Nazaruddin Bantah Tinggalkan Indonesia dan Menetap di Singapura

Sudah sebulan lebih mantan bendahara umum Partai Demokrat, Muhammad Nazaruddin, berada di Singapura di tengah pencekalan KPK atas kasus suap Kemenpora. Berbagai spekulasi Nazaruddin akan menetap di Singapura pun kian gencar.

Banyak yang menduga Nazaruddin sudah mengantongi paspor Singapura. Banyak juga yang menduga Nazaruddin tengah berusaha melakukan investasi bisnis di Singapura dalam skala besar agar mendapat hak permanent resident, yakni izin bagi orang asing untuk menetap di Singapura.

Namun semua dugaan tersebut dibantah oleh Nazarudin. Meski tak ada yang bisa menjamin Nazaruddin akan benar-benar pulang ke Indonesia dan memenuhi panggilan KPK.

"Saya sedang berobat pak, kalau sembuh saya pulang pak," ujar Nazaruddin.

Hal ini disampaikan Nazaruddin saat dikonfirmasi mengenai isu dirinya mengejar paspor dan permanent resident di Singapura. Hal ini disampaikan Nazaruddin kepada detikcom, Sabtu (25/6/2011).

Namun wajar saja spekulasi ini makin liar. Nazaruddin pergi ke Singapura dengan alasan berobat sejak tanggal 23 Mei 2011 lalu. Hingga hari ini tak ada seorang pun yang mengaku mengetahui keberadaan Nazaruddin di Singapura. Semakin mengkhawatirkan karena banyak desas-desus Nazaruddin tinggal bersama anak dan istrinya di sebuah apartemen mewah di Singapura.

Tim pencari fakta internal PD yang sudah menemui Nazaruddin di Singapura pun mengaku tak tahu dimana Nazaruddin tinggal. PD yang sudah kehilangan kontak dengan Nazarudin juga enggan membantu KPK memulangkan Nazaruddin. Jadi, masih percaya Nazaruddin akan pulang ke Indonesia dan memenuhi panggilan KPK? | Detiknews

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Tax consultant on trial for allegedly bribing Gayus

A tax consultant went on trial today at the South Jakarta District Court for alleged bribery that cost the state Rp 15 billion [US$1.76 million].

The consultant, Roberto Santonius, is charged with bribing graft convict Gayus H. Tambunan, a former tax officer, to ensure a favorable outcome in a tax dispute between PT Metropolitan Retailmart, a company that he represented, and the tax directorate general.

“We have garnered convincing evidence that proves Santonius had given Rp 925 million of bribe money to Gayus Halomoan Tambunan in order to win the tax dispute,” Prosecutor Heru Widarmoko said Monday as quoted by kompas.com.

Heru said that if proven guilty Santonius would face five years in prison.

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Golkar happy with recent survey result

A Golkar Party politician admits that he is happy with the fact that the party managed to “steal” support from the Democratic Party, as revealed within a recent survey, saying that it could boost Golkar’s confidence to solidify its political work on the grass roots level.

“The survey was conducted by a reliable institution. We should respond to it by increasing the quality of our political work by accommodating more grass roots programs,” Priyo Budi Santoso said Monday, as quoted by kompas.com.

He then promised that Golkar would extend its best efforts to win the people’s hearts in the upcoming 2014 General Elections.

The Indonesian Survey Circle (LSI) had announced that the Golkar Party had benefited from the recent controversy regarding the absence of former Democratic Party treasurer Muhammad Nazaruddin, who had twice been summoned to respond to a Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigation.

The survey revealed that Golkar managed to reach the top position by securing 17.9 percent support from respondents, leaving the Democratic Party with only 15.5 percent of respondents giving them a favorable appraisal. 

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Nazaruddin fails to meet KPK summons

Former Democrat Party (PD) treasurer M Nazaruddin and his wife failed to meet the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) summons as witnesses linked to different bribery cases here on Friday.

