No.08 / August 2009
EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA
Strada Orlando No.10 Sector 1, Bucharest
www.indonezia.ro
C O N T E N T
BILATERAL / MULTILATERAL COLLABORATION
1. Indonesia, EU Agree To Sign PCA
2. RI, China Sign Extradition Cooperation Document
3. Indonesia Cooperating With Macau, Fiji In Preventing Money Laundering
4. Fifteen Countries To Attend 3rd INTOSAI Meeting
5. Three Countries To Protect Kalimantan Through 'HOB' Program
6. RI, China Discuss Terrorism
7. ASEAN Believed Able To Create Single Market
ECONOMIE
1. Govt Predicts Economy To Grow 4.3 Pct This Year
2. May Exports Up 9.5 Pct
3. Bali's Pearl Imports Up Nearly 100 Percent
4. Indonesia's Exports Have Good Prospects
5. Indonesia's Second-Half Growth May Reach 4.6 Pct: Minister
6. Indonesia Maintains Economic Growth Target For 2009 :Minister
7. Indonesia'S CPO Exports To EU Not Hampered
8. Indonesia'S Export Performance Improving
DIVERSE
1. Indonesia Tourism Industry Grows 1.69 Percent
2. Komodo Park Among 'Seven Wonders' Finalists
3. News Feature: Vote For Komodo, Save One Of World's Rarest Species
4. Sixteen US University Chiefs To Visit University Of Indonesia
INDONESIA VOTING
1. Presidential Poll Monitored By 54 Foreign Observers
2. Germany Commends Indonesia's Peaceful Election
3. Six Countries Congratulate RI On Successful Presidential Polls
4. Obama Congratulates Yudhoyono Through Press Statement
JAKARTA BOMBINGS
1. President Condemns Bombings
2. President Orders Prompt Investigation Into Bomb Attacks
3. UNSC, UN Chief Condemn Jakarta Bombings
4. Govt To Pay Hospital Bills Of All Bombing Victims
5. Interfaith Leaders Call For Peace
6. Indonesia Intensifying Counter-Terrorism Cooperation With Other Countries
7. Int'l Intelligence Information Exchange Needed To Fight Terorism
Published By :
EMBASSY OF
THE REPUBLIC OF
INDONESIA
BUCHAREST
Editor in Chief :
Hadi Sufri Yunus
Collaboration :
Eddy Mulya
Pratiwi Amperawati
Fattah Hardiwinangun
Widya Airlangga
Ganis Laksono
Tri Murniati
Secretary of Editor :
Widya Airlangga
Agus Tata S.
Distribution :
Supri Martin Diauw
Address :
Strada Orlando No.10
Sector 1, Bucharest—Romania
Telp. : +40-21-3120742 /
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E-mail : [email protected]
www.indonezia.ro
No.08/09 , August 2009
Ind ones ian Newslett e r
E mbassy of The Rep ub l ic o f Ind ones ia
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No.08/09, August 2009
Ind ones ian Newslett e r
E mbassy of The Rep ub l ic o f Ind ones ia
INDONESIA, EU AGREE TO SIGN PCA
Jakarta - The Indonesia-European Union bilateral
consultation forum agreed to sign a partnership coop-
eration agreement (PCA) at a two-day meeting which
ended in Yogyakarta on Tuesday, 14 July 2009.
The forum was called to discuss various areas of
cooperation implemented since the last meeting held in
Brussels in September 2008 and the latest develop-
ments in cooperation between Indonesia and the EU,
an EU delegation to the meeting said in a press state-
ment on Tuesday.
The PCA is the first bilateral agreement between
Indonesia and the EU.
The statement said the agreement would hopefully
ensure close and sustainable dialog and cooperation to
develop partnership such as trade ties between Indo-
nesia and the EU as well as to promote cooperation in
education, research, environment, energy, tourism and
transportation.
Two-way trade between Indonesia and the EU is
currently estimated at 20 billion euros.
The agreement would also pave the way for a dialog
and cooperation in handling border issues, organized
crimes, communicable diseases and climate change.
Before the agreement is ratified, a series of senior
officials meetings will be held as one of the bases for
the agreement between Indonesia and the EU, the
statement said.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda and
his Swedish counterpart as well as the EU commis-
sioner for foreign relations are scheduled to sign the
cooperation agreement later this year.
The forum also agreed on the planned meeting be-
tween Indonesian Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu
and her EU counterparts later this year to discuss a
wide range of important issues related to trade and
investment.
Both Indonesia and the EU also agreed to work
closely ahead of a climate change meeting in Copen-
hagen, Denmark, at the end of this year.
INDONESIA, CHINA SIGN
EXTRADITION
COOPERATION DOCUMENT
Beijing - Visiting Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister
Hassan Wirajuda and his Chinese counterpart Yang
Jiechi signed a document on extradition cooperation on
Wednesday, 1 July 2009.
After being postponed for several times, the docu-
ment was signed before Indonesian Ambassador to
China Sudrajat, embassy officials Gudadi Sasongko,
Krishna Adi Poetranto, and a number of Chinese top
officials.
Before the document of extradition cooperation was
signed, Wirajuda and Yang Yiechi discussed the impor-
tance of the cooperation and the bilateral relations be-
tween the two countries.
Wirajuda said the document was finally signed be-
cause both Indonesia and China had a strong desire to
step up cooperation especially in legal field.
"The extradition cooperation document has a strate-
gic and important meaning for the two countries to step
up cooperation in legal field," Wirajuda said.
He added that Indonesia and China had a common
interest in their effort to enforce the law and therefore
the cooperation was expected to create better coopera-
tion.
"The document will later facilitate the two countries'
law enforcers to deal with a number of criminal cases,"
the visiting Indonesian foreign affairs minister said.
Meanwhile, Yang Jiechi said his country positively
welcomed the signing of the cooperation document and
expressed hope that it would give positive result to the
two countries.
"The plan to sign the document has been discussed
several times with Foreign Affairs Minister Wirajuda on
various occasion but finally it was realized," Jiechi said.
He said through the cooperation document which
was signed on Wednesday, the two countries were
expected to step up better cooperation in the legal field
besides RI-China Strategic Cooperation which was
signed in 2005.
The extradition agreement was part of the two coun-
tries' cooperation in the legal aspect as one of the RI-
China Strategic Cooperation which has been signed by
Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and
his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao.
BILATERAL / MULTILATERAL
COLLABORATIONS
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INDONESIA COOPERATING WITH
MACAU, FIJI IN PREVENTING MONEY
LAUNDERING
Jakarta - Indonesia has established cooperation
with Macau and Fiji in efforts to prevent money laun-
dering, a financial intelligence official said.
Bambang Permantoro, deputy head for law and
adherence of Indonesia's Center of Financial Transac-
tions Analyses and Reports (PPATK), said here on
Monday the center had signed memorandums of un-
derstanding on the cooperation with the Macau Finan-
cial Intelligence Office and the Fiji Financial Intelligence
Unit last July 10.
The signing of the cooperation agreements was
done on the sidelines of the 12nd annual meeting of
the Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering at Plaza
Foyer, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Center,
Australia.
The cooperation covers exchange of financial intelli-
gence with a view to preventing and eradicating money
laundering and terrorism funding as well as related
crimes.
The information to be exchanged was to be catego-
rized as classified and it would be the task of each
agency to keep it classified. The information may not
be used as material for evidence in courts or trans-
ferred to any party without written consent from the
funds' owners. Under the agreement each agency may
refuse to give information if it is against the interest of
the countries involved.
From Indonesia's legal point of view, the cooperation
is the implementation of Article 25 Point 3 of Law Num-
ber 15 of 2002 which was later changed into Law Num-
ber 25 of 2003 on Money Laundering which states that
to prevent and eradicate money laundering the PPATK
can cooperate with kindred national or international
parties.
Macau was a Portuguese colony in the 16th century.
On April 13, 1987 China and Portugal made an agree-
ment in which they stated that on December 20, 1999
Macau would become an administrative region of the
People's Republic of China.
