Monday, June 27, 2011
Even Zeus a loser,he still can be re-elected for the people of Greece, because He is God! :D
Prime Minister George Papandreou of Greece won a crucial vote of confidence early Wednesday, with all 155 lawmakers of the Socialist Party expressing their support for his beleaguered government, above the absolute majority of 151 votes required by Greece’s 300-seat Parliament.
Though Greece face a very serious debt problems in his era, he is still chosen to lead the country once again.
The vote was conducted by roll call after several hours of fiery debate on Tuesday that resulted in several opposition lawmakers briefly walking out of Parliament in protest at comments by the deputy prime minister, Theodoros Pangalos, an outspoken Socialist stalwart.
the ruling-party lawmakers voted yes, with 143 from the opposition voting against and two abstentions. He is a lifelong Socialist, his time in office has been dominated by the debt crisis left behind by his conservative predecessor.
Can he brings Greece into normal condition? we'll see
Though Greece face a very serious debt problems in his era, he is still chosen to lead the country once again.
The vote was conducted by roll call after several hours of fiery debate on Tuesday that resulted in several opposition lawmakers briefly walking out of Parliament in protest at comments by the deputy prime minister, Theodoros Pangalos, an outspoken Socialist stalwart.
the ruling-party lawmakers voted yes, with 143 from the opposition voting against and two abstentions. He is a lifelong Socialist, his time in office has been dominated by the debt crisis left behind by his conservative predecessor.
Can he brings Greece into normal condition? we'll see
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A 20-week abortion laws are absolutely (un)constitutional?!
There were a lot of controversy regarding abortion. Dozens new restrictions made by states, but it would always a consideration of such law by the higher court.
Nowadays, ban abortions notions to be applied at the 20th week after conception, based on the theory that the fetal can feel pain when it went to 20th week period - though it was still being debated until now.
Of course that will rise pros and cons. The cons said that prohibiting abortion is not because fetal pain, but it is more to the humanity of the unborn children. That 20th week threshold application would legalize abortion if it were done within 0th - 19th week period, when fetas has not viable yet.
Though this issue entering political side between Republican and Democratic, we can make a comparison of abortion law applied in some countries.
the Qur'an condemns the killing of humans (except in the case of defense or as capital punishment), but it does not explicitly mention abortion. This leads Islamic theologians to take up different viewpoints: while the majority of early Islamic theologians permitted abortion up to day 120, because Lord give a fetal life and soul in the day 120.
In the civil law system, even the unborn children has the right to live if there were any circumstances concerned to his life, like a inheritance from its dad or mommy. So even the baby ere not born yet, the baby has, in the name of law, the full right and duty just like a mature man.
So , there were not only about fetal pain, but also about Lord, and the right of the baby to life and to be bear. A Planned Parenthood is one of the solutions to push abortion level. We people should give a stringent limits to abortion. Because every baby has the right to live. that is only the basic of human rights isn't it?
We should give a better terms of the abortion so that abortion can only done by limited reasons, like medical reasons such the health of the mother, the risk of the baby to live if they were born, etc..
Nowadays, ban abortions notions to be applied at the 20th week after conception, based on the theory that the fetal can feel pain when it went to 20th week period - though it was still being debated until now.
Of course that will rise pros and cons. The cons said that prohibiting abortion is not because fetal pain, but it is more to the humanity of the unborn children. That 20th week threshold application would legalize abortion if it were done within 0th - 19th week period, when fetas has not viable yet.
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| save the baby! |
Though this issue entering political side between Republican and Democratic, we can make a comparison of abortion law applied in some countries.
the Qur'an condemns the killing of humans (except in the case of defense or as capital punishment), but it does not explicitly mention abortion. This leads Islamic theologians to take up different viewpoints: while the majority of early Islamic theologians permitted abortion up to day 120, because Lord give a fetal life and soul in the day 120.
