," he said.
The Sunday Times was approached in broad daylight on five occasions in six minutes to buy drugs. The offers continued later in the evening.
A 21-year-old Perth man said he and his mate bought two ecstasy pills on Wednesday night from a taxi driver in Kuta.
"I thought if I get caught I'd just pay the cops off," he said.
"We're probably going to get some more tomorrow."
He said he was aware of the arrest of Miss Leslie, though he thought she had been caught on the plane over.
"I was a bit worried, but it was four in the morning, we were drunk and we made sure there were no cops following us. Then as soon as we got them we munched them straight away," he said.
On Kuta's streets, an ecstasy pill costs about 125,000 Indonesia rupiah (about $A16), a small bag of marijuana 300 rupiah and shabu-shabu 300,000 rupiah ($A38).
The drug supplier named a bar and a nightclub in Kuta, frequented by Australians, where ecstasy and marijuana were openly sold by street dealers and even staff.
He said the pushers knew who to target.
"They ask them, `Do you want something?' and then they take you outside and get the deal."
But he said dealers had been forced to be more careful because of increasing police stings. He said on most occasions when tourists were nabbed they could bribe their way out. But Bali police were occasionally looking for a "trophy prize", such as this week's arrest of Miss Leslie.
Adolescent psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg said that when young people travelled to countries like Bali they entered a kind of suspended reality, which made them "incredibly susceptible" to drug pushers.
"I think they genuinely believe that nothing will ever happen to them," Dr Carr-Gregg said.
"This is an age of immense naivety and their capacity to weigh up risks and to make an intelligent assessment is not yet fully formed."
Sydney couple Matt Dyke, 25, and Sam Kerr, 20, were overwhelmed by offers of drugs.
"They come up to us at least every day," Mr Dyke said.
"It's mostly the people on the street. They go, `Transport, transport' and then, `Marijuana, magic mushrooms. Good price'. "
It was the couple's first overseas trip and their families had drummed into them the need to be careful.
"Considering the laws here and the death penalty, it's pretty frequently offered. It's out of control," he said.
Taken from The Sunday Times (28 August 2005)
An investigation by The Sunday Times found Australian tourists were ignoring the fate of Schapelle Corby, the Bali Nine and now model Michelle Leslie, and remain the "best customers" for drugs, according to Bali's street dealers.
The investigation revealed the trade was flourishing, with tourists buying ecstasy pills and marijuana from roadside dealers and in nightclubs.
Many young Australians still believe that minor transgressions – buying an ecstasy pill or smoking marijuana – will be leniently dealt with or even ignored by Balinese authorities.
Some believe they can bribe their way out of trouble if they are caught.
Within hours of arriving in Bali, Australians are targeted by street dealers who openly tout for business, despite a police anti-drug campaign.
One drug supplier told The Sunday Times that business was booming with young backpackers.
"For now, we are busy because many tourists now come," he said through an interpreter.
He said he sold marijuana, ecstasy and shabu-shabu (crystal methamphetamine) to dealers who distributed it on the streets or at bars and nightclubs to tourists, mainly Australians.
"They are almost always Australians. Ecstasy is the most popular," he said.
The Sunday Times was approached in broad daylight on five occasions in six minutes to buy drugs. The offers continued later in the evening.
A 21-year-old Perth man said he and his mate bought two ecstasy pills on Wednesday night from a taxi driver in Kuta.
"I thought if I get caught I'd just pay the cops off," he said.
"We're probably going to get some more tomorrow."
He said he was aware of the arrest of Miss Leslie, though he thought she had been caught on the plane over.
"I was a bit worried, but it was four in the morning, we were drunk and we made sure there were no cops following us. Then as soon as we got them we munched them straight away," he said.
On Kuta's streets, an ecstasy pill costs about 125,000 Indonesia rupiah (about $A16), a small bag of marijuana 300 rupiah and shabu-shabu 300,000 rupiah ($A38).
The drug supplier named a bar and a nightclub in Kuta, frequented by Australians, where ecstasy and marijuana were openly sold by street dealers and even staff.
He said the pushers knew who to target.
"They ask them, `Do you want something?' and then they take you outside and get the deal."
But he said dealers had been forced to be more careful because of increasing police stings. He said on most occasions when tourists were nabbed they could bribe their way out. But Bali police were occasionally looking for a "trophy prize", such as this week's arrest of Miss Leslie.
Adolescent psychologist Michael Carr-Gregg said that when young people travelled to countries like Bali they entered a kind of suspended reality, which made them "incredibly susceptible" to drug pushers.
"I think they genuinely believe that nothing will ever happen to them," Dr Carr-Gregg said.
"This is an age of immense naivety and their capacity to weigh up risks and to make an intelligent assessment is not yet fully formed."
Sydney couple Matt Dyke, 25, and Sam Kerr, 20, were overwhelmed by offers of drugs.
"They come up to us at least every day," Mr Dyke said.
"It's mostly the people on the street. They go, `Transport, transport' and then, `Marijuana, magic mushrooms. Good price'. "
It was the couple's first overseas trip and their families had drummed into them the need to be careful.
"Considering the laws here and the death penalty, it's pretty frequently offered. It's out of control," he said.
Taken from The Sunday Times (28 August 2005)
Rights group condemns caning of two women in Aceh for violating Islamic law
JAKARTA (AP): A leading human rights group on Sunday condemned as "insane" an Islamic court's caning of two unmarried couples in Aceh province for drinking alcohol and being alone together after dark.
