Walikota Bogor Nikahi Gadis 19 Tahun Sebagai Istri Keempat

Mengejutkan! Walikota Bogor Diani Budiarto kembali menikah dengan seorang remaja berinisial SI (19). Ini adalah pernikahaan keempat untuk Diani yang berlangsung dengan pengamanan ketat di Perumahan Bogor Nirwana Residence (BNR).

"Iya benar Pak Walikota Diani sudah menikah lagi. Ini istri keempatnya," kata Kabag Humas Pemkot Bogor Asep Firdaus di Macaroni Panggang, Taman Suryakencana, Bogor, Jumat (24/6/2011).

Meski demikian, Asep membantah kalau Diani menikahi ABG. Menurut dia, istri keempatnya sudah berumur 19 tahun dan sudah dianggap dewasa.

"Tapi itu bukan ABG lagi perempuannya, sudah 19 tahun. Jadi tidak ada yang salah," kata dia.

Resepsi telah berlangsung pada Kamis (23/6) kemarin dengan undangan terbatas di Cluster Panorama, Bogor Nirwana Residence, Bogor, tempat kediaman walikota. Para undangan berbaju batik datang dengan bus Blue Bird.

Jika ada tamu undangan yang memakai mobil pribadi, harus menunjukkan undangan. Bahkan, wartawan sempat melihat mobil pribadi Wali Kota Bogor Diani Budiarto bernomor polisi F 1678 BE yang biasa digunakan untuk bertugas memasuki area cluster Panorama.

Pernikahan keempat ini dikritik. Sebab, Fauziah Budiarto, istri pertamanya, saat ini sedang terbaring sakit di salah satu rumah sakit di Jakarta.

"Pejabat publik level Walikota, seharusnya menjadi panutan baik bagi masyarakat. Apalagi menikah untuk empat kali dan diduga telah memalsukan surat-suratnya alias tanpa restu istri-istri sebelumnya," kata Irianto, Ketua LSM Barisan Monitoring Hukum (BMH) Bogor, kepada wartawan, Kamis (23/6).

Diani Budiarto menjadi walikota Bogor untuk kedua kalinya dalam Pilkada 2009 lalu. Dia yang berpasangan dengan Ahmad Ru'yat itu diusung oleh Partai Golkar, PDIP, PKS, Partai Patriot, PKPI, PPDI, PSI, PBSD, dan PDK. | detiknews

Read More....

Lolos dari Hukuman Mati di Saudi, Mari Berharap Darsem Bebas Murni

Uang diyat Rp 4,7 miliar untuk pembebasan Darsem dari hukuman mati di Arab Saudi sudah dibayarkan. Darsem kini bebas dari hukuman mati.

Namun, Darsem tetap meringkuk di tahanan. Dia akan menjalani hukuman. Namun, masih terbuka kemungkinan Darsem segera dibebaskan.

"Bebas murni terbuka, namun belum bisa dipastikan," kata juru bicara Kemlu, Michael Tene saat dikonfirmasi, Sabtu (25/6/2011).

KBRI Riyadh, lanjut Michael, akan mengupayakan agar Darsem bisa segera bebas dari hukuman bui. "KBRI mengupayakan pembebasan," jelas Michael.

Uang diyat yang dibayarkan hanya membebaskan Darsem dari hukuman pancung. Namun tidak dari hukuman fisik, kuat dugaan dia kan di penjara hingga hitungan tahun di Arab Saudi.

"Untuk tuntutan publik belum lepas," tutur Michael.

Darsem divonis bersalah telah membunuh saudara pria majikannya di Arab Saudi. Pembunuhan itu terpaksa dilakukan sebagai upaya membela diri karena pria tersebut akan memperkosanya, pada Desember 2008. Oleh pengadilan Arab Saudi, dia dijatuhi hukuman mati.

KBRI Riyadh melakukan lobi-lobi, sehingga keluarga korban bersedia memaafkan Darsem dengan "uang darah" yang cukup tinggi, Rp 4,7 miliar. Uang ini dirogoh dari anggaran Kemlu RI. | Detiknews

Read More....

Menakertrans Limpahkan Sebagian Kewenangan Kepada BNP2TKI

Menteri Tenaga Kerja dan Transmigrasi Muhaimin Iskandar meyatakan melimpahkan sebagian kewenangannya dalam operasional pengawasan tenaga kerja Indonesia di luar negeri kepada Badan Nasional Penempatan dan Perlindungan Tenaga Kerja Indonesia atau BNP2TKI.