Macau's economy grew significantly from year to
year particulary its tourism and gambling sectors. The
gambling industry in Macau is one of the biggest in the
world and taxes from the industry account for 75 per-
cent of the Macao government's income.
Fiji meanwhile was a British colony before it gained
independence in 1970.
The cooperation agreements with the Macau and Fiji
fiancnial intelligence units are the 32nd and 33rd the
PPATK has made with other parties.
On May 27, 2007 PPATK signed a similar agree-
ment with the financial intelligence unit of Sri Lanka in
Doha, Qatar.
Until now PPATK has asked for and received infor-
mation from other financial intelligence units 168 times
while total information it has given to other financial
intelligence units reached 135 times so that informa-
tion exchanges that have so far taken place number a
total of 303 times.
FIFTEEN COUNTRIES TO ATTEND
3RD INTOSAI MEETING
Jakarta - Fifteen countries will attend the 3rd meet-
ing of the International Organization of Supreme Audit
Institutions Working Group Against International Money
Laundering and Corruption here on Wednesday, 15
July 2009.
"Twelve of the countries are members of the Inter-
anational Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions
(Intosai) while the other three are observers," said Ga-
tot Supiartono, chief of the event`s organizing commit-
tee.
Indonesian membership in the Intosai meant the
performance of the Indonesian Supreme Audit Board
(BPK) had been recognized by the international com-
munity.
The Working Group was set up by the Steering
Committee of Intosai since 2002. Intosai members
have encouraged its establishment to promote ex-
change of information and experience as well as coop-
eration among supreme audit institutions in the world.
Gatot who is BPK`s expert staff for investigative ex-
amination said the 12 countries that would attend the
meeting were Egypt as Intosai chair, Colombia, Britain,
Ecuador, the United States, Peru, Indonesia, Papua
New Guinea, Russia, Germany, Lesotho and Mexico.
The three countries that will come as observers are
Malaysia, Iraq and Poland.
"We hope the three observers will later become Into-
sai members," he said.
Gatot said the working group had strategic aims
among others promoting international cooperation
among audit agencies as well as with other agencies
concerned with fighting money laundering and corrup-
tion.
He said the result of the meeting could later be
adopted as a policy for dealing with corruption and in-
ternational money laundering for implementation by
audit agencies in the participating countries.
No.08/09 , August 2009
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"The result of the meeting could be adopted by audit
agencies as their policy so that corruption and interna-
tional money laundering could be dealt with totally," he
said.
THREE COUNTRIES TO PROTECT
KALIMANTAN THROUGH
'HOB' PROGRAM
Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan - Indo-
nesia, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam have
committed to protect Kalimantan (Borneo)
through their `Heart of Borneo (HOB)` pro-
gram.
According to Hendrik Segah, HOB Coordi-
nator of Central Kalimantan, The `Heart of
Borneo` program was a natural resource
conservation and sustainable utilization pro-
gram.
The HOB program is aimed at protecting
the sustainable utilization of one of the
world`s remaining best forests in Kalimantan
for the welfare fo the current and future gen-
erations, according to him.
The hearth of Kalimantan is a home for at
least 50 Dayak tribes with varied languages
and cultures, he said.
Water, forest and soil play crucial role in
the life of the Kalimantan people, he said.
The 2000-2002 periods, at least 1.2 mil-
lion hectares of forests in Kalimantan disap-
peared annually due to illegal logging activi-
ties, forest conversions, and forest fires, ac-
cording to Segah.
Kalimantan`s forests have been degraded
and not more than 50 percent of the forest
areas are remaining. The forest areas con-
tinue to dwindle at an alarming level, dimin-
ishing the natural resources and increasing
disaster rate.
The island`s forests having better condi-
tion are mostly located in high land areas
along the borders of Indonesia, Malaysia,
and Brunei Darussalam.
The forests have high biological diversity
with around 40 and 50 percent of flora and
fauna species found only in Kalimantan.
Within the last 10 years, there have been
new 361 species found.
One of the most important functions of the
heart of Kalimantan is as a water source. The
island has around 14 to 20 main rivers such
as Barito, Mahakam and Kapuas rivers.
On February 12, 2007, the three countries
declared their commitment to sustainable
management of the high land areas along the
borders of Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei
Darussalam on Kalimantan or Borneo Island.
RI, CHINA DISCUSS TERRORISM
Jakarta - The chairman of the Indonesian
Islamic organization Muhammadiyah, Din
Syamsuddin, received Chinese foreign minis-
ter`s special envoy Wen Xi Qi on Thursday,
23 July 2009.
The two discussed among others terrorism
and possible cooperation the two countries
could develop in the fields of politics and re-
gional security, Din said after the meeting.
Din who is also deputy secretary general
of the World Islamic People`s Leadership
(WIPL) organization said although the dis-
cussion on terrorism was not thorough the
issue was important to be watched by the
two countries.
"Yes, we did touch on terrorism but not in
detail, only in macro terms," he told
ANTARA.
Din said terrorism was the enemy of all relig-
ions, nations and countries and had to be
dealt with by all components of the nations.
The country`s image before the interna-
tional community had been damaged be-
cause of terrorist acts, he said.
Therefore, he said, cooperation with other
countries was needed so that "the strategic
concept for dealing with terrorists will be
more total and comprehensive."
Besides terrorism they had also discussed
possible cooperation the two countries could
develop in the fields of politics and regional
security.
The Chinese envoy on the occasion also
explained about the background and cause
of killings of Uighur Moslems in Xinjiang
province by Chinese soldiers.
The Chinese government reaffirmed it
would immediately settle the riots by uphold-
ing the principles of justice and avoid viola-
tions of the human rights of the minority in
the region.
ASEAN BELIEVED ABLE TO
CREATE SINGLE MARKET
Manado - For-
eign Minister Has-
san Wirajuda has
expressed opti-
mism that ASEAN
countries will be
able to create a
single market to
step up their economic development.
"Around 500 million people in ASEAN
countries will enjoy better economic develop-
ment following the establishment of a single
market," Wirajuda said on the sidelines of a
coordination meeting of Indonesian ambas-
sadors to ASEAN member countries and
ASEAN working partner countries in Manado
on Thursday, 30 July 2009.
Wirajuda said the level of economic devel-
opment could be seen through the flow of
trade at ASEAN`s 10 member countries, and
the controlled traffic of goods.
He said ASEAN is currently discussing
the tariff and non tariff of the flow of goods
into every country in ASEAN which is pre-
dicted to be zero to five percent.
"Inter-ASEAN countries economic coop-
eration will be easier and it will prompt the
economic development," Wirajuda said in the
company of ASEAN cooperation director
general Djauhari Oratmangun.
Wirajuda said other effort the ASEAN
countries would do was to open Free Trade
Area as a toll road for them facilitate coop-
eration relations.
"The ASEAN countries also continue to
open cooperation opportunity with their part-
ner countries such as the United States, Aus-
tralia, Germany, China, Japan to promote
their potentials and mineral resources," Wira-
juda said.
On the occasion, the foreign affair minis-
ter also said the AEAN`s 10 member coun-
tries would step up security cooperation in all
of their regions to anticipate acts of terrorism
that could happen anytime.
"The threat of terrorism is a serious issue
that has to be discussed at ASEAN minis-
ters` level because it can tarnish the image of
any affected country," Wirajuda said.
Wirajuda said each ASEAN country
should support terrorism prevention efforts
and prevent the transit of terrorists from one
ASEAN country to another.
He said the recent bombings of the JW
Marriott and Ritz Carlton hotels in Jakarta
had aroused the sympathy from all ASEAN
member countries and ASEAN working part-
ner countries such as the United States and
Australia.
The US had offered its assistance to help
identify the dead victims and the perpetrators
but the Indonesian government had not re-
sponded to it.
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No.08/09 , August 2009
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GOVT PREDICTS ECONOMY TO
GROW 4.3 PCT THIS YEAR
Jakarta - The Indonesian government has predicted
the country's economic growth this year may reach 4.3
percent amidst the minus 1.3 percent global economic
growth.
