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
Sunday, August 28, 2005
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
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