They were the latest Aceh residents to fall foul of new regulations that give the staunchly Muslim province the right to impose a version of Islamic Shariah law.
The women fainted after being beaten 40 times on Friday outside a mosque in central Aceh, witnesses said. They were taken to a hospital, but had no serious injuries.
"We protest this insane sentence, and it should be reviewed by the Supreme Court," said Ifdhal Kasim of the rights organization ELSHAM. "It violates Indonesia's constitution that outlaws corporal punishment, torture and humiliation (of prisoners)."
The four were arrested late at night last month and found guilty by an Islamic court of violating laws prohibiting the consumption of alcohol and unmarried couples being together in private places. It was not clear where they were detained.
The latter law is aimed at preventing premarital sex, seen as sin in Islam.
Aceh is the only province Indonesia that has implemented Shariah. The first caning in Aceh occurred in June, with the flogging of 15 men convicted of gambling.(*)
Taken from The Jakarta Post
They were the latest Aceh residents to fall foul of new regulations that give the staunchly Muslim province the right to impose a version of Islamic Shariah law.
The women fainted after being beaten 40 times on Friday outside a mosque in central Aceh, witnesses said. They were taken to a hospital, but had no serious injuries.
"We protest this insane sentence, and it should be reviewed by the Supreme Court," said Ifdhal Kasim of the rights organization ELSHAM. "It violates Indonesia's constitution that outlaws corporal punishment, torture and humiliation (of prisoners)."
The four were arrested late at night last month and found guilty by an Islamic court of violating laws prohibiting the consumption of alcohol and unmarried couples being together in private places. It was not clear where they were detained.
The latter law is aimed at preventing premarital sex, seen as sin in Islam.
Aceh is the only province Indonesia that has implemented Shariah. The first caning in Aceh occurred in June, with the flogging of 15 men convicted of gambling.(*)
Taken from The Jakarta Post
Report: Indonesia will introduce random drug tests of tourists
CANBERRA (AP): Indonesian police on the vacation island of Bali will introduce random drug testing of tourists, an Australian newspaper reported on Sunday.
Police will force patrons of nightclubs to take urine tests in an effort to stop the illicit drug trade, Bali drug squad police chief Bambang Sugiarto told The Sun Herald.
At least 11 Australians sit in Indonesian jail cells awaiting drug charges or trial.
Canberra began sending e-mails last week to thousands of Australians living and vacationing in Indonesia, warning that a police crackdown on drugs is under way.
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said on Sunday he supported Indonesia's tougher stance against illegal drugs.
"I think the Indonesians are right to crack down on drug use in Indonesia and drug trafficking," Downer told reporters in his home town of Adelaide.
"I agree with the Indonesians in this respect, in that I think drugs are wrong," he added.
Downer said Australians caught with illegal drugs would not be given any special treatment under the new testing regime.
He did not elaborate on the methods to be used by Indonesian authorities to conduct the drug tests.
The move comes two weeks after 24-year-old model Michelle Leslie was arrested at a dance party in Bali for allegedly carrying two ecstasy tablets in her Gucci bag.
The same day, Graham Clifford Payne, an Australian teaching English on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, was arrested while allegedly in possession of heroin and crystal meth.
Another nine Australians are in a Bali jail awaiting trial on heroin smuggling charges that could see them sentenced to death. (*)
Taken from The Jakarta Post
Police will force patrons of nightclubs to take urine tests in an effort to stop the illicit drug trade, Bali drug squad police chief Bambang Sugiarto told The Sun Herald.
At least 11 Australians sit in Indonesian jail cells awaiting drug charges or trial.
Canberra began sending e-mails last week to thousands of Australians living and vacationing in Indonesia, warning that a police crackdown on drugs is under way.
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said on Sunday he supported Indonesia's tougher stance against illegal drugs.
"I think the Indonesians are right to crack down on drug use in Indonesia and drug trafficking," Downer told reporters in his home town of Adelaide.
"I agree with the Indonesians in this respect, in that I think drugs are wrong," he added.
Downer said Australians caught with illegal drugs would not be given any special treatment under the new testing regime.
He did not elaborate on the methods to be used by Indonesian authorities to conduct the drug tests.
The move comes two weeks after 24-year-old model Michelle Leslie was arrested at a dance party in Bali for allegedly carrying two ecstasy tablets in her Gucci bag.
The same day, Graham Clifford Payne, an Australian teaching English on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, was arrested while allegedly in possession of heroin and crystal meth.
Another nine Australians are in a Bali jail awaiting trial on heroin smuggling charges that could see them sentenced to death. (*)
Taken from The Jakarta Post
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Second Australian facing drugs charges
11:32 AEST Tue Aug 23 2005
A 20-year-old Adelaide man is being held in Indonesia after police allegedly found a "broad array" of illicit drugs, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has revealed.
The man, a teacher who lives on the island of Sumatra, is being held for questioning and the drugs are undergoing tests, Mr Downer said.
He was identified by News Limited papers as Graham Clifford Payne.
Payne was arrested on Saturday and his parents had already arrived in Indonesia, the newspaper said.
"He apparently lives in Medan, which is in Sumatra, and he was found ... allegedly, with a quantity of drugs and that's now being investigated by the police," Mr Downer told ABC radio.
"He is being detained while that investigation takes place and if the investigation proves that these really are drugs then they'll charge him."
He is the second Australian to be arrested in Indonesia at the weekend on suspicion of drug offences.
Model Michelle Leslie - who is also Adelaide-born - is in custody while police test two tablets allegedly found in her possession at a Bali party.
