Indonesia Topics

Jakarta Police arrested Wednesday 39 members of the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) for their alleged involvement in the so called Monas incident when they attacked a group of people on Sunday.

The arrest of 39 FPI members went without serious incident as previously worried after FPI leader Habib Rizieq Shihab gave his cooperation and ordered all FPI members not to resist arrest.

The police, fearing resistance from FPI members, were heavily armed and guarded FPI headquarters since early morning.

“Don’t be panic because whether or not you are declared suspects will depend upon investigation by the police,” Rizieq told his followers, as reported by SCTV TV station.

“We will send our lawyers to accompany you during questioning by the police.”

FPI members attacked the National Alliance for the Freedom of Faith and Religion (AKKBB) activists at the National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta on Sunday in what FPI perceived as defending the devan Islamic sect of Ahmadiyah.

FPI has urged the government to ban Ahmadiyah for not following mainstream Islamic tenets especially in regarding founder Mirza Ghulam Ahmad as a prophet. Mainstream Muslims regard Prophet Muhammad as the seal of prophets and there will be no more prophets coming. (The Jakarta Post)

FC Bayern Munchen and Indonesia’s national soccer team pledged an entertaining performance for their friendly match this Wednesday.

Munchen’s coach Ottmar Hitzfeld said at a Tuesday press conference players were ready to play their best despite a tiring flight.

He said he had prepared 17 young players to take on the hosts, and hoped they could provide some “technical football lessons” to Indonesian players.

“I also hope the Indonesian footballers can perform their best so that we can score as many goals as possible,” he said.

Indonesia coach Benny Dolo said he instructed his players to fight hard in the game, which will be held at Bung Karno Stadium in Central Jakarta.

“I asked them not to overestimate Munchen even though they have world-class players,” he said.

It has been rare for a world-caliber team to visit Indonesia, he said, and he urged the players to make the most of the opportunity.

“By playing against Munchen, we will have a chance to learn modern football,” he said.

Munchen, the winner of the German League and the German Cup, will play without several starters, including Miroslav Klose, Phillips Lahm and Lucas Podolski, who are busy preparing for the Euro Championship.

Benny had yet to decide who would lead the team, although Ponaryo Astaman would seem the most likely choice.

Munchen is also expected to stop over in China and India for other friendly matches in the trip, which is part of the farewell Asian Tour by former German international goalkeeper Oliver Kahn.

The 38-year-old has just quit the world of soccer after having been a professional player for 21 years, 14 years of which were for Munchen. Kahn resigned from the national team two years ago.

During his career with Munchen, Kahn led the club to eight German titles and a Champions League win in 2001. He was also named best goalkeeper and best player in the World Cup in 2002.

Kahn said he would take a break from soccer and had not yet planned to start a new career as a goalkeeper coach.

“I have been spending years as a footballer and it’s time for me to think of something else,” he said.

He said he planned to remain in the soccer world by being a commentator and helping the German team.

“I also hope I can get involved in football-related social actions in the near future,” he said. (The Jakarta Post)

Host Indonesia cruised into the final of the Uber Cup women team badminton championship on Thursday after trouncing Germany 3-1 in the semifinals.

Although losing the first single match, Indonesia bounced back by winning one double match and two singles matches against Germany.

Indonesia’s first single player Maria Kristin bowed out 20-21, 15-21 to Xu Huaiwen, but duo Jo Novita and Greysia Polii leveled the score, outwitting Germany’s pair Birgit Overzier and Kathrin
Piotrowshki 21-9, 21-13.

Indonesia took a 2-1 lead when Adriyanti Firdasari edged past Julianne Schenk 21-16, 22-20, before the last single player Pia Zebadiah ensured her country’s triumph over Germany with a 21-7, 21-16 win over Karin Schnaase.

Indonesia will take on defending champion and favorite China in the final, scheduled for Saturday.

It is Indonesia’s first final in ten years. The last time Indonesia won the Uber Cup was back in 1996. (The Jakarta post)

China and India gain popularity through the existence of “Chinatowns” and “Little Indias” all over the world. Now, Indonesia is set to follow suit by opening a permanent market in Shanghai on May 22.

The market, called “Indonesia Street”, will display high quality Indonesian products with competitive prices, according to Sukardi Koto, the CEO of Indonesia Street Shanghai.

“I often receive orders from Chinese business players. They are enthusiastic about Indonesian products because of good quality and affordable prices,” Sukardi said, as quoted by Antara.

In the long term, Sukardi added, another 10 Indonesian markets will be opened in 10 big cities in China.

“Indonesian business firms hope the Indonesia Streets will make it easier to attract Chinese customers and penetrate the market,” Sukardi said.