"Tugas Menteri Tenaga Kerja itu sangat berat harus mengawasi jutaan TKI (tenaga kerja Indonesia) di luar negeri, karena itu saya menyerahkan sebagian kewenangan kepada Kepala BNP2TKI," kata Muhaimin Iskandar pada`diskusi "Polemik: TKI Ruyati dan Harga Diri Negeri" di Jakarta, Sabtu.

Pembicara lain pada diskusi tersebut adalah, Analis Kebijakan Publik Migrant Care Wahyu Susilo, Anggota Komisi IX DPR RI Nursuhud, serta

Ketua Pusat Kajian Wanita dan Gender Universitas Indonesia Sulistyowati Irianto.

Menurut Muhaimin, kewenangan yang diserahkan kepada Kepala BNP2TKI adalah 99 persen operasional pengawasan TKI, sedangkan kebijakan pengawasan masih 100 persen merupakan kewenangan Menteri Tenaga Kerja.

Dengan diserahkannya 99 persen kewenangan di bidang operasional, kata dia, untuk membagi tanggung yang sangat berat serta agar tidak terjadi tumpang tindih kewenangan antara Kemnterian Tenaga Kerja dan Transmigrasi dengan BNP2TKI.

"Mengawasi jutaan TKI di luar negeri sangat berat, tidak seperti membalik telap tangan, apalagi sistem hukumnya juga berbeda-beda," katanya.

Menurut dia, persolan TKI bukan hanya sekadar tanggungjawab Menteri Tenaga Kerja dan Transmigrasi serta Kepala BNP2TKI, tapi merupakan tanggung jawab semua pihak terkait, dari hulu hingga ke hilir.

Persoalan TKI, kata dia, tidak hanya ketika terjadi kekerasan di luar negeri, tapi harus melihatnya secara konprehensif, mulai dari pencarian calon TKI di desa-desa.

Karena itu yang bertanggungjawab pada persoalan TKI, katanya, mulai dari kepala desa, camat, pejabat pemda, sampai ke diplomat, dan duta besar Indonesia di negara tujuan TKI.

"Apalagi, TKI yang bekerja di luar negeri sebagai pembantu rumah tangga masih berpendidikan sekolah dasar. Ini sangat berat," katanya.

Muhaimin mengimbau, agar TKI yang diberangkat ke luar negeri adalah TKI yang memiliki keterampilan, baik pekerjaaqn di dapur, paham bahasa di negara tujuan, maupun siap bekerja di luar negeri untuk waktu tertentu," katanya.

TKI yang tidak siap, kata dia, agar jangan dipaksakan diberangkatkan keluar negeri. (*) Antaranews

Read More....

PPP Sumut Solid Dukung Suryadharma Ali

Ketua Dewan Pimpinan Wilayah (DPW) Partai Persatuan Pembangunan (PPP) Sumatera Utara H Fadly Nurzal memastikan, komponen partai di daerahnya solid mendukung Suryadharma Ali kembali memimpin partai itu untuk lima tahun ke depan.

"Kita di Sumut punya 75 suara dan semuanya solid mendukung SDA (Suryadharma Ali, red). Itu sudah final," katanya ketika menjawab ANTARA usai pembukaan Musyawarah Kerja Cabang (Mukercab) PPP Kota Medan di Medan, Jumat (24/6) malam.

Ia memastikan tidak ada persoalan lagi terkait dukungan yang akan diberikan PPP se-Sumut pada Muktamar VII PPP yang akan berlangsung di Bandung, 3-7 Juli 2011.

"Bagi kita masalah ini (dukungan untuk Suryadharma, red) sudah selesai, sudah final. Seluruh 75 suara mulai dari DPW hingga DPC dipastikan solid mendung SDA," tegasnya pada kesempatan yang juga dihadiri Ketua DPP PPP H Hasrul Azwar itu.

Dukungan kepada Suryadharma Ali untuk kembali menjadi Ketua Umum DPP PPP periode 2011-2016 sebelumnya juga sudah menjadi keputusan dalam Musyawarah Kerja Wilayah (Mukerwil) I DPW PPP Sumut yang berlangsung di Asrama Haji Medan, 17-19 Juni 2001.