"So far, there are no data made available about the return of the person concerned from Singapore to Indonesia," said M. Indra, the Immigration Secretariat General`s secretary of the Law and Human Rights Ministry here Friday.

The immigration noted that Nazaruddin left Indonesia for Singapore on Monday (May 23) night. The KPK then asked the law and human rights ministry to impose an overseas travel ban on him but it turned out he had left for Singapore one day before the ban was issued.

Nazaruddin and his wife Neneng Sri Wahyuni actually should come to KPK at the stage of questioning as witnesses for different cases of alleged corruption.

The anti-graft body summoned Nazaruddin to be questioned as a witness on an alleged corruption case in the national education ministry linked to procurement of goods at the Directorate General of Education Quality Improvement and Education Personnel (PMPTK).

While his wife Neneng Sri Wahyuni will be questioned as a witness on a case linked to the procurement project of the Solar Power (PLTS) of the Manpower and Transmigration Ministry in 2008.

According to the KPK spokesman Johan Budi, the anti-graft body had not yet received any notice in connection to the couple`s absence for the questioning.

In addition, KPK has also scheduled to re-summon Nazaruddin for questioning as a witness linked to an alleged corruption case in the Youth and Sports ministry on Monday (June 13).

Nazaruddin was relieved from his position as the Democrat Party treasurer after he was widely reported to be implicated in an alleged corruption case at the sports ministry and an attempt to bribe a Constitutional Court official. 

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ICW: 45 corruptors have fled overseas

The Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) has noted that 45 corruptors have fled overseas over the past 10 years to escape the law.

"According to our records, of the 45 corruptors, 20 have fled to Singapore," ICW`s Deputy Coordinator Emerson Yuntho said in a discussion on "Polemic: Corruptors Escape, the State Comes Up Short" here Saturday.

Singapore has been one of the corruptors` favorite destination because it is considered to have several "added values".

Geographically, Singapore is close to Indonesia so those corruptors still could run their businesses from Singapore, and there is no extradition treaty between Indonesia and Singapore.

"Corruptors who have been under overseas travel ban, are usually helped by Indonesians who travel to Singapore to communicate (with them)," he said.

The Indonesian government has offered extradition cooperation to the Singaporean government since 2007 but there has been no follow up.

Indonesian corruptors staying in Singapore cannot be forced to return to Jakarta because they could file a lawsuit with a Singapore court to protect themselves.

Corruptors like Gayus Tambunan were willing to return Indonesia thanks to persuasive approaches, he said.

The latest prominent escapees are Muhammad Nazaruddin and Nunun Nurbaeti.

Nazaruddin was relieved from his position as the Democrat Party treasurer after he was widely reported to be implicated in an alleged corruption case at the sports ministry and an attempt to bribe a Constitutional Court official. The immigration office had noted that Nazaruddin left Indonesia for Singapore on Monday (May 23) night.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) had named Nunun Nurbaeti a suspect in connection with alleged bribery linked to the election of Bank Indonesia Senior Deputy Governor Miranda Gultom in 2004, the anti-graft body`s chief said.

The KPK planned to send a team of officers to Cambodia to coordinate with local law enforcing agencies in locating Nunun.

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Democrat Party to rank coalition members based on obedience

The ruling Democrat Party plans to rank political party members in the coalition that supports the government based upon their obedience, its deputy secretary general, Saan Mustopa, said.

"Those who have made a lot violations will be ousted (from the coalition)," he said at the parliament building here on Friday.

He said based on the ranking the party that had made a lot of violations would be given a sanction.

The Democrat Party association chairman, Nurhayati Ali Assegaf, who is also a party faction member in the House of Representatives (DPR), meanwhile said she believed President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as the party`s chief patron, would take a stance with regard to the lack of solidity among political parties in the coalition during the vote at the DPR on the motion for the implementation of the DPR`s right to inquiry to investigate tax mafia.