Mr Downer said Australian authorities had been asked not to identify the drugs the man was allegedly found to have.
"We've been asked not to say at this stage but it is not just a question of ... tablets," he said.
"It is a broader array of drugs - at least allegedly, we don't know."
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said the Australian Honorary Consul in Medan was making arrangements to visit Payne to offer consular assistance.
News Limited papers said he was arrested after Indonesian police allegedly found him with four syringes and 2,126 assorted pills
Under Indonesia's tough drug laws, a person found guilty of narcotics possession faces up to 10 years in jail. A conviction for distribution of drugs carries the death penalty.
Meanwhile, tests are being carried out to determine if two tablets allegedly found in Leslie's possession in Bali are illicit drugs.
She was arrested during an undercover Bali police operation on Saturday at the GW Cultural Park near Kuta.
The Australian government says the 24-year-old, who works under the name of Michelle Lee, could face 10 years in jail if convicted.
"She was found carrying ecstasy, and so we detained her," said Inspector Bambang Sugiharto, from the police narcotics division on Bali island.
Taken from NineMSN News
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I can't believe some Australians can be so stupid. Haven't they learned anything from the Schapelle Corby and Bali 9 cases?!?!?!?!?
11:32 AEST Tue Aug 23 2005
A 20-year-old Adelaide man is being held in Indonesia after police allegedly found a "broad array" of illicit drugs, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has revealed.
The man, a teacher who lives on the island of Sumatra, is being held for questioning and the drugs are undergoing tests, Mr Downer said.
He was identified by News Limited papers as Graham Clifford Payne.
Payne was arrested on Saturday and his parents had already arrived in Indonesia, the newspaper said.
"He apparently lives in Medan, which is in Sumatra, and he was found ... allegedly, with a quantity of drugs and that's now being investigated by the police," Mr Downer told ABC radio.
"He is being detained while that investigation takes place and if the investigation proves that these really are drugs then they'll charge him."
He is the second Australian to be arrested in Indonesia at the weekend on suspicion of drug offences.
Model Michelle Leslie - who is also Adelaide-born - is in custody while police test two tablets allegedly found in her possession at a Bali party.
Mr Downer said Australian authorities had been asked not to identify the drugs the man was allegedly found to have.
"We've been asked not to say at this stage but it is not just a question of ... tablets," he said.
"It is a broader array of drugs - at least allegedly, we don't know."
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said the Australian Honorary Consul in Medan was making arrangements to visit Payne to offer consular assistance.
News Limited papers said he was arrested after Indonesian police allegedly found him with four syringes and 2,126 assorted pills
Under Indonesia's tough drug laws, a person found guilty of narcotics possession faces up to 10 years in jail. A conviction for distribution of drugs carries the death penalty.
Meanwhile, tests are being carried out to determine if two tablets allegedly found in Leslie's possession in Bali are illicit drugs.
She was arrested during an undercover Bali police operation on Saturday at the GW Cultural Park near Kuta.
The Australian government says the 24-year-old, who works under the name of Michelle Lee, could face 10 years in jail if convicted.
"She was found carrying ecstasy, and so we detained her," said Inspector Bambang Sugiharto, from the police narcotics division on Bali island.
Taken from NineMSN News
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I can't believe some Australians can be so stupid. Haven't they learned anything from the Schapelle Corby and Bali 9 cases?!?!?!?!?
Saturday, August 20, 2005
Some of the things Indonesians do during Independence Day
Indonesian boys having a water pillow fight
Indonesian men try to climb greased poles to win various prizes
Indonesian children dress up in traditional costume and march the streets
Flag celebration
Photos taken from Reuters, Yahoo News
Indonesian Independence Day
On August the 17th, independence day in Indonesia is celebrated. According to http://www.expat.or.id/info/aug17th.html, Indonesian Independence Day is supposed to be celebrated like this:
"The most solemn ceremony is the flag hoisting at the National Palace, televised live. Full of pomp and circumstance and conducted basically the same way each year, it is a spectacle of the greatest respect and honor for the flag and the Republic. The ceremonies are led by the President and Vice President, and attended by the cabinet, military brass, family members of the current and preceding president, diplomatic corps and honored guests. High School students from throughout the archipelago are chosen for their marching skills and put on a show of intricate steps and turns to hoist the flag. The military is out with all its brass in high shine, standing smartly at attention in their dress uniforms.
While the solemn ceremonies are taking place, neighborhoods gear up for fun and games for the kids. Krupuk (shrimp chips) eating contests, bike decorating, games, races and lots of fun fill the day. The women are busy in cooking contests to see who can make the biggest krupuk or the most delicious nasi tumpeng.
One of the most popular games is the Panjat Pinang. An Areca palm trunk is erected in a public area and well greased with a mixture of clay and oil. At the top are hung various prizes like bikes and TVs. Whoever makes it to the top wins the prize. Needless to say there are a lot of slippery, muddy kids and grownups alike climbing over each other and struggling to reach the goal. A good time is had by all, especially the crowd watching the gaiety. "
Sounds good to me! :) I think that's all cool, plus the recent news about peace plan or agreement between the President and the Aceh people is cool too. :)
"The most solemn ceremony is the flag hoisting at the National Palace, televised live. Full of pomp and circumstance and conducted basically the same way each year, it is a spectacle of the greatest respect and honor for the flag and the Republic. The ceremonies are led by the President and Vice President, and attended by the cabinet, military brass, family members of the current and preceding president, diplomatic corps and honored guests. High School students from throughout the archipelago are chosen for their marching skills and put on a show of intricate steps and turns to hoist the flag. The military is out with all its brass in high shine, standing smartly at attention in their dress uniforms.