In the civil law system, even the unborn children has the right to live if there were any circumstances concerned to his life, like a inheritance from its dad or mommy. So even the baby ere not born yet, the baby has, in the name of law, the full right and duty just like a mature man.
So , there were not only about fetal pain, but also about Lord, and the right of the baby to life and to be bear. A Planned Parenthood is one of the solutions to push abortion level. We people should give a stringent limits to abortion. Because every baby has the right to live. that is only the basic of human rights isn't it?
We should give a better terms of the abortion so that abortion can only done by limited reasons, like medical reasons such the health of the mother, the risk of the baby to live if they were born, etc..
Friday, June 17, 2011
Can we watch Pirates of Carribean in Indonesia now??
It had been rumoured that Hollywood blockbuster will allowed to show again in Indonesia Theater. Many of young audiences, including me, missed some good new movies like KungFu Panda 2 and Super8.
Indonesian audiences now will be heartened to know that the government has finally moved to end a running feud with movie importers, announcing a new film tax regime.
Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo on Friday said importers now need only pay a specific tax for the films, providing a simple solution to the long-running dispute over royalties for movies from overseas.
According to the new rules that became effective on Thursday, importers only have to pay Rp 21,000 to Rp 22,000 per minute for each copy of the movie they screen. With a viewing time of 100 minutes, the tax on the average feature would be as little as Rp 21 million ($2,500).
Previously the importers had to pay an ad valorem tax for each movie they brought into the country. Such a tax takes a percentage of the value of the good or service, in this case ticket sales.
The movie value calculation was problematic because it was based on royalties, which depended on how well attended a movie was in cinemas. This meant the tax could not be determined at the time the film was imported. In one side Indonesian should agree if the tax should be paid for the country. But in the other hand, that new tax rules make box office movie dissapear from Indonesia.
A specific tax, however, is a sum imposed on an item regardless of its value. Of course that is a more simple and easy was to calculate the tax. And, of course it's relieving for the audiences.
Hopefully in the future .film producers would establish their representatives in Indonesia and form a joint venture with local business partners. So Indonesia will be a good rival for bollywood movie.
In February, the Motion Picture Association said its members would stop sending films here after the government decided on a new system of calculating and charging royalties on such films that the MPA said had “a detrimental impact on the cost of bringing a film into Indonesia.”
About a week later, the government announced that certain importers were, in fact, not allowed to bring in films because they owed about Rp 30 billion in back taxes from the two previous years. This substantial amount accumulated because they had not reported their royalties, and as such faced fines of up to 10 times that amount.
But even is all the hurdles are cleared, it will take up to three weeks before foreign films make it back to local cinema screens. Hopefully Pirates of The Carribean don't dissapear yet before "visiting" Indonesia. I love that movie soo much, and I do believe also many of Indonesian will miss Pirates too!!!
Indonesian audiences now will be heartened to know that the government has finally moved to end a running feud with movie importers, announcing a new film tax regime.
Finance Minister Agus Martowardojo on Friday said importers now need only pay a specific tax for the films, providing a simple solution to the long-running dispute over royalties for movies from overseas.
According to the new rules that became effective on Thursday, importers only have to pay Rp 21,000 to Rp 22,000 per minute for each copy of the movie they screen. With a viewing time of 100 minutes, the tax on the average feature would be as little as Rp 21 million ($2,500).
Previously the importers had to pay an ad valorem tax for each movie they brought into the country. Such a tax takes a percentage of the value of the good or service, in this case ticket sales.
The movie value calculation was problematic because it was based on royalties, which depended on how well attended a movie was in cinemas. This meant the tax could not be determined at the time the film was imported. In one side Indonesian should agree if the tax should be paid for the country. But in the other hand, that new tax rules make box office movie dissapear from Indonesia.
A specific tax, however, is a sum imposed on an item regardless of its value. Of course that is a more simple and easy was to calculate the tax. And, of course it's relieving for the audiences.