Golkar Party and the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) who are members of the coalition have clashed with the Democrat Party in the vote meanwhile Gerindra Party had shared the Democrat Party`s stance.

The DPR finally dropped the motion with 166 votes against and 164 in favor.

Nurhayati said she could not tell what Yudhoyono would do towards the political parties in the coalition. What is certain is that Yudhoyono as the chief patron would certainly take an action later, she said.

She said the Democrat Party had taken a valuable lesson from the recent vote.

"It has given really extraordinary political lessons. One of them is that in politics there is no eternal friends or opponents but interests," she said.

Golkar Party`s secretary general Idrus Marham meanwhile said on Friday that Golkar had had no intention to leave the coalition.

He said Golkar remained consistent to support his government until the end of the term in 2014.

Golkar Party`s general chairman Aburizal Bakrie had also stated that Golkar would continue to support President Yudhoyono`s government until the end of the term.

Regarding the Democrat Party`s plan to evaluate membership of political parties in the coalition Idrus said Golkar wished that evaluation would be done on each other by all members to make their membership solid

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Some 500 Surabaya football supporters to Jakarta

Some 500 supporters from Surabaya have left for Jakarta for a demonstration demanding a revolution of the Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI) and its management, in the small hours of Wednesday.

"We come to Jakarta to unite with other supporters in Indonesia demanding for a replacement of the management of PSSI and Nurdin Halid to step down as the organization`s general chairman," Surabaya supporter coordinator Gomes said on the sidelines of the departure in Surabaya.

They left on 12 buses without wearing any attributes of Persebaya supporters.

"Some representatives of the supporters had already gone first coordinating with the leaders of the other supporters already in Jakarta, their determination cannot be bargained," he said.

He also hoped the decision of the PSSI Verification Team which had set aside George Toisutta and Arifin Panigoro as candidates of PSSI general chairman for the next term would be canceled.

In the meantime, the departure of the Surabaya supporters was actually not the last time. It was planned that on Wednesday (Feb 23) afternoon hundreds of other supporters will follow to Jakarta using 10 buses.

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Gerindra opposes House inquiry

The Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party Faction in the House of Representatives (DPR) opposes the proposal for a House inquiry into tax mafia practices, a spokesman said.

"We will not continue supporting the inquiry," vice chairman of the Gerindra faction, Ahmad Muzani, said at the DPR/MPR building Tuesday.

According to Muzani, there was no obvious purpose in the proposed inquiry.

The inquiry seemed like a political ploy, Muzani said, adding that the House`s authority should rather be used to eradicate tax mafias and enforce the law.

The Gerindra faction now asked that the motion for House inquiry be called off.

Meanwhile, M Romahurmuzy from the United Development Party (PPP) faction asked all quarters not to politicize the tax inquiry.

PPP faction asked the parliament to stand firm to come into a same agreement among the member.

Moreover, Vice Head of Commission XI Achsanul Qosasih said the taxation inquiry did not give comprehensive and explicit explanation about the regulations that were violated.

In the same view, the Democratic Party Faction asked the taxation inquiry to be suspended and rectified.

Head of the House Marzuki Alie suspended the plenary session of tax inquiry to lobby and discuss with the factions of the political parties in order to achieve a same agreement.

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Minister: Indonesian Military Data Not Missing In S Korea

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto said Indonesian military data were not missing as previously reported to have been stolen in the Lotte Hotel in South Korea.

"The thing that was missing was the Trade Minister`s laptop," Djoko Suyanto said here Monday.

The laptop contained data of six corridor economic cooperation between Indonesia and South Korea that would be developed to boost Indonesia`s economic development, Djoko said.

Indonesia had previously discussed a similar cooperation with Japan and India, he said.

Djoko said, Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro, was not bringing any data about Indonesian Military to South Korea.

"Therefore, no data of Indonesian Military were missing," Djoko said.

"I have no idea whether the data of the cooperation has been taken or not," Djoko said responding to a question about suspected economic intelligence.