"The economic growth in the first semester of 2009
may reach 4.1 percent, and in the second semester
4.6 percent, bringing the total to 4.3 percent," Minister
of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati said.
The minister made the statement when submitting a
first semester report, a second semester prognosis,
and a 2009 draft revised state budget at a hearing with
the budgetary committee of the House of Representa-
tives in Jakarta Tuesday.
The minister also said that source of the 4,6 percent
second semester economic growth will be contributed
by the household consumption sector which had in-
creased by 5 percent, and the government consump-
tion sector which had grown by 12.4 percent.
Investment has been predicted to grow by 9.2 per-
cent, while exports and imports still minus 9.7 percent
and 9.2 percent.
Meanwhile, on a sectoral basis, the economic growth
in the second semester of 2009 will be contributed by
the agricultural sector (3.6 percent), mining and quarry-
ing (0.8), processing industry(2.9), electricity, gas and
clean water (9.7), construction (7.1), trade, hotels and
restaurants (3.9), transportation and communications
(12.9), finance (6.7), and services (4.3).
In the meantime, with regard to the second semester
prognosis based on macro-assumption, the finance
minister said the inflation may reach 5 percent, 3-
month BI promissory notes (SBI)6.5 percent, exchange
rate Rp10,130 to the US dollar, oil price 70 US dollars
per barrel, and oil lifting 0.963 million barrels per day.
For the whole of the year, the government predicted
the inflation at 5 percent, 3-month SBI 7.5 percent,
exchange rate Rp10,600 to the US dollar, oil price 61
US dollars per barrel, and oil lifting 0.960 million barrels
per day.
"The global crisis may still continue and affects Indo-
nesia, but the country's economy will still survive," she
said.
MAY EXPORTS UP 9.5 PCT
Jakarta - The Central Board of Statistics (BPS) said
Indonesia's exports in May 2009 increased 9.5 percent
to 9.26 billion dollars compared with those in previous
the month.
"But compared with the corresponding period a year
earlier, the May exports are 28.28 percent lower," BPS
deputy chief for statistics distribution and service af-
fairs, Ali Rosidi, said here on Wednesday.
The increase in the export performance in May was
fueled by the rise of non-oil exports which rose 13.3
percent. However oil and gas exports dropped 12 per-
cent.
Indonesia's main export commodities which experi-
enced significant increase in May 2009 included animal
fat and vegetable group which was up 57.66 percent
from 771.2 million dollars to 1.215 billion dollars.
In the meantime, the country's non oil and gas ex-
ports in the January - May period dropped by 21.9 per-
cent if compared with the same period a year earlier.
"The exports of animal and vegetable fat/oil group
experienced a significant drop by 42.44 percent in the
January - May, 2009 period," Ali Rosidi said.
He said that other commodities which experienced
significant increase were grain and metal crust/ash
groups which rose 531 percent.
Indonesia's exports to main destination countries
such as ASEAN in May increased 23 percent, Europe
31.5 percent, Japan 37.33 percent and other destina-
tions with an average increase of 4.48 percent.
In the meantime, Indonesia's exports to China in
May dropped 10.4 percent.
Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said last month
that Indonesia's non-oil/non-gas exports in 2009 were
predicted to drop by 20 percent from last year's value
of US$107.8 billion or higher than earlier forecast at 30
percent.
"Our initial forecast is minus 30 percent but now it
may be 20 to 30 percent," she said.
She said non-oil/non-gas exports had declined
since October 2008 and were likely to reach bottom in
March. "We hope the trend will rise and therefore con-
tracts will not be as big as in previous years," she said.
According to the BPS the country's non-oil/non-gas
exports from January to April 2009 reached US$26.90
billion or dropped by 22.68 percent compared to last
year's.
ECONOMY
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BALI'S PEARL IMPORTS UP
NEARLY 100 PERCENT
Denpasar, Bali, - Imports of pearls, gems, gold
and artificial accessories in the first three months of
2009, increased to US$4.4 million, or up almost 100
percent from 2.4 percent in 2008.
The imported jeweleries were usually reexported
after being processed in Bali, Gusti Viraguna Bagoes
Oka, head of the Bank Indonesia (BI) office in Den-
pasar, said on Saturday.
Bali exported pearl handicrafts worth US$13.2 mil-
lion during January-March 2009, while its pearl imports
were only US$2.4 million during the same period, he
said.
However, the export value decreased from
US$16.6 million in January-March 2008, he said.
Bali's exports decreased from US$8.6 million in
January 2009, to US$4.6 million in February, but again
increased to US$16.4 million in March 2009, he said.
Meanwhile, exports from Bali have dropped 13.35
percent, from US$70.89 million in the first quarter of
2008 to $61.43 million in the same period this year.
Panudiana Kuhn, chairman of the Bali branch of the
Indonesian Employers Association (Apindo), said re-
cently the decrease in exports was a result of the cur-
rent financial crisis.
Statistics from the Bali office of the Central Statistics
Agency (BPS) recently showed the largest decrease of
exports occurred in the footwear industry, followed by
wood products and jewelry.
Footwear exports dropped from $4.95 million to
$3.30 million, wood and wood products from $2.60
million to $2.23 million, and jewelry and precious
stones from $16.05 million to $14.18 million.
The records also show that garment exports
dropped from $16.61 million to $15.67 million in the first
quarter, knitted products from $3.75 million to $3.63
million, cotton from $958,000 to $910,000, and textiles
from $716,000 to $656,000.
Overall, Balinese imports of various goods dropped
by 29.55 percent. Despite significant losses this quar-
ter, several exports improved, including fish and
shrimp, furniture and leather goods.
INDONESIA'S EXPORTS HAVE GOOD
PROSPECTS
Jakarta - Economic observer Rizal Ramli said that
Indonesia's export prospects, particularly for commodi-
ties, in the second semester of this year were promis-
ing.
"The export prospect of our commodities is good
because since last May it has been improving. But the
prospect of manufactured goods and other products
has not yet shown any improvement," he said here on
Sunday.
He said that what was important for the people was
the export of products produced by labour-intensive
industries because this sector would create job oppor-
tunities.
"Unfortunately, this has not yet revived. However,
the prospect of our commodities has indicated a good
trend," the chief economic minister said.
According to the Central Board of Statistics (BPS),
the country's non-oil/non-gas exports in the January -
May period dropped by 21.9 percent compared with
those in the same period a year earlier.
The exports of animal and vegetable fats and oil
had significant dropped by 42.44 percent.
Other exports of commodities which had signifi-
cantly increased included grains and metal crust/ash,
which rose 531 percent.
Indonesia's exports to main destination countries in
ASEAN in May increased 23 percent, to Europe 31.5
percent, Japan 37.33 percent and to other destinations
with an average increase of 4.48 percent.
Indonesia's exports to China in May dropped 10.4
percent, however.
In the meantime, Indonesia's exports in May 2009,
according to the BPS, increased 9.5 percent to 9.26
billion US dollars compared with those in the previous
month.
But compared with the corresponding period a year
earlier, the May exports are 28.28 percent lower.
The increase in the export performance in May was
fueled by the rise of non-oil exports which rose 13.3
percent. However oil and gas exports dropped 12 per-
cent.
On the investment prospect, Ramli said he was not
yet able to make a prediction, because investors were
still waiting for a new leader after the presidential elec-
tion on July 8, 2009.
Therefore, he said, whoever is elected president for
the 2009-2014 term of office should obtain wide legiti-
Ind ones ian Newslett e r
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macy.
Thus, investors who still have doubts or temporarily
postponed their investment would soon make their in-
vestment.
INDONESIA'S SECOND-HALF
GROWTH MAY REACH 4.6 PCT:
MINISTER
Jakarta, - The Indonesian economy may grow 4.6
percent in the second half of 2009 on increased gov-
ernment spending and current positive economic senti-
ments, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said.
"In the second half among the sources that will have
the potential to accelerate the growth will be budget
spending. The second will be positive sentiments to the
result of the just-concluded presidential poll that we
hope will create certainty," she said following a limited
cabinet meeting at the Presidential Office here on
Thursday.