Hopefully in the future .film producers would establish their representatives in Indonesia and form a joint venture with local business partners. So Indonesia will be a good rival for bollywood movie.
In February, the Motion Picture Association said its members would stop sending films here after the government decided on a new system of calculating and charging royalties on such films that the MPA said had “a detrimental impact on the cost of bringing a film into Indonesia.”
About a week later, the government announced that certain importers were, in fact, not allowed to bring in films because they owed about Rp 30 billion in back taxes from the two previous years. This substantial amount accumulated because they had not reported their royalties, and as such faced fines of up to 10 times that amount.
But even is all the hurdles are cleared, it will take up to three weeks before foreign films make it back to local cinema screens. Hopefully Pirates of The Carribean don't dissapear yet before "visiting" Indonesia. I love that movie soo much, and I do believe also many of Indonesian will miss Pirates too!!!
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
The House of Representatives Ready to Pursue Election Fraud Case
Once a commissioner of the General Elections Commission (KPU), Andi is accused of using a falsified copy of a Constitutional Court ruling to grant a seat in the House of Representatives to a candidate from the People’s Conscience Party (Hanura) at the expense of a candidate from the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra).
A working committee of the House will summon all related parties, including Andi Nurpati and Arsyad Sanusi. It seems that the problems is getting bigger and get media attention recently.
The statement came a day after a hearing on the matter at the House’s Commission II on home affairs, where it was suggested that a Constitutional Court justice could have been involved in the document fraud.
Though Arsyad has resigned, the House could still summon him because the committee had the right to summon anybody related to the case for an explanation.
It has been 16 months since Andi was reported to police for falsifying a Constitutional Court ruling on a poll dispute – which saw the KPU wrongly grant a seat to Hanura’s Dewi Yasin Limpo.
Constitutional Court Chief Justice Mahfud M.D. went public with the case and filed a police report in February last year. This week however, it was revealed the initial report had still not reached the detectives unit.
The revelation has provoked widespread criticism, with some suspicious that Andi is not being investigated by the police because she is spokeswoman for the Democratic Party.
The Constitutional Court chief said that although he was happy the House had finally decided to investigate the matter, he was still disappointed.
“The handling of this case [by the House] is still late. Also, police are very late in handling this case,” Mahfud said in a short interview. “Remember though, that the House working committee could become a Pandora’s Box.
“When it is finally opened, it will not only point to one case. This could also lead to political instability in the future, because the validity of general elections will come into question.”
Boediono Expresses Support for Siami
Vice President Boediono on Thursday expressed support for Siami, a woman who was driven from her home after reporting systemic cheating at a Surabaya elementary school. She is a whistle-blower who later, in contradiction, becoming a "victim" of her own blowing.
Our Vice President stated on his official Twitter account @boediono that “Honesty, solidarity and togetherness are the sacred values which should not have contradicted one another,”. “Hopefully Ibu Siami's honesty can re-mingle with the solidarity and togetherness of the residents of Gadel.”. Well, the fact is just that Siami' neighborhood just cannot accept her report about systemic cheating on National Exams.
The mother of sixth-grader Alifah reported that her son's teachers had forced him to share the results of his National Examinations with his classmates at State Elementary School (SDN) No. 2 in Gadel subdistrict, Surabaya.
The scandal lead to the removal of the school's principal and its two teachers.
Angered parents reportedly intimidated Siami and her family, causing them to flee their home to live in Siami's hometown of Gresik, East Java. Those angered parents, who is also her neighboor said that Siami' report was not accepted and causing small thing became overrated. She accused as a day-dreaming hero.
Otherwise, Nation Education Minister Muhammad Nuh said students would not have to retake the national examinations because they had not found any evidence of cheating.
“We didn’t find identical answers between students, thus there’s no need to retake the exams,” he said. The result of the exams was not similar precisely. It was rumoured that Alifah didn't give his all correct answer and his clasmates also didn't believe the answer, they believed the answers that were circulated were wrong.