Menurut Fadly Nurzal, Suryadharma Ali masih merupakan figur terbaik untuk memimpin PPP ke depan. Suryadharma juga dinilai tegas dalam menjaga keutuhan partai disamping memiliki hubungan yang kuat dengan kalangan pemuda di PPP.

"PPP memiliki banyak kader yang layak diberi kepercayaan untuk memimpin partai, namun SDA dinilai masih yang terbaik di antara figur yang ada," ujarnya.

Lebih jauh ia menyebutkan, saat ini pihaknya tinggal mengurus keberangkatan para muktamirin asal Sumut.

"Kita tinggal menyiapkan keberangkatan, sementara soal dukungan sudah final dan tidak dapat diganggung-gugat lagi, kecuali SDA sendiri mundur dari pencalonan," tegas Fadly Nurzal. (ANT/K004)

Read More....

Sack officials responsible for maid's execution: PDI-P

Politicians from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) have lambasted President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for not replacing the officials responsible for protecting migrant workers.

They were referring to Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar and head of Workers Placement and Protection National Agency Jumhur Hidayat, whom they said should be held to account for the government's failure to save Ruyati from her execution by beheading in Saudi Arabia last week.

"We really hope that the President wants to prioritize the thousands of our migrant workers over the political support of a group of people," Rieke Dyah Pitaloka of the House labor commission said Friday.

She said the two officials' incompetence could not be ignored.

However, she added, it would require more that their dismissals to ensure proper protection for migrant workers.

The House's labor commission has decided to temporarily halt dealings with minister Muhaimin as a show of protest for what they considered Muhaimin's failure to protect migrant workers.

Read More....

President receives Singaporean foreign minister

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono received new Singaporean Foreign Affairs Minister Kasiviswanathan Shanmugam at his office here Friday.

The visit of Minister Shanmugam was to introduce himself, presidential spokesman Teuku Faizasyah said.

The head of state and his quest were also expected to discuss ASEAN issues including its priority programs and connectivity, he added.

On bilateral relations, Indonesia talked about its economic development acceleration program and invited Singapore to be involved in the Sumatra corridor project.

"Singapore has expressed commitment to using the existing opportunities. Indonesia`s economic progress will affect the region. Both nations are committed to mutual contribution," he said.

He said 12 million tourists not only visited Singapore but also other regions so Indonesia could take benefit from that.

At the meeting which was also attended by Foreign Affairs Minister Mary Natalegawa, the president and his guest discussed the upcoming ASEAN leaders retreat meeting which will among other things deal with legal issues.

Read More....

Kalla supports moratorium on migrant workers dispatch

Former vice president Jusuf Kalla has expressed appreciation for the government`s decision to impose a moratorium on the dispatch of migrant workers (TKIs) to Saudi Arabia.

The decision was in line with the national interest, Kalla, the chairman of the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), said here Thursday.

"It`s about time. Twenty years ago, yes we did need to send (TKIs). But, our country is now different from 20 years ago, our nation has made good progress," he said after attending the 57th anniversary of Indonesian Muslim University.

He, however, suggested that the moratorium be imposed on the dispatch of Indonesian women working as housemaids overseas, while those working in other professions such as nurses and construction workers, could continue.

"It`s about gender. But if female workers have skills as nurses, it`s okay. Meaning, we have to change the system," he said.

As a consequence of the moratorium, the government must create a lot of job opportunities at home , something the government does have the ability to do , Kalla said optimistically.

Kalla said one of the keys to create new jobs in Indonesia was by developing electricity infrastructures to generate more power.

Having adequate electricity supplies will automatically result in an increase in investment.

"The point is to develop electricity. If there is enough electricity supply, investors will come. I am sure we can give better salaries if our investment sector improves. There, the salary of our TKI is only Rp1.8 million, while our minimum regional salary is Rp1.2 million. It`s not much different," he said.

He also said the government should set up a legal aid team consisting of the country`s best lawyers to help troubled migrant workers overseas.

Read More....

Vice President : RI must maintain food security

Vice President Boediono has said Indonesia should maintain its food security and therefore it was absolutely necessary to increase food production.

"Self-sufficiency in rice and other staple commodities should be reached and maintained because Indonesia must be safe in food," the vice president said at a function to open the Farmers-Fishermen National Week 2011 (Penas 2011) at Kutai Kartanegara district town of Tenggarong in East Kalimantan on Saturday.