Given controllable macro stability and better-than-
expected global condition, the second-half economic
growth might reach above 4.5 percent, exceeding the
first-half growth forecast of 4.1 percent, she said.
"If we look at the current condition the economy will
expand 4.5 percent or even 4.6 percent. The first-half
growth is estimated to reach 4.1 percent. That is why if
we want 4.5 percent growth (in 2009) the second-half
growth must be close to 5 percent," she said.
She said funds used to finance activities aimed at
speeding up the economic stimulus program could be
disbursed as early as in August 2009.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said recently
he was optimistic that the economy would grow 4-4.5
percent this year owing to the increasingly conducive
macro economic condition and political stability.
Earlier, on Wednesday, Sri Mulyani hoped invest-
ment would grow seven percent to support the econ-
omy so that it could grow four percent this year.
"If growth is still quite strong we hope investment in
the second quarter and in the second semester can
grow higher than in the first quarter which was re-
corded at 3.5 percent," she said.
She said investment growth was expected to come
from foreign direct investment, bank credits, expendi-
tures of state-owned and private companies and also
from the capital market.
Data from the Finance Ministry show investment is
predicted to grow 5.6 percent and the economy 4.1
percent in the first half of 2009.
Meanwhile, the economy is predicted to grow 4.6
percent in the second semester, supported by invest-
ment which is expected to grow 9.2 percent.
In 2009 the country's economy is expected to grow
4.3 percent, supported by an investment growth of 7.4
percent.
Foreign direct investment in the first semester this
year meanwhile is predicted to reach US$4.549 billion
or up from the same period last year reaching US$3.5
billion.
For the second semester it is predicted to reach
US$1.704 billion, down from US$4.419 billion recorded
in the same period last year.
Foreign portfolio investment in the first semester this
year is predicted to be minus US$1.178 billion, down
from minus US$288 million in the same period last
year.
Foreign portfolio investment in the second semester
of 2009 is predicted to reach US$420 million, up from a
minus US$1.309 billion in the same period last year.
INDONESIA MAINTAINS
ECONOMIC GROWTH TARGET
FOR 2009 : MINISTER
Jakarta - Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said
the government will not change the 2009 economic
growth target because the recent bomb attacks at JW
Marriott and Ritz Carlton hotels here did not leave a
bad impact to the Indonesia`s economy.
"We do not revise the 2009 economic growth, be-
cause last Friday`s bombing attacks we condemned,
did not bring about serious impact to real economic
activities in the country," the minister said here
Wednesday following a discussion with five other cabi-
net ministers and representatives of the Indonesian
chamber of commerce and industry (Kadin).
The government will only anticipate a change in the
flow of human resources in connection with the tight
security inspection in seaports, airports and bus termi-
nals, Indrawati said.
Sri Mulyani Indrawati said the cancellation of tourist
visits in the last weekend, only concerned those who
would stay at the two hotels attacked by the terrorists.
"In addition, we also had talked with the House of
Representatives (DPR) that if an anticipatory effort
caused an impact on the budget, the DPR will support
(the government)," he said.
No.08/09 , August 2009
Ind ones ian Newslett e r
E mbassy of The Rep ub l ic o f Ind ones ia
Pagină 10
During the discussion, minister Indrawati also talked
about the goverment`s preparations for he Muslim fast-
ing month of Ramadhan and the Idul Fitri festivities.
The trade minister, industry minister, and the trans-
portation minister took part in the meeting with the fi-
nance minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati. – 23 July 2009-
RI'S CPO EXPORTS TO EU
NOT HAMPERED
Jakarta - European Union Ambassador to Indonesia
and Brunei Darussalam Julian Wilson said the Renew-
able Energy Directive (RED) issued by the European
Union was not intended to hamper Indonesia's crude
palm oil (CPO) exports.
"The RED is issued to overcome the climate change
and not to disadvantage industry," Wilson said here on
Friday. He made the remarks after a discussion with
government representatives, businessmen and non-
governmental organizations on CPO and environ-
mental issues.
He denied that there was a plan to boycott Indone-
sia's CPO export with the imposition of the RED ruling.
Based on the EU's data, Indonesia's CPO exports to
the European Union grew 27 percent per annum in the
2005 - 2008 period. During 2008, Indonesia's CPO
exports to the European Union reached about three
million tons with a value of about 1.25 billion euro.
The RED was proposed in January 2008 and was
approved by member countries in December 2008. The
scheme requires each EU member country to adopt an
action plan on the use of renewable energy in order to
reduce the impact of climate change as a result of in-
crease in carbon emission.
The biofuel that was to be used must meet several
conditions such as the use of raw materials which were
environment friendly based on the European stan-
dards.
Wilson explained that Indonesia's CPO exports to
European Union would continue as usual with a normal
rate of import duties even though they did not meet the
standards.
"The CPO exports to European Union will proceed
as usual but if the rule is abode-by, the exports will get
additional incentives," he said.
In the meantime, Thibaut Portevin, European Com-
mission's program manager for natural resources and
environment, said the incentives would be different in
each of Indonesia's export destination countries.
"The incentives could be in the form of tax facilities
or the imposition of a premium price, but this is different
in each of the European countries," Portevin said.
RI'S EXPORT PERFORMANCE
IMPROVING
Jakarta - Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said
that Indonesia`s export performance was improving
following the increase in commodity prices and in de-
mand for Indonesian commodities overseas.
"It can be better than the previous prediction. The
growth of our exports in the first semester was minus
20 percent but for the whole year we are optimistic the
negative growth could be reduced to minus 15 per-
cent," the minister said here on Monday. The minis-
ter made the remarks after attending the "I Love Indo-
nesia" campaign by 51 state-owned enterprises
(BUMN). She said that the improvement of the coun-
try`s export performance was thanks to the increase in
the commodity prices and in the demand for Indone-
sian goods.
"We hoped that the export growth would already be
positive next year. In term of volumes it is expected
that the exports would increase by five percent," she
added.
This year, the trade minister predicted that exports
would be at a stable level or increasing five percent
only.
"Improvement would take place on a monthly basis.
In the first semester of 2010 the export growth would
not yet be positive but the volume of exports in whole in
2010 would already experience a positive growth," she
said.
On the occasion, the minister also said the "I Love
Indonesia" campaign launched by the government was
not a form of protectionism but a means to promote
domestic consumption.
"This campaign is not a protectionist ploy at all . It is
designed to increase people`s love for domestic prod-
ucts and stimulate domestic consumption," she said.
She said the participation of the state-owned com-
panies in the campaign was expected to encourage
people to love domestic products and private compa-
nies to participate in the campaign.
"The trade ministry only allocates around Rp3 billion
for it. It is not much because we do not have funds to
pay advertisements and therefore we are cooperating
with state-owned companies," she said.
No.08/09 , August 2009
Ind ones ian Newslett e r
E mbassy of The Rep ub l ic o f Ind ones ia Pagină 11
INDONESIA TOURISM INDUSTRY
GROWS 1.69 PERCENT
Jakarta, - Indonesia's tourism industry grew
around 1.69 percent from January to May, 2009 with
foreign tourist arrivals reaching 2.4 million, up 40,098
from the same period last year.
"The global economic crisis has not affected our
tourism very much particularly tourist arrivals," the di-
rector general of marketing of the ministry of culture
and tourism, Sapta Nirwandar said here on Friday.
He said the first quarter growth gave optimism that
the target for the Visit Indonesia Year 2009 of 6.5 mil-
lion foreign tourist arrivals would be achieved.
To meet the target various strategic and promotion
efforts have been intensified including sending sales
missions, offering cheap tourist packages and increas-
ing promotion through print and electronic media and of
farm trips.
"We must be grateful that Indonesia's tourism indus-
try in the midst of current global crisis could still grow
as expected," he said.
He said the number of tourists from Australia in the
first five months reached 165,137, up 26.25 percent.
The number of tourists from other countries namely
from the Middle East rose around 42.04 percent,
Europe 10.23 percent and China 18.96 percent.