Previously, South Korean media reported that the Indonesian delegation`s laptop had been stolen in the Lotte Hotel near the City Hall in Sogong-dong, where the 50-member Indonesian delegation was staying.

Two men and a woman who looked like Asians were suspected as the burglars who broke into a VIP room where the Indonesian delegate was staying on 19th floor.

According to a Namdaeum Police Officer, when the incident happened on Wednesday evening (Feb 16), the internal security guards were not guarding in the hotel as they were with the delegation outside the hotel.

The police had received a report from an Indonesian delegate saying the three suspects had copied the data into a USB from the laptop and left.

According to the police, the suspects might have specific targets, including data on the Indonesian military.

In South Korea, the Indonesian delegation met with South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak to discuss increased economic and military cooperation.

South Korea planned to sell T-50 Golden Eagle training jets and according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) Indonesia planned to buy 16 of those jets, in addition to Russian Yak-130 and Czech L-159B jets.

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Thailand exploring fishery development cooperation with Aceh

The Thai government is exploring the possibility of cooperating with Aceh to develop the fishery potential of the province`s waters, the country`s top diplomat in Indonesia said.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Aceh Governor Irwandi Yusuf here Friday, Thai Ambassador to Indonesia Thanatip Upatising said Aceh was the most potential area for investment especially in the fisheries sector.

Governor Irwandi Yusuf said, the Aceh provincial administration would provide special facilities, including in licensing procedures, for every investor operating in Aceh.

Under Law Number 37/2000 on the free trade port of Sabang, the government had authorized the licensing of fishing operations in Aceh with a weight above 35 gross tons (GT).

"We have reviewed the ocean fisheries port area in Lampulo, Banda Aceh. The infrastructure to invest is quite good and supportive," the ambassador said.

Therefore, his side would invite the Thailand businessmen to cooperate with the local fishermen to work on the fisheries potential in the province, the ambassador Thanatip Upatising added.

"We are eager to invest in fishery sector in Aceh and partnered with the local fishermen or businessmen. We will tell the potential investment in the province to Thailand businessmen," he said.

The meeting also followed by a number of Aceh administration officials, including the Head of Aceh Marine and Fishery Office, Razali AR, the Head of Aceh Promotion and Investment office, Anwar Muhammad and the head of Aceh Forestry and Plantations office, T Fakhruddin Polem.

Meanwhile, the Head of Aceh Marine and Fishery Office, Razali, said, through the fisheries investments cooperation, it would be at least reducing illegal fishing activities in marine waters of the province.

The cooperation in fisheries sector with Thailand can be a momentum to transfer marine technology to the Aceh fishermen, he said.

"The cooperation is expected to not only fishing but also in term of processing that further it can be used as one of Aceh export commodity in," Razali added.

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KPK to question former president Megawati as witness

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) plans to question the general chairperson of the Indonesia Democratic Party Struggle (PDIP) Megawati Soekarnoputri as a witness over alleged corruption case involving some politicians from the party.

"The summoning of Bu (Mrs) Megawati is not connected with the settlement of the case of traveler`s check bribery. But she is summoned to be questioned as a witness in favour of the suspects, upon the request of suspects," KPK spokesman Johan Budi said here on Friday.

So if the former president would come on Monday (Feb 21) at KPK she would not become a witness over facts of the alleged case of bribery but as a witness favoring suspects, he said.

"So there is no contradiction with what KPK has said before that it would not question Bu Megawati by asking her to become a witness," he said.

Asked if KPK would also summon Hasyim Muzadi as requested by Max Moein, he said he did not know yet.

He said KPK had not yet received confirmation if Megawati would meet its summons sent upon the request of PDIP cadre Max Moein.

Max Moein earlier asked KPK to also question Megawati and Taufiq Kiemas (her husband) because he thought they could clarify the traveler`s check issue.

"Yes, we are just executor. We are only party cadres who received from the faction`s treasurer," Moein said.