While the solemn ceremonies are taking place, neighborhoods gear up for fun and games for the kids. Krupuk (shrimp chips) eating contests, bike decorating, games, races and lots of fun fill the day. The women are busy in cooking contests to see who can make the biggest krupuk or the most delicious nasi tumpeng.
One of the most popular games is the Panjat Pinang. An Areca palm trunk is erected in a public area and well greased with a mixture of clay and oil. At the top are hung various prizes like bikes and TVs. Whoever makes it to the top wins the prize. Needless to say there are a lot of slippery, muddy kids and grownups alike climbing over each other and struggling to reach the goal. A good time is had by all, especially the crowd watching the gaiety. "
Sounds good to me! :) I think that's all cool, plus the recent news about peace plan or agreement between the President and the Aceh people is cool too. :)
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Indonesian National Anthem
The national anthem of Indonesia, called Indonesia Raya, was created by Wage Rudolf Supratman. It was composed in 1928, and was first performed at the 2nd All Indonesian Youth Congress which was held on October 28th, 1928 in Jakarta.
IN INDONESIAN
Indonesia tanah airku
Tanah tumpah darahku
Disanalah aku berdiri
Jadi pandu ibuku
Indonesia kebangsaanku
Bangsa dan tanah airku
Marilah kita berseru
Indonesia bersatu
Hiduplah tanahku
Hiduplah negeriku
Bangsaku, rakyatku semuanya
Bangunlah jiwanya
Bangunlah badannya
Untuk Indonesia Raya
Indonesia Raya,
merdeka, merdeka
Tanahku, negeriku yang kucinta
Indonesia Raya,
merdeka, merdeka
Hiduplah Indonesia Raya
IN ENGLISH
Indonesia, my native land
My place of birth
Where I stand guard
Over my motherland
Indonesia, my nationality
My people and my country
Let us all cry
For united Indonesia
Long live my land
Long live my country
My nation and all my people
Arouse their spirit
Arouse their bodies
For Great Indonesia
Great Indonesia
Free and independent
The land, the country I love
Great Indonesia
Free and independent
Long live Indonesia
IN INDONESIAN
Indonesia tanah airku
Tanah tumpah darahku
Disanalah aku berdiri
Jadi pandu ibuku
Indonesia kebangsaanku
Bangsa dan tanah airku
Marilah kita berseru
Indonesia bersatu
Hiduplah tanahku
Hiduplah negeriku
Bangsaku, rakyatku semuanya
Bangunlah jiwanya
Bangunlah badannya
Untuk Indonesia Raya
Indonesia Raya,
merdeka, merdeka
Tanahku, negeriku yang kucinta
Indonesia Raya,
merdeka, merdeka
Hiduplah Indonesia Raya
IN ENGLISH
Indonesia, my native land
My place of birth
Where I stand guard
Over my motherland
Indonesia, my nationality
My people and my country
Let us all cry
For united Indonesia
Long live my land
Long live my country
My nation and all my people
Arouse their spirit
Arouse their bodies
For Great Indonesia
Great Indonesia
Free and independent
The land, the country I love
Great Indonesia
Free and independent
Long live Indonesia
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
The meaning of Independence
By Benny Susetyo
On Wednesday, Indonesia will celebrate its 60th Independence Day. Several generations have experienced various ups and downs in the process of building a nation out of Indonesia. The bad times Indonesia has experienced as a nation should serve as valuable lessons for us all.
Sadly, we still find it hard to learn from experience; in fact, we have almost never learned from experience or are frequently unwilling to do so. We are reluctant to learn from history, which often leads us to repeat the same mistakes.
A great nation is one that should be capable of "rereading" its history and making it the basis of its behavior. Studying history is the best way to reflect on the direction in which the country should be heading. It provides the foundation for nation-building. The country's history of injustice and colonialism should open our minds to the fact that this nation has to be built on the solid foundations of humanism and justice.
The Indonesia of today often forgets about these values as a result of the conduct of its elite. They frequently act in the name of the entire populace while in reality acting solely in their own interests. Indonesia is facing a crisis of values. Various areas of national expression have been reduced to mere materialistic values, which solely serve the logic of economic growth and political stability.
Redefining our Indonesian status means that we should view it from a new perspective in the context of global politics that tend to be oriented toward liberalism. The market ideology and neo-liberalism have converted the state into an institution that is no longer able to play a decisive role in determining its own future.
Global interests often dictate our policies. Indonesia should now realize that it is a mere tiny bolt in a global industrial power that dominates the life of nations. The state in the conventional sense no longer possesses its original power as its sovereignty is frequently circumscribed by the owners of capital.
Therefore, we are apt to forget: What is the nation already independent from? What are we independent for? These two fundamental questions reflect the unfinished work of independence. While we are independent, we in reality have only gained our freedom from conventional colonialism.
Reading history with a new paradigm means daring to say that as a nation our awareness remains critically weak. It is still founded on historical ties valued by the outgoing generation. The cohesion of our nationalism is not strong either as the younger generation do not feel the nation's unity to be part of their struggle.
Capitalism and its control of the media has changed the way of thinking in the world community so that life on earth is seemingly determined by what can be perceived by the five senses only. Men are intoxicated, losing their awareness of being human beings as their choices are now dictated by the media.