He said tourist arrivals from other Asian countries in
the period such as Singapore were recorded minus
6.72 percent, Japan minus 13.80 percent and South
Korea minus 27.28 percent.
"So tourism industry in most Asian countries has
been hit," he said.
In view of the crisis the country's tourism industry
now relies much on domestic tourists. In 2008, 225
million people in the country conducted travelling, he
said.
Efforts have continuously been made to encourage
domestic tourists to conduct travels through among
others increased promotion events.
In 2008, local tourists conducted 1.92 times of travel-
ling in average spending Rp123.1 trillion. -
KOMODO PARK AMONG 'SEVEN
WONDERS' FINALISTS
Kupang, E Nusa Tenggara - Indonesia's Komodo
National Park is among the five finalists in a contest for
inclusion in
the "New
Seven Won-
ders of Na-
ture."
"The Ko-
modo Na-
tional Park
r a n k e d
fourth on
Friday (July 24) after successfully brushing aside Ma-
laysia's Sipadan Island and Germany's Black Forest,"
head of the East Nusa Tenggara tourism, arts and cul-
ture office Ansgerius Takalapeta quoted director gen-
eral of marketing at the Arts and Tourism Ministry
Sapta Nirwandar as saying on Saturday.
The park became one of the finalists in the contest
next to the Amazone Forest in Brazil, Bu Tinah Island
in the United Arab emirates, Galapagos Island in Ecua-
dor and Iguanzu Falls River in Brazil.
Takalapeta asked the Indonesian people and the
world community to continue to promote the Komodo
National Park to make it eligible for recognition as one
of the New Seven Wonders of Nature in 2011.
"We hope the entire Indonesian nation everywhere to
vote for Komodo Island so it will be appointed as the
New Seven Wonders. It is the voters who will decide,"
he said.
The two-time Alor district head noted that Amazone
Forest and Black Forest were the park's strong con-
tenders in the contest.
"We still have time until 2011 to vote for Komodo
Island in the contest for the New Seven Wonders.
Therefore, don't waste your time because your partici-
pation to vote in the contest will play a deciding role,"
he said.
"Earlier, Komodo Island also became one of the 28
finalists chosen among 77 nominees by a panel of ex-
perts. Also there were 261 landmarks in the world
nominated as one of the Seven Wonders," he said.
The Komodo National Park which covers Komodo,
Rinca and Padar islands as well as other small islands
No.08/09 , August 2009
DIVERSE
Pagină 12
is home to Komodo dragon believed to be the remnants
of animals living in Jurassic period.
The 1,817 sq km park was set up in 1980 to protect
the Komodo dragon as well as other animal species.
News Feature: VOTE FOR KOMODO,
SAVE ONE OF WORLD'S RAREST
SPECIES
By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta - Once they are extinct they will never ap-
pear on this earth again and you will lose this world`s
rarest species, the komodo dragon, Indonesia`s giant
lizard. So, if you care about it, vote for it. Your vote will
safeguard it and
usher it into one
of the New
Seven Wonders
of Nature.
" T he r e f o re ,
we request the
people at home
and the interna-
tional community
to vote for the
Komodo National
Park so that it will
win the contest
as one of the
New Seven Won-
ders of Nature," Director for Culture and Tourism Devel-
opment Marketing Development, Syamsul Lussa, said.
Indeed, the Indonesian government is doing its best
to help promote one of the world`s ancient heritage so
that it would become one of the winners in the New
Seven Wonders of Nature that would be announced in
2011.
The Komodo National Park was built in 1980 to pro-
tect the Komodo dragon (veranus Komodoensis) which
is a venomous species of lizards that inhabit the islands
of Komodo, Rinca, and Padar, as well as numerous
other smaller islands in Indonesia`s East Nusa Teng-
gara province.
It covers a total surface area (marine and land) of
1,817 km (proposed extensions would bring the total
surface area to 2,321 km2). As well as home to the
komodo dragon, the park provides refuge for many
other notable terrestrial species such as the orange-
footed scrub fowl, an endemic rat, and the Timor deer.
According to the official website of the Komodo Na-
tional Park, the goals for the park have expanded to
protecting its entire biodiversity, both terrestrial and
marine. In 1986, the park was declared a World Heri-
tage Site by UNESCO, which is an indication of the
park`s biological importance.
A research result by the Nature Conservation
Agency of the park revealed that the population of the
giant lizards is decreasing so that the world rare animal
species is facing extinction. The very rare animal spe-
cies have become increasingly on the brink of extinction
because of illegal hunting by highly irresponsible peo-
ple, just like the illegal hunting of deer and boars.
There was a time when the giant lizards were taken
by a number of
zoo operators in
Indonesia as a
new collection,
but eventually
these big animals
did not develop or
grow well as in
their own habitat.
Thus , t he
world community
needs to help
preserve their
habitat and popu-
lation by bringing
them to the
world`s attention and include them into one of the New
Seven Wonders of Nature.
"We are hoping for the support of the entire Indone-
sian people and the world community to vote for the
Komodo National Park so that it would be included in
the seven wonders of the world," Gulam Husein of the
East Nusa Tenggara Tourism and Culture Agency,
said.
The voting is organized on-line on the web (http://
www.new7wonders.com) or by phone (phone number:
+41 77 312 4041, with code 7717 for voting for Komodo
National park.
Tourism Marketing Director General Sapta Nirwan-
dar said meanwhile that the Indonesian government
was launching a `Vote for Komodo Park` campaign
which was integrated with the "Visit Indonesia Year
2009" program.
"We hope a quarter of Indonesia`s population which
Ind ones ian Newslett e r
E mbassy of The Rep ub l ic o f Ind ones ia
No.08/09 , August 2009
Pagină 13
totals over 230 million people will support the program
and vote for the park," he said.
Thank God, Indonesia`s Komodo National Park is
now among the five finalists in a contest for inclusion in
the New Seven Wonders of Nature.
"The Komodo National Park ranked fourth on Friday
(July 24) after successfully brushing aside Malaysia`s
Sipadan Island and Germany`s Black Forest," head of
the East Nusa Tenggara tourism, arts and culture office
Ansgerius Takalapeta quoted director general of mar-
keting at the Arts and Tourism Ministry Sapta Nirwan-
dar as saying on Saturday.
The park became one of the finalists in the contest
next to the Amazone Forest in Brazil, Bu Tinah Island
in the United Arab Emirates, Galapagos Island in Ecua-
dor and Iguanzu Falls River also in Brazil.
Takalapeta asked the Indonesian people and the
world community to continue to promote the Komodo
National Park to make it eligible for recognition as one
of the New Seven Wonders of Nature in 2011.
"We hope the entire Indonesian nation everywhere
to vote for Komodo Island so it will be declared as one
of the New Seven Wonders. I t is the voters who will
decide," he said.
The Amazone Forest and Black Forest were the
strong contenders in the contest with the park which is
believed to be the remnants of animals living in Juras-
sic period.
"We still have time until 2011 to vote for Komodo
Island in the contest for the New Seven Wonders.
Therefore, don`t waste your time because your vote in
the contest will play a decisive role," he said.
"Earlier, Komodo Island became one of the 28 final-
ists chosen among 77 nominees by a panel of experts.
Also there were 261 landmarks in the world nominated
as one of the Seven Wonders," he said.
On July 21 2009, New 7 Wonders Foundation an-
nounced the National Komodo Park as one of the 28
finalists qualified to advance to the final stage (Third
round).
SIXTEEN US UNIVERSITY CHIEFS
TO VISIT UNIVERSITY OF INDONESIA
Depok, W Java - Some 16 United States' university
leaders including University of Michigan will visit Uni-
versity of Indonesia (UI) to explore the possibility of
cooperation through human resources exchanges, a
UI spokesman said.
"One of the high learning institute leaders is from
University of Michigan, as the 18th rank of the best
universities in the world," deputy director of communi-
cation affairs of University of Indonesia, Devie Rah-
mawati said here on Tuesday.