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Muslim groups rally to demand Ahmadiyah`s dissolution

About 800 members of the Islamic Community Forum (FUI) and Islam Defenders Front (FPI) staged a rally here Friday, demanding the dissolution of the Ahmadiyah sect.

The rally took place at the Hotel Indonesia (HI) Roundabout, one of Central Jakarta`s crowded traffic hubs. As a result, the flows of vehicles were disrupted a little, a police officer said.

However, there was no road closure during the rally, Tarmin of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police`s Traffic Management Center said.

The FUI and FPI crowds strongly demanded the dissolution of the religious sect whose followers believe that the creed`s founder, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, is a prophet after Muhammad (peace be upon him).

During their demonstration, the FUI and FPI members displayed a banner with a message urging the Indonesian government to ban the Ahmadiyah religious sect because it was blaspheming Islam.

Meanwhile, Jakarta Metropolitan Police`s Spokesman Senior Commissioner Sujarno said the rally was peaceful and joined by about 800 people.

"None of the demonstrators was arrested because their rally proceeded peacefully," he said.

However, in anticipating any unwanted eventuality, 1,500 members of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police headquarters were deployed to watch over the rally, he said.

As part of their rally`s agenda, some of the demonstrators met with the National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) people for talks about the issues of sectarian violence and religious blasphemy.

A series of attacks on Ahmadiyah religious sect followers and their properties have occurred in some parts of Indonesia over the past two years.

The latest incident happened in Umbulan village Cikeusik subdistrict, Pandeglang district, Banten province, on February 6, killing three people.

Following this incident, the chief of Banten`s regional police command, Brigadier General Agus Kusnadi, was replaced.

Besides Agus, the chief of the Pandeglang district police and the director of the Banten l police`s intelligence division were also replaced.

In response to the latest incident, Former Vice President Jusuf Kalla said the cases of sectarian violence could be handled if firm law enforcement was implemented to the doers.

"Don`t let the doers be untouched by law. If it is so, there will be feeling that if we kill or destroy properties in a mass, we think that laws cannot touch," he said

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KPK grills Gayus Tambunan more than five hours

Jakarta - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) questioned former tax official Gayus Tambunan for more than five hours on Wednesday in an effort to uncover the alleged tax mafia.

"They asked me about anything I know about the way tax officials carry out their job," Gayus said after the questioning.

Gayus had been convicted of corruption and sentenced to seven years in jail. During his trial he had unveiled the involvement of law enforcement and tax officials in his case.

When asked about the tax mafia issue he told reporters to ask about it to his lawyer and investigators.

His lawyer, Hotma Sitompoel, meanwhile confirmed that his client had been questioned about general things connecting to the working system of the tax officials.

"(The questioning) has not yet touched the case. It is still general. What they do when they meet tax payers or how complaints are handled or how tax court is carried out. That`s all," he said.

He declined when asked about the names of tax officials Gayus told about to the investigators.

He said what was clear is that his client`s presence at the KPK was like what his former lawyer Adnan Buyung Nasution said is to give information that the KPK needed.

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President not complaining on his behalf: Legislator

Jakarta - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono`s statement on his salary might have been twisted out of proportion because the issue had been raised just on his behalf so that the polemic needed to be stopped.

"In fact what the president has said (on the salary issue) was a kind of sympathy for the TNI (Indonesian National Defense Force) and the Polri (National Police), to put an end to the polemic," Ganjar Pranowo, Deputy Head of Commission II of the House of Representatives (DPR) said.

The President`s salary has been under the spotlight since he announced that his salary had net been raised in the last seven years at 62 million rupiahs (6,882 US dollars) per month since he took office in 2004.

Pranowo of the Indonesian Democratic Party for Struggle (PDI-P) added that the president had apparently no wish for a pay rise but more a token for the sympathies though the statement should not have been raised anyway.

Pranowo regretted that the issue was misunderstood by many people and especially because Finance Minister Agus Martowardjojo had hastily reacted and decided to raise the salaries of the president and 8,000 public officials nationwide.