He added that although the cheating had been limited, there was no excuse for the public backlash against the family. “What we need to do is prevent the escalation of social tensions caused by the incident, specifically between the parents who reported the matter and the local community opposed to their decision,” Budiyono said. Ironically cheating become a habitual that were accepted by society as a normal deed. It is not only cheating matter, it is about cronical "social disease" that rooted in the society. So how is it Mr. Budiyono?
Our Vice President stated on his official Twitter account @boediono that “Honesty, solidarity and togetherness are the sacred values which should not have contradicted one another,”. “Hopefully Ibu Siami's honesty can re-mingle with the solidarity and togetherness of the residents of Gadel.”. Well, the fact is just that Siami' neighborhood just cannot accept her report about systemic cheating on National Exams.
The mother of sixth-grader Alifah reported that her son's teachers had forced him to share the results of his National Examinations with his classmates at State Elementary School (SDN) No. 2 in Gadel subdistrict, Surabaya.
The scandal lead to the removal of the school's principal and its two teachers.
Angered parents reportedly intimidated Siami and her family, causing them to flee their home to live in Siami's hometown of Gresik, East Java. Those angered parents, who is also her neighboor said that Siami' report was not accepted and causing small thing became overrated. She accused as a day-dreaming hero.
Otherwise, Nation Education Minister Muhammad Nuh said students would not have to retake the national examinations because they had not found any evidence of cheating.
“We didn’t find identical answers between students, thus there’s no need to retake the exams,” he said. The result of the exams was not similar precisely. It was rumoured that Alifah didn't give his all correct answer and his clasmates also didn't believe the answer, they believed the answers that were circulated were wrong.
He added that although the cheating had been limited, there was no excuse for the public backlash against the family. “What we need to do is prevent the escalation of social tensions caused by the incident, specifically between the parents who reported the matter and the local community opposed to their decision,” Budiyono said. Ironically cheating become a habitual that were accepted by society as a normal deed. It is not only cheating matter, it is about cronical "social disease" that rooted in the society. So how is it Mr. Budiyono?
KPK Attempting to Damage Nazaruddin’s Family: Golkar Lawmaker
Fugitive Democratic Party lawmaker Muhammad Nazaruddin has received support from an unlikely source — outspoken Golkar legislator Bambang Susatyo.
Bambang on Wednesday criticized the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for summoning Nazaruddin’s wife Neneng Sri Wahyuni in relation to accusations she acted as a casebroker in a Rp 3.8 billion ($444,000) corruption scandal at the Ministry of Education.
Neneng, along with her husband, are both reportedly in Singapore. Will they come back to Indonesia and surrender? no one would know.
Bambang said Nazaruddin would be disturbed by the fact that his wife could now be the subject of a legal investigation.
“The psychological pressure could change Nazaruddin’s attitude to be uncooperative toward the law enforcement agents, especially toward the KPK,” Bambang said.
Bambang said that as a husband and the head of the family, Nazaruddin could not just sit idly by.
“If we put ourselves on Nazaruddin’s shoes, we would see that what the KPK has done is seen as an attempt to damage him and his family.”
Bambang on Wednesday criticized the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for summoning Nazaruddin’s wife Neneng Sri Wahyuni in relation to accusations she acted as a casebroker in a Rp 3.8 billion ($444,000) corruption scandal at the Ministry of Education.
Neneng, along with her husband, are both reportedly in Singapore. Will they come back to Indonesia and surrender? no one would know.
Bambang said Nazaruddin would be disturbed by the fact that his wife could now be the subject of a legal investigation.
“The psychological pressure could change Nazaruddin’s attitude to be uncooperative toward the law enforcement agents, especially toward the KPK,” Bambang said.
Bambang said that as a husband and the head of the family, Nazaruddin could not just sit idly by.
“If we put ourselves on Nazaruddin’s shoes, we would see that what the KPK has done is seen as an attempt to damage him and his family.”