Technology has reduced the sovereignty of individuals, communities and even the state to systems that are built in a virtual framework. It is this virtual world that has overwhelmed sovereignty with technological systems merely to legitimize modernization. Modernity, wherever practiced, has disrupted the collective spirit and solidarity, which had previously united the nation.
For this reason, we should avoid attaching importance to history in the old fashion, by only looking at independence as a story of war and struggle. Without diminishing the merits of those involved, this myth will only blind us by physical prowess while in fact independence is the fruit of thought.
The state's basic orientation should be restructured in order to enable us to promptly respond to global changes. Independence should be able to make this nation more creative by producing opportunities for building strategic economic ties with, for instance, China and India. These two powers should at least be invited as strategic partners to establish a balance in the world economy, which is now dominated by neo-liberalism.
Independence has hitherto been a "myth". This needs to be changed into a framework for overhauling the nation's culture. Otherwise, the nation will be trapped in an attitude of glorifying past history without the courage to see it in the present context.
By adopting a new outlook, the nation's independence will not just be an abstract ideal that can only be understood by the older generation while ignoring the younger one. The nation's courage to contextualize history will give rise to a new Indonesia that is truly independent, not only from classical colonialism but also from neo-colonialism.
From The Jakarta Post
On Wednesday, Indonesia will celebrate its 60th Independence Day. Several generations have experienced various ups and downs in the process of building a nation out of Indonesia. The bad times Indonesia has experienced as a nation should serve as valuable lessons for us all.
Sadly, we still find it hard to learn from experience; in fact, we have almost never learned from experience or are frequently unwilling to do so. We are reluctant to learn from history, which often leads us to repeat the same mistakes.
A great nation is one that should be capable of "rereading" its history and making it the basis of its behavior. Studying history is the best way to reflect on the direction in which the country should be heading. It provides the foundation for nation-building. The country's history of injustice and colonialism should open our minds to the fact that this nation has to be built on the solid foundations of humanism and justice.
The Indonesia of today often forgets about these values as a result of the conduct of its elite. They frequently act in the name of the entire populace while in reality acting solely in their own interests. Indonesia is facing a crisis of values. Various areas of national expression have been reduced to mere materialistic values, which solely serve the logic of economic growth and political stability.
Redefining our Indonesian status means that we should view it from a new perspective in the context of global politics that tend to be oriented toward liberalism. The market ideology and neo-liberalism have converted the state into an institution that is no longer able to play a decisive role in determining its own future.
Global interests often dictate our policies. Indonesia should now realize that it is a mere tiny bolt in a global industrial power that dominates the life of nations. The state in the conventional sense no longer possesses its original power as its sovereignty is frequently circumscribed by the owners of capital.
Therefore, we are apt to forget: What is the nation already independent from? What are we independent for? These two fundamental questions reflect the unfinished work of independence. While we are independent, we in reality have only gained our freedom from conventional colonialism.
Reading history with a new paradigm means daring to say that as a nation our awareness remains critically weak. It is still founded on historical ties valued by the outgoing generation. The cohesion of our nationalism is not strong either as the younger generation do not feel the nation's unity to be part of their struggle.
Capitalism and its control of the media has changed the way of thinking in the world community so that life on earth is seemingly determined by what can be perceived by the five senses only. Men are intoxicated, losing their awareness of being human beings as their choices are now dictated by the media.
Technology has reduced the sovereignty of individuals, communities and even the state to systems that are built in a virtual framework. It is this virtual world that has overwhelmed sovereignty with technological systems merely to legitimize modernization. Modernity, wherever practiced, has disrupted the collective spirit and solidarity, which had previously united the nation.
For this reason, we should avoid attaching importance to history in the old fashion, by only looking at independence as a story of war and struggle. Without diminishing the merits of those involved, this myth will only blind us by physical prowess while in fact independence is the fruit of thought.
The state's basic orientation should be restructured in order to enable us to promptly respond to global changes. Independence should be able to make this nation more creative by producing opportunities for building strategic economic ties with, for instance, China and India. These two powers should at least be invited as strategic partners to establish a balance in the world economy, which is now dominated by neo-liberalism.
Independence has hitherto been a "myth". This needs to be changed into a framework for overhauling the nation's culture. Otherwise, the nation will be trapped in an attitude of glorifying past history without the courage to see it in the present context.
By adopting a new outlook, the nation's independence will not just be an abstract ideal that can only be understood by the older generation while ignoring the younger one. The nation's courage to contextualize history will give rise to a new Indonesia that is truly independent, not only from classical colonialism but also from neo-colonialism.
From The Jakarta Post
Yudhoyono backs Aceh peace deal
The government and the Free Aceh Movement (Gam) signed the agreement on Monday after six months of talks.
Mr Yudhoyono also spoke of finding a solution to another ongoing separatist conflict, in the province of Papua.
He made the remarks in an annual speech to parliament, a day before Indonesia marks 60 years of independence.
Mr Yudhoyono told parliament on Tuesday that everything agreed in the Aceh peace deal would be implemented on the ground.
Representatives from both the government and Gam signed the official peace accord in Helsinki on Monday.
In a commentary article for the International Herald Tribune on Tuesday, Mr Yudhoyono described the peace agreement as "a victory for the Acehnese, who have suffered for so long."
"We now have a golden opportunity to change Aceh for good. We cannot afford to squander it, because a chance for permanent peace does not come often in history," he wrote.
During his speech, Mr Yudhoyono also spoke about Papua, formerly known as Irian Jaya, which has been a scene of secessionist violence since Dutch colonial rule formally ended in 1962.