"I think the finance minister misunderstood what the president had said," Pranowo said, adding that the misunderstanding on the issue will only worsen and create more public reactions.

Coordinating Economics Minister Hatta Rajasa unveiled on Thursday that former Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati`s plan to increase President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono`s salary, which the President turned down.

"I have never said that high-ranking officials must have their salaries raised. The former finance minister proposed a salary increase three years ago, but Yudhoyono turned down the plan," he said.

Hatta`s comment has justified the current Finance Minister Agus Martowardjojo`s statement that "public official`s pay will have their salaries raised, including the President`s, were planned several years ago.

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RI waiting for US okay on F-16 jet fighters

Yogyakarta - Indonesia is still waiting for confirmation from the United States (US) government on its request to be a recipient of F-16 jet fighter planes Washington is planning to donate to other countries.

"We are now still waiting for confirmation on our request for the F-16 jet fighters," Indonesian Air Force Chief of Staff Marshal TNI Imam Sufaat said here Monday.

Imam said the Indonesian Air Force had submitted a request to the United States related to 24 F-16 jet fighters Washington had been wanting to donate to other countries since 2009 but so far it had not received any confirmations from the US.

"We haven`t heard any news from the US government. This is possibly because the US government has received similar requests from many other countries," he said.

Therefore, the Indonesian Air Force was now planning a special approach to the US to approve the jetfighter grant , Imam said.

The Indonesian Air Force was also planning to buy the replacement aircraft for OV-10 Bronco, helicopters, and the F-22 Raptors, because there are additional funds for accelerating the major weaponry defense system equipments amounting to Rp4 trillion.

"This additional budget is also used for the weaponry system equipment maintenance and spare parts besides the weaponry itself," Imam said.

This is in accordance with the 2010-2014 Air Force`s strategic planning program development, he said.

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RI president arrives in New Delhi

New Delhi  - Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono arrived at New Delhi`s Palam Military Airport at 3.30 pm local time or 5.0 pm Western Indonesia Standard Time (WIB).

Accompanied by Mrs Ani Yudhoyono, the president was welcomed by Indian Foreign Minister E Ahmad and Indonesian Ambassador to India Andi Ghalib.

The Indonesian head of state is on a visit in India at the invitation of the Indian president. Yudhoyono would be a guest of honor at the India`s Republic Day celebration on January 26, 2011.

The Indian government every year invites a head of state/government as its guest of honor in observing its Republic Day anniversary. The guest of honor at India`s Republic Day celebration in 1950 was Indonesia`s first president Soekarno.

Yudhoyono`s visit to India is also intended to foster and increase bilateral relations.

During his stay in India, the president is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Indian Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari, Chairman of the Indian opposition party Srimathi Sushma Swaraj and chairman of the Indian Coalition Party Srimathi Sonia Gandhi.

The Indonesian president and the Indian prime minister will witness the signing of 17 Government-to-Government memorandums of understanding (MoU) in the fields of politics, economy, education, culture and technology.

Besides having a bilateral meeting, the president will also attend a business forum. The forum which would be attended by 500 Indian and Indonesian businesses is intended to increase mutual interactions among business makers from both nations.

On the occasions, both parties will also sign 15 Government-to-Government and Business-to-Business MoUs in the fields of infrastructure, natural resources, manufacture and services.

The presidential party included Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi, Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu, Industry Minister MS Hidayat, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Andi Mallarangeng, Culture and Toursim Minister Jero Wacik and Chief of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Gita Wirjawan.

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Three soldiers sentenced for brutalizing Papua civilians

Jayapura, Papua   - The Military Court III-19 in Jayapura, Papua, has sentenced to 8-10 months in jail three soldiers who were seen on video-tape to have brutalized civilians in Puncak Jaya district in Papua.

In separate sessions the three were pronounced guilty of violating superiors` orders while carrying out their duties in Puncak Jaya.