Indonesian Officials Make Thousands of Dodgy Deals: PPATK
The Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center said on Wednesday that it had detected thousands of “suspicious transactions” involving bank accounts belonging to numerous local administration officials across Indonesia.
“In total, there are 2,392 suspicious transaction reports, not only [related to] regional heads but also treasurers and financial officers of regional administrations. This has occurred all across Indonesia,” said Yunus Husein, head of the center known as the PPATK.
The transactions involved government officials “on all levels,” he said.
“A lot of them either use their own private bank accounts, their children’s, their wives’ and others,” Yunus added.
He said those deviations fell under the 2010 Law on Money Laundering.
Paragraph 5 of Article 1 of the law describes four separate categories of suspicious financial transactions — those that deviate from normal patterns or characteristics of the user concerned; those that are conducted presumably to avoid reporting one’s financial wealth; those involving assets that are most likely derived from crime; and those that are specifically requested by the PPATK to be reported on by financial institutions.
Yunus added that the PPATK was coordinating with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in following up on the reports. However, he declined to provide specifics on the amount of money involved in the suspicious transactions detected.
“I believe divulging such information can be misleading. I have in any case met with Home Affairs Minister [Gamawan Fauzi] to discuss the matter,” Yunus said.
Gamawan said he had not received all the information from Yunus, but he promised “to get into it.”
“I will get into all of it with the [ministry’s] inspectorate general, particularly if there is anything suspicious found in the transactions involving regional bank accounts,” Gamawan said.
Subintoro, director of monitoring and compliance at the PPATK, said the suspect transactions involved funds from the state budget and regional budgets.
“This can indicate corruption — when a state loss is incurred, or when a certain party gained an advantage,” Subintoro said.
He added that the PPATK was coordinating with the KPK since the antigraft commission was authorized to investigate cases of money laundering.
“Starting from this year both institutions will have a joint, secure online database that enables faster information sharing and easier coordination,” Subintoro said .
During an antigraft seminar on Tuesday, Gamawan announced that around 160 active and former regional heads had been convicted or declared as suspects in corruption cases since 2004.
“In total, we have 524 regional heads and 160 of them are problematic. On average, every month we find out about a regional head being involved in corruption,” he said, adding that the ministry had detected 18 modes of corruption used by local administrations.
“We have 40 accountants at provincial levels to help with local finance management . Local governments are also urged to use experts from the BPKP [State Development Finance Comptroller],” he said.
In the latest corruption scandal involving government figures, a number of officials from Batubara district in North Sumatra have been named suspects in the alleged embezzlement of Rp 80 billion ($9.4 million).
They are suspected of secretly transferring government funds from state-owned Bank Sumut to Bank Mega after bank executives reportedly persuaded Batubara officials to buy high-return securities.
“In total, there are 2,392 suspicious transaction reports, not only [related to] regional heads but also treasurers and financial officers of regional administrations. This has occurred all across Indonesia,” said Yunus Husein, head of the center known as the PPATK.
The transactions involved government officials “on all levels,” he said.
“A lot of them either use their own private bank accounts, their children’s, their wives’ and others,” Yunus added.
He said those deviations fell under the 2010 Law on Money Laundering.
Paragraph 5 of Article 1 of the law describes four separate categories of suspicious financial transactions — those that deviate from normal patterns or characteristics of the user concerned; those that are conducted presumably to avoid reporting one’s financial wealth; those involving assets that are most likely derived from crime; and those that are specifically requested by the PPATK to be reported on by financial institutions.
Yunus added that the PPATK was coordinating with the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in following up on the reports. However, he declined to provide specifics on the amount of money involved in the suspicious transactions detected.
“I believe divulging such information can be misleading. I have in any case met with Home Affairs Minister [Gamawan Fauzi] to discuss the matter,” Yunus said.
Gamawan said he had not received all the information from Yunus, but he promised “to get into it.”
“I will get into all of it with the [ministry’s] inspectorate general, particularly if there is anything suspicious found in the transactions involving regional bank accounts,” Gamawan said.