He said the Indonesia Street market, sponsored by Indonesian businesses and supported by the Indonesian and Chinese governments, would be a permanent feature so that people could visit whenever they want.

“We decided to open a market in Shanghai because it is a developed city with good infrastructure… and very strategic for business.

“Shanghai is not too far from Indonesia and there is a growing furniture production and retailing industry in the surrounding area, so we can promote our products there,” Sukardi said.

Projecting Indonesian artifacts and lifestyle, the market is also aimed at promoting Indonesian culture to the Chinese people.

“Indonesia Street will provide all things Indonesian.

“We aim to promote Indonesian culture as well as products and support the growth of Indonesian exports,” Sukardi said.

According to the Central Statistic Agency, Indonesia recorded an increase of 33 percent in total trade with China, from U$$10.97 billion in 2006 to $14.62 billion in 2007.

Non-oil and gas exports to China increased by 22 percent last year, from some $5.47 billion in 2006 to some $6.66 billion. Non-oil and gas imports from China increased by 45 percent, from $5.5 billion to $7.9 billion. (The Jakarta Post)

The government on Monday delayed issuing a decree to outlaw the Islamic sect Jamaah Ahmadiyah, saying it needed more time to draft the details of the legal document.

Last week, Attorney General Hendarman Supandji announced the joint ministerial decree would be made public Monday at the Home Ministry.

However, Home Minister Mardiyanto said Monday the government was still finalizing the decree to be signed by him, Hendarman and Religious Affairs Minister Maftuh Basyuni.

The government was “very cautious” in drafting the decree to avoid incorrect interpretations from the public, Mardiyanto said.

“This a legal product that will be part of our positive law. We must be very cautious and precise to avoid violating the existing laws,” he told a news conference.

The Coordinating Board for Monitoring Mystical Beliefs in Society (Bakor Pakem) officially declared Ahmadiyah “heretical” last month and recommended the government ban it.

The interdepartmental board said it found Ahmadiyah had continued its religious activities that deviated from mainstream Islamic teachings.

Numerous hard-line and radical Muslim groups lauded the recommendation and demanded an immediate ban on Ahmadiyah.

However, moderate Muslim scholars and activists as well as human right campaigners condemned the anti-Ahmadiyah recommendation.

They warned President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono a ban on Ahmadiyah would be a serious violation of the Constitution, which could lead to his impeachment.

The ban, critics argued, would violate the article of the Constitution that guarantees freedom of religious beliefs.

House of Representatives speaker Agung Laksono similarly warned Monday such a ban could spark renewed violence against Ahmadiyah members.

Mardiyanto said the problem police faced in ensuring the protection of Ahmadiyah members from attacks was partly behind the delay.

Ahmadiyah spokesman Mubarik threatened to take legal action against the government should it go ahead with the issuance.

“The decision will be a legal product so we will file a complaint with a district court or ask the Constitutional Court to review it.

“Until we get a final verdict, we have the right to continue our activities,” he said.

Mubarik said the biggest concern for Ahmadiyah was that the decree would be used as justification by radical groups to renew attacks on the sect’s members across the country.

“For our members living in major cities, we are safe enough, but what about others living in villages who don’t have adequate protection from police?

“That’s why we have officially asked the National Police to protect all of our members,” he said.

Mubarik said new attacks on Ahmadiyah began right after the Bakor Pakem recommendation, including last week’s incident at Parakan Salak village in Sukabumi, West Java, where a group calling itself the Jamaah Al-Mubalighin Communication Forum burned down a mosque belonging to the sect. (The Jakarta Post)

Indonesia will soon raise fuel prices by up to 30 percent to avoid a budget blowout amid the soaring cost of oil on the global market, the government said Monday.

The decision to cut subsidies that keep gasoline, diesel fuel and kerosene affordable to the country’s millions of poor risks nationwide demonstrations and political opposition from parties jockeying for position ahead of elections next year.

The government last raised prices in 2005, defying protests and winning praise from international donors. To cushion the blow, it provided direct cash payments to the poor - a policy it is sure to repeat this time around.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the government was no longer debating whether to raise prices,but rather by how much and when. The discussion now is “whether it will be 20, 25 or 30 percent and why will it be that,” he said.

Senior Economic Minister Boediono said the government was planning to raise prices in the “coming weeks” and that the poor would receive some form of direct compensation. He gave no more details.

Any price hike is sure to trigger inflation in the country of235 million people and risk hurting economic growth as its poorest citizens struggle to afford rice and other staples amid rising food costs.

Still, most in Indonesia agree the current level of fuel subsidies are unsustainable as global prices hover around US$117 a barrel.

Critics note they are also enjoyed by many of its wealthiest citizens, who currently spend just under half a dollar for a liter of gasoline for their cars.