It rarely happened in the recent years that big team
of the U.S. high learning institute leaders came to Indo-
nesia, she said.
The spokesperson also expressed hope that
through such cooperation, an exchange program be-
tween students and lecturers including in the field of
research of the two countries can be implemented.
According to her, the researches which were ex-
pected to be developed in the cooperation will touch
the matter of terrorism, the condition of Indonesia,
South East Asia, business law, information and tech-
nology, product design, nursing care in tropical and
communicable disease, including natural products.
Rahmawati said university as one of the strategic
entities in effort to help develop the country's civiliza-
tion, the university concerned should step up its quality
amidst the tight competition at the national, regional
and international fora.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
INDONESIA’S VOTE
PRESIDENTIAL POLL MONITORED BY
54 FOREIGN OBSERVERS
Tangerang, Banten provincice - Some 54 foreign
observers from 26 countries conducted direct observa-
tion in six areas in Indonesia on the country's presiden-
tial election, a spokesman said.
The 26 foreign observers were invited to observe
the presidential election in cooperation with Foreign
Affairs Ministry in the implementation of the
"Indonesian Presidential Election Visitor Program",
Andri Hadi, Information and Public Diplomacy Director
General at foreign affairs ministry said.
"The 54 foreign observers conduct direct observa-
tion in several regions. Together with me here about 24
people want to see direct presidential election. The
observers want to understand since the beginning of
the presidential implementation in several polling sta-
tions (TPS)," he said when visiting the TPS 08 here on
Ind ones ian Newslett e r
E mbassy of The Rep ub l ic o f Ind ones ia
No.08/09 , August 2009
Wednesday.
Andri Hadi said the 54 foreign observers would
make the close look at the presidential election for four
days. They want to know whether or not the implemen-
tation of the presidential polls run fairly, secure and
transparent.
"After observing the presiential election they then
inform the results of the research of the presidential
election to their own countries," Andri said.
He pointed out that the 54 foreign observers were
devided into two parts in a bid to observe the presiden-
tial race in five areas namely, the cities of Makassar,
Malang, Denpasar, Yogjakarta, Jakarta and Tanger-
ang.
Some 176,367,056 eligible voters including
1,133,738 Indonesians overseas, are expected to go to
polling stations on Wednesday to vote for the country's
next president and vice president.
Three presidential aspirants, namely incumbent
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who pairs with
Boediono, incumbent Vice President Jusuf Kalla and
his running mate retired General Wiranto, and former
President Megawati Soekarnoputri and her running
mate retired Lt General Prabowo Subianto, competed
in the presidential race.
GERMANY COMMENDS INDONESIA'S
PEACEFUL ELECTION
Jakarta - The German government commends In-
donesia's safe and peaceful presidential election held
on Wednesday (July 8).
"I really commend the fact that the direct election by
so many people and across such a vast territory pro-
ceeded peacefully," German Ambassador to Indonesia
Baron Paul von Maltzahn said here on Thursday.
Matltzahn said direct presidential elections were
conducted in other countries before but they were not
as peaceful as that in Indonesia.
He said he used to serve in several Middle East
countries but there he never saw a peaceful election
like that in Indonesia which is made up of more than
ten thousand islands with various ethnic communities.
"Whoever wins the election and becomes the next
president of Indonesia will not be a problem for us in
continuing our bilateral cooperation," the German am-
bassador said.
Matltzahn who will end his tenure in Indonesia in
September this year added security was something of
primary concern for foreign representatives in Ger-
many and in Indonesia as well.
But he said the Indonesian people and the govern-
ment had a high awareness of the importance of secu-
rity in organizing the direct and peaceful presidential
election in the country.
"I have been here as an ambassador for three years,
and have seen that every democratic festivity in this
largest archipelagic country in the world is much better
than that in a number of developing countries in the
Middle East," the German envoy said.
He said democratic festivities in Middle East coun-
tries were not as good as that in Indonesia.
Matltzahn added that democratic festivity was in-
separable from law enforcement, freedom of expres-
sion, and the process of election itself.
"In reality, the direct and peaceful election in Indone-
sia can be made as an example to other countries," he
said.
SIX COUNTRIES CONGRATULATE RI
ON SUCCESSFUL PRESIDENTIAL
POLLS
Cikeas, Bogor, - Six heads of state/government
had congratulated the Indonesian government on its
success of the direct presidential election which was
held on July 8, 2009.
Presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal made the
remarks here on Friday after President Susilo Bam-
bang Yudhoyono received his Palestinian counterpart
Mahmud Abbas' congratulatory message on Indone-
sia's success in holding the election.
"The six heads of state/government who had sent
congratulatory messages are Malaysian Prime Minis-
ter, the Timor Leste President, Singapore Prime Minis-
ter, Australian Prime Minister, South Korea's President,
Palestinian President and the Philippine President,"
Patti Djalal said.
The spokesman said that the congratulations were a
reflection of international recognition and respect of the
implementation of democracy in Indonesia.
On Thursday ( ), the US embassy in Jakarta issued
Ambassador Cameron R Hume's statement congratu-
lating Indonesia holding the presidential election.
"We congratulate the government and people of
Pagină 14 Ind ones ian Newslett e r
E mbassy of The Rep ub l ic o f Ind ones ia
No.08/09 , August 2009
Indonesia for an orderly and peaceful presidential elec-
tion," the ambassador said.
The presidential election once again showed the
commitment of the Indonesian people to their dynamic
democracy, he added.
He also congratulated President Susilo Bambang
Yudhoyono for his success.
Earlier, Palestinian Ppresident Mahmud Abbas in a
telephone-conversation with Yudhoyono on Friday at
6.35 pm, conveyed his congratulatory message on the
success of the election.
In his response, Yudhoyono who is the incumbent
president thanked Abbas and pointed out that Indone-
sia always supports the struggle of the Palestinian peo-
ple for independence.
In the provisional results of the vote counts issued
by the General Elections Commission (KPU), Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono who paired with Boediono was
still leading in the race, collecting 61.66 percent of the
total number of votes.
The Mega-Pro and JK-WIN pairs trailed behind with
a vote collection of 28.57 percent and 9.77 percent
respectively.
Three presidential and vice presidential candidate
pairs competed in the election, namely former presi-
dent Megawati Soekarnoputri and her running mate
retired Lt. General Prabowo Subianto, president Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono who pairs with Boediono, and
incumbent vice president M Jusuf Kalla and retired
general Wiranto.
OBAMA CONGRATULATES
YUDHOYONO THROUGH PRESS
STATEMENT
Jakarta - United States President Barack Obama
has congratulated Indonesian President Susilo Bam-
bang Yudhoyono on his recent election victory through
a White House press statement.
Presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal said here
on Wednesday there had yet to be a direct communi-
cation over the telephone between President Obama
and President Yudhoyono.
"President Obama congratulated Yudhoyono through
a special press statement which was released by the
White House but so far there has been no direct con-
gratulation from the US president to Yudhoyono
through a telephone conversation," Patti Djalal said.
But Patti Djalal said he was certain Obama would
directly congratulate Yudhoyono on his winning last
Wednesday's presidential election in Indonesia, aside
from the press statement because a White House offi-
cial had contacted Indonesia for that purpose.
"We are still waiting for direct congratulation by
phone from President Barack Obama," Patti Djalal said.
The presidential spokesman said President
Obama's congratulations through the White House
press statement was a new style felicitation which even
indicated the US great attention to Indonesia.
"Obama's congratulation through the press state-
ment is much better than the direct one by phone be-
cause it shows how great the US attention is to Indone-
sia," Patti Djalal said.
According to Patti Djalal, Obama said in the White
House press statement that Yudhoyono's victory in
Wednesday's presidential election had a good impres-
sion in the democratic festivity in Indonesian on July 8,
2009.
Besides personally congratulating Yudhoyono on his
election victory, the US president also expressed his
expectation that with Yudhoyono's next government,
cooperation relations between Indonesia and the
United States would even be strengthened.
Obama also commended the democratic dynamics
in Indonesia which was marked with the high participa-
tion of the voters, civilian and government organiza-
tions in the election process.