Subintoro, director of monitoring and compliance at the PPATK, said the suspect transactions involved funds from the state budget and regional budgets.
“This can indicate corruption — when a state loss is incurred, or when a certain party gained an advantage,” Subintoro said.
He added that the PPATK was coordinating with the KPK since the antigraft commission was authorized to investigate cases of money laundering.
“Starting from this year both institutions will have a joint, secure online database that enables faster information sharing and easier coordination,” Subintoro said .
During an antigraft seminar on Tuesday, Gamawan announced that around 160 active and former regional heads had been convicted or declared as suspects in corruption cases since 2004.
“In total, we have 524 regional heads and 160 of them are problematic. On average, every month we find out about a regional head being involved in corruption,” he said, adding that the ministry had detected 18 modes of corruption used by local administrations.
“We have 40 accountants at provincial levels to help with local finance management . Local governments are also urged to use experts from the BPKP [State Development Finance Comptroller],” he said.
In the latest corruption scandal involving government figures, a number of officials from Batubara district in North Sumatra have been named suspects in the alleged embezzlement of Rp 80 billion ($9.4 million).
They are suspected of secretly transferring government funds from state-owned Bank Sumut to Bank Mega after bank executives reportedly persuaded Batubara officials to buy high-return securities.
SMI Plan To Strikes Back
Supporters of former Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati have mounted a legal challenge that could clear the way for the reform icon to run for president in 2014.
The group of nine former politicians, media and social activists filed on Wednesday for a judicial review of Article 51 of the 2011 Political Parties Law, which they contend stipulates “nonsensical and difficult to meet” requirements for establishing a party.
Andi Muhammad Asrun, a lawyer for the group, said it “believes that this regulation disturbs and violates the constitutional right of a political party.”
The article requires each political party to have 30 representatives and an office in each of the country’s 33 provinces and meet the verification process two and a half years before the elections.
Abdul Rahman Tolleng, a former legislator and one of the plaintiffs, said the requirements restricted the political playing field to the rich. “This law was made specifically to benefit the wealthy,” he said. “If I don’t have money, then my constitutional rights exist merely on paper.”
He also said the group had spoken with Sri Mulyani about its plans. “She hasn’t officially stated that she will run in 2014, but she knows about our activities and she unofficially endorses them,” he said. “For us, she is a figure who is honest, firm and capable of leading Indonesia.”
The plaintiffs want the article scrapped in order to make it easier to register their group, the Independent People’s Union (SRI), as a political party in time for the 2014 elections.
Having the party recognized would be the first step toward nominating Sri Mulyani as a presidential candidate. Under the Elections Law, only parties or coalitions that win 25 percent of the popular vote or 20 percent of seats in the House of Representatives may field a candidate.
Sri Mulyani, a managing director at the World Bank, is considered to be one of the rare clean figures in Indonesian politics.
Constitutional Court Justice Harjono, who heard the plaintiffs’ arguments, said Article 51 of the Political Parties Law was already being contested by other plaintiffs and a decision was pending.
“If an article is being reviewed, then it can’t be subject to another review unless there are special circumstances, or if there is a new perspective,” he said.
Andi said his group would wait for the ruling on the pending review to come out before deciding on whether to proceed with its own review.
Among the plaintiffs are Democratic Party politician M. Husni Thamrin, Budi Arie Setiadi from the opposition Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and renowned journalists Goenawan Mohamad and Fikri Jufri.
The group of nine former politicians, media and social activists filed on Wednesday for a judicial review of Article 51 of the 2011 Political Parties Law, which they contend stipulates “nonsensical and difficult to meet” requirements for establishing a party.
Andi Muhammad Asrun, a lawyer for the group, said it “believes that this regulation disturbs and violates the constitutional right of a political party.”
The article requires each political party to have 30 representatives and an office in each of the country’s 33 provinces and meet the verification process two and a half years before the elections.