Indonesia is Southeast Asia’s largest oil producer and a member of OPEC, but it has to import oil because of decades of declining investment in exploration and extraction.

A big fuel price increase in 1998 triggered rioting that helped topple former dictator Suharto. Protests also forced former President Megawati Sukarnoputri to scale back a fuel price increase in 2002.(The Jakarta Post - The Associated Press)

Timor Leste Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao is scheduled to meet President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono here on Tuesday as part of a five-day visit to Indonesia.

Xanana and Yudhoyono are expected to discuss a number of important issues concerning the relationship between the two countries, presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said in a statement Monday.

Also during the meeting, the two will witness the signing of four bilateral agreements. These are a trade agreement, a memorandum of understanding on technical cooperation in trade, an MOU on technical cooperation in small and medium industries, and an MOU on technical cooperation in drug and food control.

It will be Xanana’s first visit to Indonesia since being inaugurated as Timor Leste’s prime minister in August. (The Jakarta post)

Diplomatic ties between the two countries have heated up following Timor Leste President Jose Ramos Horta’s accusation that elements inside Indonesia were involved in a failed assassination attempt against him last month.

Both Indonesia and Timor Leste had hoped for closer ties following the completion of a 370-page report by the Commission for Truth and Friendship (CTF).

The report contains the joint commission’s findings and conclusions on violence in the then province of East Timor following the UN-sponsored independence vote in 1999. However, the CTF was forced to delay the submission of the report to the Indonesian and Timor Leste presidents following the attempt on Horta’s life.

Xanana on Tuesday also will pay courtesy calls to House of Representatives Speaker Agung Laksono, People’s Consultative Assembly Speaker Hidayat Nur Wahid, Indonesian Military chief Gen. Djoko Santoso and National Police chief Gen. Sutanto.

The prime minister will also meet Indonesian businesspeople during a luncheon hosted by the Trade and Industrial Chamber.

On Wednesday, Xanana will speak at the Indonesian Council on World Affairs forum.

He will be accompanied during his visit by nine Timor Leste ministers.

Indonesia turned out to be strong on Friday by beating Yaman 1-0 in a soccer friendly match between the two countries.

Striker Bambang Pamungkas scored the winner in the 35th minute after taking a pass from Firman Utina.

It was Indonesia’s first friendly match and victory under coach Benny Dollo, who replaced Ivan Kolev after his failure in the Southeast Asia Games last year. However, Bendol (Benny Dollo’s friendly name) says that his side did not satisfy him as a coach.

“You can see how the fitness from our team was very poor. Eka Ramdani olayed well in the first 20 minutes but then he play extremely under his best form afterwards. We still need a lot to do especially with some new players that have just joined for 2 weeks,” says Bendol.

Indonesia will face Bayern Munich in Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on 21st May, Tajikistan and New Zealand.

Indonesia Thomas & Uber Cup Badminton manager Luthfi Hamid released the squad that will be fighting for Indonesia badminton team. Thomas & Uber Cup will be held in Istora Senayan Jakarta Indonesia from 11-18 Mei 2008. In men singles, Taufik Hidayat, Athens Gold Medallist will still be leading the team.

Here is the list:

Thomas Cup:
Men’s Single:
1. Sony Dwi Kuncoro
2. Taufik Hidayat
3. Simon Santoso
4. Tommy Sugiarto

Men’s Double:
1. Markis Kido/Hendra Setiawan
2. Joko Riyadi/Hendra A. Gunawan
3. Chandra Wijaya/Nova Widianto

Uber Cup:
Women’s Single:
1. Maria Kristin
2. Adriyanti Firdasari
3. Pia Zebadiah
4. Fransiska Ratnasari

Women’s Double:
1. Jo Novita/Gryesia Polii
2. Rani Mundiasti/Endang Nursugiati
3. Lilyana Natsir/Vita Marrissa

If you looking for a 16,000 square meters house in Blitar, then it wouldn’t be so hard. Seokarmini’s family is planning to sell her house for Rp 50 Billion (approximately US$ 6 million). It’s just not a house. It’s also a piece of history!

Seokarmini is Soekarno’s sister. Soekarno is the first Indonesia’s President and together with Mohammad Hatta proclaimed the independence of Indonesia on the 17th August 1945. In this house, Seokarno spent his childhood. Later then, he gave the house to Soekarmini. Soekarmini’s family now would like to sell the house due to high cost of maintenance.

Today, Guruh Soekarno Putra, Soekarno’s son, announce that he will buy the house. As he is part of the family, Guruh wants a little cheaper on the price. But there’s no deal yet. So it might be your chance to bid!

However, many commentators expect that the house would fall to the government’s hand as it is a piece of history.

Who knows.