Mr Yudhoyono ruled out independence for the area, but said a solution involving a form of special autonomy needed to be sought.
"The government wishes to solve the issue in Papua in a peaceful, just and dignified manner, by emphasising dialogue and a persuasive approach," Mr Yudhoyono said.
"The policy for the settlement of the issue in Papua is... special autonomy, as a just, comprehensive and dignified solution," he told parliament.
He emphasised that the situation would be solved without foreign interference.
He also rejected criticism that, by allowing international monitors to assess the progress of the Aceh peace deal, Indonesia was giving foreigners too big a role.
Taken from BBC News
Monday, August 15, 2005
Malaysia, Australia send firefighters to help Indonesian bucket brigades fight hazy blaze
KUALA LUMPUR (AP): A team of 125 Malaysian firefighters left Monday for Indonesia's Sumatra Island to assist the fewer than 500 people using buckets, water pumps and garden hoses to fightblazes that have enveloped much of Malaysia with acrid smoke since the beginning of August.
The team, which included disaster management experts, was expected to be there for at least two weeks to help in efforts to put out the fires, which were mostly illegally set by plantation owners, logging companies and poor farmers to clear land.
"Hopefully it won't take too long," the Fire Department's head of public relations, Norizan Sulaiman, told The Associated Press.
Australia, which was not affected by the haze, announced on Monday it was sending an emergency assessment team including 12 bush fire experts to Indonesia this week.
Thailand, which warned motorists and fisherman in parts of its southern provinces to stay home over the weekend because of poor visibility from the haze, has also indicated it would be willing to send firefighters to help if asked.
Malaysia planned to crack down on local oil palm plantation owners who illegally burned agricultural waste Sunday, causing thick smoke to surround Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Sunday, a day after haze from the Indonesian fires had dissipated.(*)
Taken from The Jakarta Post
The team, which included disaster management experts, was expected to be there for at least two weeks to help in efforts to put out the fires, which were mostly illegally set by plantation owners, logging companies and poor farmers to clear land.
"Hopefully it won't take too long," the Fire Department's head of public relations, Norizan Sulaiman, told The Associated Press.
Australia, which was not affected by the haze, announced on Monday it was sending an emergency assessment team including 12 bush fire experts to Indonesia this week.
Thailand, which warned motorists and fisherman in parts of its southern provinces to stay home over the weekend because of poor visibility from the haze, has also indicated it would be willing to send firefighters to help if asked.
Malaysia planned to crack down on local oil palm plantation owners who illegally burned agricultural waste Sunday, causing thick smoke to surround Kuala Lumpur International Airport on Sunday, a day after haze from the Indonesian fires had dissipated.(*)
Taken from The Jakarta Post
Australia protests plan to cut Indonesian militant's sentence
SYDNEY (AFP): Australia will ask Indonesia not to reduce the jail sentence of Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir for his role in instigating the Bali bombings, Foreign Minister Alexander Downersaid on Monday.
Ba'asyir, jailed in March for 30 months, will have his sentence cut as prisoners across Indonesia are granted leniency to mark independence day on Wednesday, Indonesian media reported at the weekend.
The Australian government, which lost 88 citizens in the October 2002 blasts which killed 202 people, had already expressed disappointment at the length of Ba'asyir's jail term.
"We wouldn't want to see his already rather short sentence reduced and our ambassador is taking this matter up with the Indonesians," Downer told reporters.
"We will get a report back from him in time."
Downer said the ambassador was meeting the Indonesian attorney-general and justice minister to discuss Australia's concerns.
Ba'asyir is accused by some foreign governments of being the spiritual leader of the Southeast Asian extremist group Jamaah Islamiyah, blamed for the Bali attack and a string of other bombings.
Australia's opposition Labor Party also objected to a cut in Ba'asyir's sentence, comparing his 30 months in jail with the 20 years' imprisonment handed out by an Indonesian court to an Australian woman found guilty of smuggling marijuana into Bali.
"Most Australians would ask why is it that Schapelle Corby gets sentenced to 20 years for importing marijuana, Abu Bakar Ba'asyir gets 30 months for participating in the murder of nearly100 Australians," foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd said.
"I think the Australian people would want to see this sentence of at least 30 months fully carried out and for there not to be any further reductions in it." (*)
Taken from The Jakarta Post
Ba'asyir, jailed in March for 30 months, will have his sentence cut as prisoners across Indonesia are granted leniency to mark independence day on Wednesday, Indonesian media reported at the weekend.
The Australian government, which lost 88 citizens in the October 2002 blasts which killed 202 people, had already expressed disappointment at the length of Ba'asyir's jail term.
"We wouldn't want to see his already rather short sentence reduced and our ambassador is taking this matter up with the Indonesians," Downer told reporters.
"We will get a report back from him in time."
Downer said the ambassador was meeting the Indonesian attorney-general and justice minister to discuss Australia's concerns.
Ba'asyir is accused by some foreign governments of being the spiritual leader of the Southeast Asian extremist group Jamaah Islamiyah, blamed for the Bali attack and a string of other bombings.
Australia's opposition Labor Party also objected to a cut in Ba'asyir's sentence, comparing his 30 months in jail with the 20 years' imprisonment handed out by an Indonesian court to an Australian woman found guilty of smuggling marijuana into Bali.
"Most Australians would ask why is it that Schapelle Corby gets sentenced to 20 years for importing marijuana, Abu Bakar Ba'asyir gets 30 months for participating in the murder of nearly100 Australians," foreign affairs spokesman Kevin Rudd said.