Abdul Rahman Tolleng, a former legislator and one of the plaintiffs, said the requirements restricted the political playing field to the rich. “This law was made specifically to benefit the wealthy,” he said. “If I don’t have money, then my constitutional rights exist merely on paper.”
He also said the group had spoken with Sri Mulyani about its plans. “She hasn’t officially stated that she will run in 2014, but she knows about our activities and she unofficially endorses them,” he said. “For us, she is a figure who is honest, firm and capable of leading Indonesia.”
The plaintiffs want the article scrapped in order to make it easier to register their group, the Independent People’s Union (SRI), as a political party in time for the 2014 elections.
Having the party recognized would be the first step toward nominating Sri Mulyani as a presidential candidate. Under the Elections Law, only parties or coalitions that win 25 percent of the popular vote or 20 percent of seats in the House of Representatives may field a candidate.
Sri Mulyani, a managing director at the World Bank, is considered to be one of the rare clean figures in Indonesian politics.
Constitutional Court Justice Harjono, who heard the plaintiffs’ arguments, said Article 51 of the Political Parties Law was already being contested by other plaintiffs and a decision was pending.
“If an article is being reviewed, then it can’t be subject to another review unless there are special circumstances, or if there is a new perspective,” he said.
Andi said his group would wait for the ruling on the pending review to come out before deciding on whether to proceed with its own review.
Among the plaintiffs are Democratic Party politician M. Husni Thamrin, Budi Arie Setiadi from the opposition Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and renowned journalists Goenawan Mohamad and Fikri Jufri.
Indonesia Corruption
Corruption in Indonesia has been so rroting in all over areas. You can easily find a corruption in many places. Corruption not only means loss of state fund, but also graft, bribey, nepotism and many others bad act. In a very simple way, when you dealt with goverment, you have to pay something or do something in order to make your business as clear as highway.
Addressing an international audience on Wednesday, Our president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono admitted that corruption was Indonesia’s biggest challenge, as well as his own.
“Corruption is our biggest challenge, my biggest challenge. I have to be frank on that,” Yudhoyono said in an interview on CNN’s Talk Asia that was broadcast on Wednesday afternoon.
Indonesia has tried to eliminate corruption since the end of Ner Order Era in 1998, including makes a Corruption Eradication Comision. “The results show for themselves. About 150 senior officials have faced the law, and some of them have been convicted and sent to jail. There’s now a big movement in our society against corruption,” But still, corruption become very hard to erase here. Because it's just become a "culture" for Indonesian. We don't know for sure whether that rumour were right or not, but the indication just so vivid.
Yudhoyono added that the practice of collusion between government officials and businesses was no longer as bad as it used to be. “I see that we are headed in the right direction. I expect that Indonesia will need about 15 to 20 years to implement a system that would spur a stronger culture or a climate of fear of corruption,” he continued.
Emerson Yuntho of Indonesia Corruption Watch warned that Transparency International still rated Indonesia quite poorly on its corruption index.
“We have to remember that Indonesia’s corruption index is still alarming because the government has not given maximum support to fight corruption,” Emerson said.
“There is still a chance for [Yudhoyono] to improve the fight against corruption by being firm. If a leader is firm in his attitude toward corruption, then the rest [of the state officials] will follow.”
He also said that from 2004 to 2010, Indonesia’s corruption perception index improved by less than one point, from 1.9 to 2.8 out of the scale of 10.
“If he said we are going to improve within 15 to 20 years, with the current condition, I would highly doubt it,” he said.
Emerson likened Indonesia’s corruption eradication effort to running on the treadmill. “Yes, we are running, but we are going nowhere.”
Renowned lawyer and anticorruption activist Todung Mulya Lubis said that even though he agreed Indonesia had launched the most aggressive corruption eradication campaign under SBY’s leadership, it was still not enough.
“True, there are a lot of arrests, but this does not create enough fear in people to commit the act. Besides, if the aim is to arrest all corruptors, our jails would not be enough,” Todung said.