Patti Djalal said Obama was of the opinion that Indo-
nesia had played a great role in promoting democracy,
civilian power, and peace in Asia.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
JAKARTA BOMBINGS
PRESIDENT CONDEMNS BOMBINGS
Jakarta - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said
he strongly condemned the bomb attacks on Hotel JW
Marriott and Hotel Ritz-Carlton that left at least nine
people dead in Jakarta on Friday.
The incidents which occurred just after the peaceful
implementation of the presidential elections on July 8
would certainly have an effect on many activities in the
country, he said at a press conference at the presiden-
Ind ones ian Newslett e r
E mbassy of The Rep ub l ic o f Ind ones ia Pagină 15
No.08/09 , August 2009
Pagină 16
tial palace.
A match between British football club Manchester
United and Indonesian all stars in Jakarta next Monday
had been canceled because of the incidents.
In connection with the incidents, President Yud-
hoyono said "I swear to the Indonesian people, the
state and the government will take firm and appropri-
ate actions against the perpetrators including their
mastermind."
Yudhoyono also called on all government agencies
concerned to immediately investigate the case thor-
oughly.
He said that terrorists were responsible for the
bombings.
"Today marks a black chapter in our history. The
bombings were the acts of terrorists. A terrorist network
must have been behind the terrorism although it may
not be one we already know about," he said.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono looked emo-
tional when making the statement. Several times he
visibly held his breath to control his emotions when
making the statement.
He said the incidents would have a big impact on
Indonesia after the country enjoyed political and secu-
rity stability in the past five years.
Indonesia which was just thriving in economic and
political terms and enjoying a good image in interna-
tional forums now seemed to have been thrown back-
wards because of the incidents, he said.
"The incidents damaging the country's security and
peaceful conditions, had also occurred while the people
were craving for a secure, calm and peaceful atmos-
phere and unity to develop the country," he said.
President Yudhoyono had ordered the police, the
military as well as provincial governors and city mayors
to heighten their alertness. "Law enforcers must find
the perpetrator(s) or mastermind of the violence," he
said.
The head of the anti-terror desk at the office of the
coordinating minister for political, legal and security
affairs, Police Inspector General Ansyaad Mbai said
the Indonesian government would continue its fight
against terrorism.
"Whatever its form, we will never tolerate terrorism.
The Indonesian government will continue to fight terror-
ism with both soft or hard power," he said.
The dead victims of the bombings on Friday also
include foreigners.
Police suspected that the bombings were done by
suicide bombers but further investigation still had to be
done to prove it.
National Police Chief General Bamban Hendarso
Danuri said Jakarta was now in state of the highest
alert level.
The head of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN),
Syamsir Siregar, said an intensive investigation and
evaluation would be done on the whole security situa-
tion in the country, including whether the bombings
were related to recent security disturbances in Papua
or the July 8 presidential election.
Around two hundred employees of JW Marriott had
been questioned by the police in connection with the
bombing incidents. "Our friends who work night and
morning shifts are still inside the hotel," Subagio, a JW
Marriott Hotel technician, told newsmen after the blast,
adding he did not know when they would be allowed to
return home because "the police were still questioning
them."
No one has so far claimed responsibility for the inci-
dents.
PRESIDENT ORDERS PROMPT
INVESTIGATION INTO BOMB
ATTACKS
Jakarta - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
Friday ordered the law enforcing agencies to conduct
a comprehensive investigation immediately into the
bomb attacks at two Jakarta hotels that killed 12 people
earlier in the day.
The bombers escaped the surveillance system of
the police which in the past five years succeeded in
defusing terrorist threats and confiscating explosives
believed to be used for terrorist acts, Yudhoyono told a
press conference at the State Palace.
"In the past five years the police have been success-
ful in preventing terrorist acts, confiscating explosives
and even uncovering a number of (terrorist) networks
but today an incident has happened that has destabi-
lized national security and damaged the image of our
nation and country," he said.
The President described the bomb attacks that killed
12 people as a stain on Indonesian history.
The bomb attacks were committed by a terrorist
group but possibly not by a known terrorist group, he
said.
Ind ones ian Newslett e r
E mbassy of The Rep ub l ic o f Ind ones ia
No.08/09 , August 2009
Pagină 17
Yudhoyono said intelligence agents had obtained
information that since the April 2009 legislative election
members of a terrorist group had been practicing their
marksmanship on his photo.
The intelligence information also suggested that cer-
tain quarters would try to commit acts of violence over
the results of the July 8 presidential election, he said.
He expressed hope that the Friday bomb attacks
would not lead to speculations before the definitive
results of the investigation were made public.
"With regard to today's bomb attacks, I instruct the
rank and file of law-enforcing agencies to perform their
duties properly, objectively, firmly and responsibly," he
said.
After receiving reports from e National Police Chief
Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri, State Intelligence
Agency (BIN) Chief Syamsir Siregar, Coordinating
Minister for Political, Law and Security Affairs Widodo
AS and National Defence Forces (TNI) Chief Gen.
Djoko Santoso, the President said he believed the po-
lice would be able get to the bottom of the bomb at-
tacks.
"I also instruct law enforcers to prosecute whoever is
involved in this terrorist act, regardless of their status
and political background," he said.
As the head of state, he said he strongly condemned
the terrorist acts.
"I swear in the name of the Indonesian people and
country that the government will take stern, correct
and appropriate actions against the perpetrators of the
bomb attacks and their masterminds," he said.
By late Friday, it was officially confirmed that 12 peo-
ple were killed and 52 others injured in the twin bomb-
ings on the Ritz Carlton and JW Marriott hotels in the
upscale Mega Kuningan district of Jakarta.
UNSC, UN CHIEF CONDEMN
JAKARTA BOMBINGS
UN HQ, NY - The UN Security Council and Secre-
tary-General Ban Ki-moon have strongly condemned
Friday`s bombings of two hotels in central Jakarta that
have reportedly killed at least nine people and injured
dozens of others.
The Secretary-General recognizes the steadfast
efforts the Indonesian government has made in bring-
ing to justice perpetrators of past terrorist acts, Ban`s
spokesperson Michelle Montas said in a press state-
ment at the UN Headquarters on Friday.
Ban expressed confidence that the new attacks will
be investigated with equal resolve and that those re-
sponsible will be prosecuted, he said.
"The Secretary-General extends his condolences to
the families of the victims and wishes those injured a
speedy recovery," Montas said.
The Security Council adopted a presidential state-
ment in which members voiced outrage and offered
"deep sympathy and condolences to the victims of
these heinous acts of terrorism and to their families,
and to the people and government of Indonesia."
The 15-member panel stressed the need to bring
the perpetrators, organizers and sponsors of the bomb-
ings to justice and urged all states to cooperate with
Indonesian authorities as they pursue that goal.
"The Security Council reaffirms that terrorism in all
its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the
most serious threats to international peace and secu-
rity, and that any acts of terrorism are criminal and un-
justifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever,
whenever and by whomsoever committed."
Meanwhile, earlier, US President Barack Obama
also condemned the bomb attacks on the JW Marriott
and Ritz Carlton hotels in Jakarta which killed at least
nine people on Friday morning.
The US president said his government as a friend
and partner was ready to assist Indonesia in its recov-
ery efforts after the bomb attacks.
"I strongly condemn the attacks that occurred this
morning in Jakarta, and extend my deepest condo-
lences to all the victims and their loved ones." Obama
said on Friday.
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Friday also
condemned the "senseless" bomb attacks in two Ja-
karta hotels that killed at least nine people, underlining
that the threat of terrorism remains "very real."
The State Department was working "to help Ameri-
can citizens injured in the blasts" in the Indonesian
capital, Clinton said in a statement issued from Prague
as her plane stopped for refuelling en route to India.