"I think the Australian people would want to see this sentence of at least 30 months fully carried out and for there not to be any further reductions in it." (*)
Taken from The Jakarta Post
Men's mags chase Corby shoot
12:00 AEST Mon Aug 15 2005
National Nine News
By ninemsn staff
Men's magazines will rush to sign-up Schapelle Corby for a raunchy photo shoot if she is freed.
And the convicted drug smuggler could earn up to $500,000 for a sexy bikini shoot, according to reports.
FHM magazine has revealed Corby polled strongly in its 100 hottest women vote but editors decided against including the former beauty student, fearing a public backlash.
"At the time she was on trial and potentially could have been executed . . . so it may have been in slightly poor taste," FHM editor John Bastick was quoted as saying in The Courier Mail.
"Our readers have been begging us to do it . . . and to be honest we couldn't print enough copies," Mr Bastick said.
"By the time she comes out she might be 50, so they might not be so interested then."
Rival publication Ralph said it had also heard from Corby admirers.
"I wouldn't say it's been a flood but a lot of guys do say if she ever gets out, make sure you get her," editor Michael Pickering said.
"She's an attractive girl in a distressing situation and it's probably tugging on a few blokes' heartstrings."
Penthouse magazine said it was interested in Corby but, at 28, the Gold Coaster was a "bit old" for its readership.
Taken from Ninemsn News
National Nine News
By ninemsn staff
Men's magazines will rush to sign-up Schapelle Corby for a raunchy photo shoot if she is freed.
And the convicted drug smuggler could earn up to $500,000 for a sexy bikini shoot, according to reports.
FHM magazine has revealed Corby polled strongly in its 100 hottest women vote but editors decided against including the former beauty student, fearing a public backlash.
"At the time she was on trial and potentially could have been executed . . . so it may have been in slightly poor taste," FHM editor John Bastick was quoted as saying in The Courier Mail.
"Our readers have been begging us to do it . . . and to be honest we couldn't print enough copies," Mr Bastick said.
"By the time she comes out she might be 50, so they might not be so interested then."
Rival publication Ralph said it had also heard from Corby admirers.
"I wouldn't say it's been a flood but a lot of guys do say if she ever gets out, make sure you get her," editor Michael Pickering said.
"She's an attractive girl in a distressing situation and it's probably tugging on a few blokes' heartstrings."
Penthouse magazine said it was interested in Corby but, at 28, the Gold Coaster was a "bit old" for its readership.
Taken from Ninemsn News
Sunday, August 07, 2005
Howard to meet with Muslim leaders
August 7, 2005 - 1:49PM
Prime Minister John Howard says Muslim leaders need to help "bust open" extremist cells that are breeding grounds for hatred as part of the fight against terrorism.
He has called a meeting of Muslim leaders, due to be held in the next few weeks, where he will tell them of the need to eliminate extremist preaching and promote peace and cooperation.
He will also assure the leaders that they should not feel their community is under attack.
"That would be not only counter productive, it would be quite unjust because the overwhelming majority of them share the abhorrence that we do about violence and terrorism," Mr Howard told ABC television.
"But they do have responsibilities and we have to guard against this country going down the path of societies where you have closed cells which are really the product of people being able to operate with a degree of immunity in their own communities.
"That really is something that we have to bust open."
Mr Howard said fighting terrorism had to involve the double effort of getting inside communities where potentially hostile groups may be, and ensuring there are effective laws to deal with terrorists.
Getting into closed communities, he said, would be more challenging because it involves enlisting their cooperation.
The prime minister said people in Britain's Muslim community must have known something about the plans for the London bombings.
"What happened in Britain was that you had British born people (involved in the attacks)," he said.
"Their communities must have known something of it. I find it hard to accept that they didn't and the reality is that there was no human intelligence suggesting otherwise."
The meeting with Australia's Muslim leaders will be held before next month's emergency summit with state and territory leaders to discuss terrorism laws.
The federal government is already considering tougher laws against inciting terrorism and facilitating the deportation of extremist Muslims.
Mr Howard said he will not rush into strengthening the laws.
''I'm not going to make up a new criminal code on the run,'' he said.
''It's very important with these things that having laid down the markers that we'll look at what further should be done, ... but emphasising all the time that getting inside communities and understanding what's going on is crucially important to effectively responding to the threat of terrorism.''
British Prime Minister Tony Blair is considering laws to deporting extremists, and Mr Howard indicated the idea has merit.
''I think when somebody comes into this country you enter into a mutual obligation understanding,'' he said.
''You receive the benefits of living in Australia and in return you have an obligation to embrace and imbibe the values and attitudes unconditionally ... of this society.
''I think that's a fair balance and most Australians would see it in those terms.''
Taken from The Age. Also seen in The Jakarta Post.
Prime Minister John Howard says Muslim leaders need to help "bust open" extremist cells that are breeding grounds for hatred as part of the fight against terrorism.
He has called a meeting of Muslim leaders, due to be held in the next few weeks, where he will tell them of the need to eliminate extremist preaching and promote peace and cooperation.
He will also assure the leaders that they should not feel their community is under attack.
"That would be not only counter productive, it would be quite unjust because the overwhelming majority of them share the abhorrence that we do about violence and terrorism," Mr Howard told ABC television.
"But they do have responsibilities and we have to guard against this country going down the path of societies where you have closed cells which are really the product of people being able to operate with a degree of immunity in their own communities.