He urged the president to create a system that tightened the noose on the culture of corruption, ultimately by accelerating bureaucratic reform.
“We’ve heard the term for a long time now, but nothing has really changed. They are not serious, and the reform should be based on transparency and accountability,” he said.
The Rule of Law Index released by the World Justice Project on Monday put Indonesia second to last in the East Asia and Pacific region. It was 47th of the 66 countries listed in the index.
Aside from an underdeveloped civil justice system, courts are also still prone to influence by corruption, the report said.
Police abuses and harsh conditions in correctional facilities are also a significant problem. The power given to them is just swift from the power of National Armed Forces of Indonesia (ABRI). In New Order era, ABRI become so powerful because of their exclusiveness. Now it ABRI just not like the past, but the abuse is swift to Police now.
The index, however, acknowledged the country’s main strengths in freedom of opinion and open government.
Addressing an international audience on Wednesday, Our president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono admitted that corruption was Indonesia’s biggest challenge, as well as his own.
“Corruption is our biggest challenge, my biggest challenge. I have to be frank on that,” Yudhoyono said in an interview on CNN’s Talk Asia that was broadcast on Wednesday afternoon.
Indonesia has tried to eliminate corruption since the end of Ner Order Era in 1998, including makes a Corruption Eradication Comision. “The results show for themselves. About 150 senior officials have faced the law, and some of them have been convicted and sent to jail. There’s now a big movement in our society against corruption,” But still, corruption become very hard to erase here. Because it's just become a "culture" for Indonesian. We don't know for sure whether that rumour were right or not, but the indication just so vivid.
Yudhoyono added that the practice of collusion between government officials and businesses was no longer as bad as it used to be. “I see that we are headed in the right direction. I expect that Indonesia will need about 15 to 20 years to implement a system that would spur a stronger culture or a climate of fear of corruption,” he continued.
Emerson Yuntho of Indonesia Corruption Watch warned that Transparency International still rated Indonesia quite poorly on its corruption index.
“We have to remember that Indonesia’s corruption index is still alarming because the government has not given maximum support to fight corruption,” Emerson said.
“There is still a chance for [Yudhoyono] to improve the fight against corruption by being firm. If a leader is firm in his attitude toward corruption, then the rest [of the state officials] will follow.”
He also said that from 2004 to 2010, Indonesia’s corruption perception index improved by less than one point, from 1.9 to 2.8 out of the scale of 10.
“If he said we are going to improve within 15 to 20 years, with the current condition, I would highly doubt it,” he said.
Emerson likened Indonesia’s corruption eradication effort to running on the treadmill. “Yes, we are running, but we are going nowhere.”
Renowned lawyer and anticorruption activist Todung Mulya Lubis said that even though he agreed Indonesia had launched the most aggressive corruption eradication campaign under SBY’s leadership, it was still not enough.
“True, there are a lot of arrests, but this does not create enough fear in people to commit the act. Besides, if the aim is to arrest all corruptors, our jails would not be enough,” Todung said.
He urged the president to create a system that tightened the noose on the culture of corruption, ultimately by accelerating bureaucratic reform.
“We’ve heard the term for a long time now, but nothing has really changed. They are not serious, and the reform should be based on transparency and accountability,” he said.
The Rule of Law Index released by the World Justice Project on Monday put Indonesia second to last in the East Asia and Pacific region. It was 47th of the 66 countries listed in the index.
Aside from an underdeveloped civil justice system, courts are also still prone to influence by corruption, the report said.
Police abuses and harsh conditions in correctional facilities are also a significant problem. The power given to them is just swift from the power of National Armed Forces of Indonesia (ABRI). In New Order era, ABRI become so powerful because of their exclusiveness. Now it ABRI just not like the past, but the abuse is swift to Police now.
The index, however, acknowledged the country’s main strengths in freedom of opinion and open government.
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