GOVT TO PAY HOSPITAL BILLS
OF ALL BOMBING VICTIMS
Jakarta - The government will foot the hospital bills
of all JW Marriott and Ritz Carlton hotel bombing vic-
tims needing medical treatment, Health Minister Siti
Ind ones ian Newslett e r
E mbassy of The Rep ub l ic o f Ind ones ia
No.08/09 , August 2009
Pagină 18
Fadilah Supari said on Saturday.
"If the wounded victims do not have life insurance,
the government will fully bear the costs of their hospi-
talization," the minister said after visiting them at MMC
Hospital here on Saturday afternoon.
But victims who had been transferred to hospitals in
Singapore had life insurance and therefore, the minis-
ter said, the government would not pay for their medi-
cal treatment.
The health minister said the financial support from
the government would apply to all Indonesian and for-
eign nationals being treated at hospitals in Indonesia.
Siti Fadilah said the hospitals treating bombing vic-
tims should not suffer loss and therefore the govern-
ment would pay for them.
She said the victims who could be treated at Indone-
sian hospitals would not be transferred to other hospi-
tals abroad such as Singapore.
Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for People`s Wel-
fare Aburizal Bakrie who accompanied the health min-
ister said they had visited all of the victims at MMC
hospital.
"We also had an opportunity to talk to some of the
victims, among others security officers of JW Marriott
hotel, waiters and waitresses, and other workers and
trainees," Aburizal said.
He said that in the dialogs, some of the victims ad-
mitted to have been shocked by the two consecutive
explosions at JW Marriott and Ritz Carlton hotels on
Friday.
According to the coordinating minister for people`s
welfare, the government would do its best to guarantee
the recovery of the victims of the explosions.
Aburizal admitted that none of the victims had asked
for government assistance but the government would
help them pay their medical expenses anyway.
INTERFAITH LEADERS
CALL FOR PEACE
Jakarta - A number of interfaith clerics called for
peace amid condolences and fury towards the perpe-
trators of the JW Marriott and Ritz Carlton hotel bomb-
ings on Friday last week.
The interfaith leaders made their call for peace
through a joint prayer service at the site of the bomb-
ings on Monday.
Themed "Peace Now" the service was attended by
among others Edy Purwanto of the Indonesian Catho-
lics Bishop Conference (KWI), Rev. Dr. Petrus Octavi-
anus and Rev. Daniel Suganto from the Indonesian
Communion of Churches (PGI), Hasyim Muzad of the
Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Anak Agung Ngurah Ug-
rasena representing Hindus and Maha Biksu Dutavira
representing Buddhists.
Edy Purwanto said the people were advised not to
give their opinions or analyses on the bombings be-
cause it could worsen the situation.
"KWI asks that the matter be left to the state. One
should not make analyses which could even worsen
the situation," he said.
For those who had died, the KWI offered prayers for
them so that their souls would rest in peace.
In the meantime, Hasyim Muzadi called on all sides
not soon link the bombings with people of a certain
religion or faith.
"There are always people who discredit a certain
religion each time there is a terrorist act. But this must
be corrected," Muzadi said after attending the joint
prayer service.
Muzadi said religious teachings had been misunder-
stood and abused. "Misunderstanding of religion tends
to lead to fanaticism while abuse of religion tends to
include non-religious elements in it," he aid.
Therefore, terrorist acts in whatever form were ene-
mies of all religions, Muzadi said. "So, one should not
continue to use terrorist acts as a reason to discredit
religion, particularly Islam. This is wrong," the NU chair-
man said.
Indonesian Anti-Violence Community figures such
as lawyer Todung Mulya Lubis, Yenni Wahid, Wimar
Witoelar and Ayu Utami earlier came to the site of the
bombings to pray for the victims.
INDONESIA INTENSIFYING COUNTER-
TERRORISM COOPERATION WITH
OTHER COUNTRIES
Jakarta - Indonesia continues to intensify coopera-
tion in counter terrorism with a number of countries,
said Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono
"But in handling terror cases occurring in Indonesia,
cooperation between Indonesian and foreign personnel
has to be supervised by Indonesian security authori-
Ind ones ian Newslett e r
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No.08/09 , August 2009
ties," Sudarsono said when opening a post-graduate
program of the Defense University here on Tuesday.
He urged all parties to be patient in waiting for the
police`s investigation into the recent bombings in the
Mega Kuningan area, to prevent speculations on the
cause of the bomb blasts.
Meanwhile, Ansyaad Mbai, head of the political, le-
gal and security affairs coordinating ministry`s anti-
terror desk, said Indonesia has so far established coop-
eration in counter terrorism with a number of countries
such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Kuwait, Af-
ghanistan, and Turkey.
The counter terrorism cooperation focused on ter-
rorism handling using soft power, without ignoring the
possible need to use hard power.
Mbai said the ministry would pursue cooperation in
eliminating the radicalization of Islamic teachings which
were often misunderstood and misused as the `legal
basis` for terrorist actions.
"We are pursuing the de-radicalization cooperation
not only with Pakistan, but also with other moderate
Islamic countries, such as Saudi Arabia and Turkey. De
-radicalization can be implemented by inviting their
Muslim scholars to Indonesia, or through books on true
Islam," Ansyaad Mbai said.
Mbai recently said fugitive Malaysian-born extremist
Noordin M Top was linked to Friday`s bombings on the
JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton hotels in Jakarta, which
killed nine people and injured 53 others, including for-
eigners.
"From the modus operandi used in Friday`s bomb-
ings, it is clear they are linked to Noordin M Top," An-
syaad Mbai said.
The Indonesian government has intensified efforts
to find Noordin M Top with the help of Malaysia and
several other countries following the recent bombings.
Noordin Mohammad Top, a terror coordinator of the
Al-Qaeda-linked Southeast Asian branch of the Je-
maah Islamiyah militant network, and his associate Dr.
Azhari are believed to have masterminded a series of
major terrorist acts in Indonesia, including the Bali
bombings in 2002, the JW Marriot hotel explosions in
Jakarta in 2003, a deadly blast at the Australian Em-
bassy in Jakarta in 2004, and bombings in Bali in Octo-
ber 2005 that killed more than 220 people.
INT'L INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION
EXCHANGE NEEDED
TO FIGHT TERORISM
Jakarta - Foreign Affairs Minister Hassan Wirajuda
said international exchange of intelligence information
was needed to anticipate terrorist attacks in Asian
countries.
"Intelligence information exchange as well as re-
gional and international cooperation are urgently
needed in the efforts to track down the actors of terror-
ism in various countries," Wirajuda said.
The foreign affairs minister made the statement
when asked about efforts to deal with terrorist attacks
in major Indonesian cities such as Jakarta.
In addition, Wirajuda said, capacity building was also
needed to overcome the terrorist threat.
"Our capacity building has been relatively success-
ful, but it should also be supported by the police`s ca-
pability to uncover the terrorist networks in Indonesia,"
Wirajuda said, adding that the police should also be
supported with sophisticated equipment to locate the
terrorists` hideouts.
He said the international community believed in In-
donesia`s capability to break up the terrorist rings and
arrest the actors of the July 17 bombings of the JW
Marriott and Ritz Carlton hotels in Jakarta.
"The international community trusts Indonesia is able
to do so because in the past seven years its security
agencies successfully busted terrorist rings and
brought the perpetrators of terror bombings to justice,"
Wirajuda said.
The minister said a number of countries had offered
their assistance to uncover the Mega Kuningan bomb-
ings but Indonesia considered itself able to solve the
cases on its own.
On Friday morning, July 17, 2009, two bomb attacks
were launched on the JW Marriott and Ritz Carlton
hotels in the Mega Kuningan area, killing nine people
and injuring 53 others.
Of the 53 injured victims, 16 were foreigners and 37
Indonesian citizens. Among the 16 injured foreigners,
six came from the United States, two from the Nether-
lands, two from Canada, two from South Korea, one
respectively from India, New Zealand and Norway.
Police later identified three other dead victims as
Senger Craig Andrew, McEvoy Garth Rupert John and
Verity Nathan John of Australian nationality.
Ind ones ian Newslett e r
E mbassy of The Rep ub l ic o f Ind ones ia Pagină 19
No.08/09 , August 2009
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