Second Sergeant Irwan Riskiyanto of Unit 753 AVT/Nabire of the 17th Cendrawasih Military Command was sentenced to 10 months after being found guilty of commiting an act of violence against a number of Papuans in violation of his superior`s orders.

Chief judge Lt Col Adil KaroKaro said Irwan`s action ran against the soldier`s oath and TNI`s 8 obligations. His action was also considered damaging principles of life and the image of TNI before the community.

"In view of them the sentence is commensurate with the violations he has committed," he said.

For his favor the defendant is still young and had resented his action, he said.

The sentence was lighter than the prosecutor`s demand of 12 months in jail. Irwan had asked for time to think of whether he would appeal or not.

The two other TNI members meanwhile received eight and nine months in jail respectively for being proven violating their superiors` order.They are first private Thamrin Mahangiri and first private Yakson Agu.

Their sentence is also lighter that the prosecutor`s demand of 9 months for Thamrin and 10 months for Yakson.

In response to the verdicts the two also had asked for time to consider whether or not they would appeal.

The case recieved a public secrutiny after the video was shown on the YouTube.

On the video they were seen beating two Papuans believed to be involved in separatist movement.

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VP Boediono to form team to supervise tin mining in Babel

Jakarta  - Vice President Boediono has decided to form a team of a number of ministers and governor to supervise tin mining activities that destroy the environment in Bangka Belitung (Babel) province.

"We will set up a team of ministers and governor to monitor the mining activities in Babel," Vice President Boediono said aboard of a plane that flew him from Pangkalpinang (Babel) to Jakarta on Saturday.

The vice president said that the team would be chaired by the forestry minister and to be assisted by the energy and mineral resources minister and the environment minister.

He said that it was not impossible that other ministers would also be asked to help the team in handling the tin mining activities that had caused serious damage to the environment in the province of Bangka Belitung.

He said that the team was expected to provide strategic steps that could be carried out in the coming several years.

"We had a meeting today and agreed that the central government would assist the governor to sharpen plans to handle the mining activities that caused damage to the environment," the vice president said referring to his meeting with the Babel regional government officials on Saturday.

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Police to Extend Abu Bakar Ba`asyir`s Detention Period

Jakarta, The detention period of Abu Bakar Ba`asyir is to be extended when it expires on December 13, 2010, Jakarta police spokesman Senior Commissioner Boy Rafli Amar said here on Friday.

Ba`asyir`s detention would be extended by 60 days in line with the law on criminal procedures for terrorism-related cases.

He said the police had already issued a permit for Ba`asyir to get medical treatment outside the police`s detention facility.

According to plans, Ba`asyir, the chief of the Al Mukmin Islamic Boarding School in Ngruki, Solo, Central Java, would undergo surgery at Pertamina Hospital because of a problem in his left eye.

Ba`asyir could only see light with his left eye, a problem he had been suffering from for past six months.

Ba`asyir also had a problem with his left leg and other physical disorders because of lack of light in his cell.

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ADB Provides US$3 Million for Merapi Victims

Jakarta, The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has provided US$3 million for victims of the recent Mt Merapi eruptions in Central Java which caused damage to human settlements and forced hundreds of thousands to evacuate.

ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda in a press release made available to ANTARA here on Saturday said the bank would do whatever it can to support the government in providing temporary shelters for the victims and meet their other important needs.

The ADB assistance would among other things be used to normalize the functions of public facilities such as schools, health care centers, water and sanitation infrastructure.

The assistance would also be used to design a cash-aid-for-work scheme for evacuees.

More than 300 people were killed and over 400 thousand others were forced to evacuate as a result of the volcano eruptions last month.

Most of the evacuees had by early December returned to their respective homes after Mt Merapi`s danger status was officially lowered.

The Geological Disaster Mitigation and Volcanology Center lowered the danger status of MT Merapi on December 3, 2010 from the highest (red) to the alert level.

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