"That really is something that we have to bust open."
Mr Howard said fighting terrorism had to involve the double effort of getting inside communities where potentially hostile groups may be, and ensuring there are effective laws to deal with terrorists.
Getting into closed communities, he said, would be more challenging because it involves enlisting their cooperation.
The prime minister said people in Britain's Muslim community must have known something about the plans for the London bombings.
"What happened in Britain was that you had British born people (involved in the attacks)," he said.
"Their communities must have known something of it. I find it hard to accept that they didn't and the reality is that there was no human intelligence suggesting otherwise."
The meeting with Australia's Muslim leaders will be held before next month's emergency summit with state and territory leaders to discuss terrorism laws.
The federal government is already considering tougher laws against inciting terrorism and facilitating the deportation of extremist Muslims.
Mr Howard said he will not rush into strengthening the laws.
''I'm not going to make up a new criminal code on the run,'' he said.
''It's very important with these things that having laid down the markers that we'll look at what further should be done, ... but emphasising all the time that getting inside communities and understanding what's going on is crucially important to effectively responding to the threat of terrorism.''
British Prime Minister Tony Blair is considering laws to deporting extremists, and Mr Howard indicated the idea has merit.
''I think when somebody comes into this country you enter into a mutual obligation understanding,'' he said.
''You receive the benefits of living in Australia and in return you have an obligation to embrace and imbibe the values and attitudes unconditionally ... of this society.
''I think that's a fair balance and most Australians would see it in those terms.''
Taken from The Age. Also seen in The Jakarta Post.
Ba'asyir to seek case review after verdict
Controversial Muslim cleric Abu Bakar Ba'asyir plans to file for a case review after his appeal was recently overturned by the Supreme Court, the cleric's lawyer, M. Assegaf, said over the weekend.
Ba'asyir was found guilty of conspiring in terror activities, including his link to Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), a mysterious organization that has been accused of orchestrating the 2002 Bali bombing and the 2003 JW Marriott hotel blast in Jakarta.
He was sentenced to two years and six months in prison.
Assegaf said he had not been officially notified by the Supreme Court about its verdict on his client's case, but he had discussed what further action to take with Ba'asyir.
"Appealing to the Supreme Court is the final legal move, but if there's a possibility for a review, which there is, we will request one," he told The Jakarta Post.
Asked what new evidence would be presented for the review, Assegaf said he would have to wait to read the official copies of the verdict, which was handed down last Wednesday, before preparing for the review.
"We first have to study the Supreme Court's considerations in overturning our appeal," he said.
Assegaf said Ba'asyir rejected the court's decision, which he said was an injustice against him, the leader of the Ngruki Islamic boarding school in East Java.
"From the very start of his case, (Ba'asyir) has consistently said that he is being oppressed, including by the intervention of the United States in his trials from the first time he was tried," he said.
Assegaf said his client believed there was a systematic effort to keep him behind bars by all means, especially after a controversial testimony claiming that a top U.S. official had requested that then president Megawati Soekarnoputri keep Ba'asyir in detention.
"The considerations used by the courts to declare Ba'syir guilty have always been vague. They insisted on accusing him of conspiring with Amrozi based on a conversation about bombing Bali they allegedly had, which Amrozi himself denied," said Assegaf.
Amrozi was one of the Bali bombers found guilty and is awaiting execution.
Sixty-six-year-old Ba'asyir was first brought to trial in 2003 on a similar charge, but he was cleared. However, he was found guilty of immigration offenses and served 18 months in jail.
He was immediately rearrested upon release after police claimed to have gathered new evidence on his role in JI and the terror attacks.
Taken from The Jakarta Post
Ba'asyir was found guilty of conspiring in terror activities, including his link to Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), a mysterious organization that has been accused of orchestrating the 2002 Bali bombing and the 2003 JW Marriott hotel blast in Jakarta.
He was sentenced to two years and six months in prison.
Assegaf said he had not been officially notified by the Supreme Court about its verdict on his client's case, but he had discussed what further action to take with Ba'asyir.
"Appealing to the Supreme Court is the final legal move, but if there's a possibility for a review, which there is, we will request one," he told The Jakarta Post.
Asked what new evidence would be presented for the review, Assegaf said he would have to wait to read the official copies of the verdict, which was handed down last Wednesday, before preparing for the review.
"We first have to study the Supreme Court's considerations in overturning our appeal," he said.
Assegaf said Ba'asyir rejected the court's decision, which he said was an injustice against him, the leader of the Ngruki Islamic boarding school in East Java.
"From the very start of his case, (Ba'asyir) has consistently said that he is being oppressed, including by the intervention of the United States in his trials from the first time he was tried," he said.
Assegaf said his client believed there was a systematic effort to keep him behind bars by all means, especially after a controversial testimony claiming that a top U.S. official had requested that then president Megawati Soekarnoputri keep Ba'asyir in detention.
"The considerations used by the courts to declare Ba'syir guilty have always been vague. They insisted on accusing him of conspiring with Amrozi based on a conversation about bombing Bali they allegedly had, which Amrozi himself denied," said Assegaf.
Amrozi was one of the Bali bombers found guilty and is awaiting execution.
Sixty-six-year-old Ba'asyir was first brought to trial in 2003 on a similar charge, but he was cleared. However, he was found guilty of immigration offenses and served 18 months in jail.
He was immediately rearrested upon release after police claimed to have gathered new evidence on his role in JI and the terror attacks.
Taken from The Jakarta Post
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