He said Indonesia and other countries face the same challenge of food security and the problem, according to the vice president, was how a country could provide enough food to meet demand that was ever increasing at a fast rate.

According to the vice president, domestic food availability should continue to be maintained and the prices should be kept stable in order to be affordable by all people.

In such a global situation, Vice President Boediono said Indonesia had to secure its food supply as much as possible.

"Food prices are getting more unstable and increasing more and more, and increasingly difficult to anticipate. Such situations complicate all parties: producers, consumers, and the governments of developing countries alike," the vice president said.

Meanwhile, the National Farmers-Fishermen`s Week 2011 that runs from June 18 to 23 will be participated in by around 30,000 people, consisting of farmers and fishermen, government officials, agribusiness makers, businessmen, experts, and agriculture and fisheries extension officers.

Farmers and fishermen from Japan and several Southeast Asian countries will also be present to exchange information about agricultural development in a broader sense.

The opening ceremony of the Penas 2011 is also attended by Agriculture Minister Suswono, Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan, East Kamlimantan Governor Awang Faroek Ishak, Kutai Kartanegara district head Rita Widyasari, and Penas 2011 organizing committee chairman Winarno Tohir.

Initiated in 1971, the national week of farmers and fishermen is intended to step up the motivation of farmers, fishermen, and agribusiness makers to develop sustainable and competitive agribusinesses through mutually beneficial partnerships.

Read More....

President leaves for Switzerland

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono left here Monday for six-day visits to Switzerland and Japan from June 13 to 18, 2011.

The head of state and First Lady Ani Yudhoyono departed from Halim Perdanakusuma air force base at 8 am local time by Garuda Indonesia Airbus A 330-300.

The presidential entourage includes Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu, Industry Minister MS Hidayat, Manpower and Transmigration Minister Muhaimin Iskandar, East Java Governor Soekarno, South Sumatra Governor Alex Noerdin, and Chairman of the Indonesian Businessmen Association (APINDO) Sofyan Wanandi.

Among those seeing off the president at the airport were Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Radjasa, Chief of the Indonesian Defense Forces Admiral Agus Suhartono, Police Chief General Timur Pradopo, and Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa.

President Yudhoyono is in Geneva, Switzerland, June 13-15, 2011 to attend the 100th Conference of the International Labor Organization (ILO).

ILO has invited the head of state to deliver a keynote speech. In Geneva, Yudhoyono will also hold a meeting with the World Health Organization (WHO) Director General and visit the ILO Headquarters.

From Geneva, he will proceed to Japan on June 15 for a visit at the invitation of Japanese Emperor Akihito. The president is scheduled to visit Miyagi Prefecture, which has been devastated by a major earthquake and tsunami.

Presidential Spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha said earlier that the president`s visit to Japan was to express sympathy and empathy to victims of the deadly earthquake and tsunami hitting Japan last March 2011.

He will also hold a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Naoto and deliver a general lecture on "Responding to International Challenges, Strengthening Indonesia-Japan Relations," at the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) in Tokyo.

Yudhoyono and the entourage will return to Jakarta on Saturday, June 18.

Read More....

Marzuki opens KNPI national working conference in Ternate

Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR) Marzuki Alie opened the 11th national working conference of the Indonesian Youths Committee (KNPI) at Hotel Amara International, Ternate, North Maluku, Friday night.

"I wish the youths would take active part in development efforts, and avoid personal and group conflicts, and prioritize national interests," Marzuki said.

Therefore the members of the younger generation grouped in various organizations would take active part in sustainable development efforts.

Referring to a solution to dualism in the management of KNPI at central government level, namely central executive board of KNPI of the Bali and Ancol congress versions, Marzuki said the conflicting two KNPI organizations need to be solved.

"We cannot tell which of the KNPI organizations is legal which is illegal, but all our people have the right for democracy," he said.

For that special measures need to be taken including holding dialogs to solve problems and dualism to form a uniform and single KNPI management.

In the meantime, KNPI central executive board chief of the Ancol version Ahmad Doli Kurnia when asked for a confirmation said that the KNPI under his leadership is the legal organization, as the legal fact is that the KNPI under his chairmanship had been legalized by the South Jakarta District Court, and no other KNPI organization.

Therefore there is no reason for another group or other parties claiming to be the legal leader of the organization because the KNPI produced by the Ancol congress was the legal one.

The 2nd national working conference in Ternate was attended by all the national OKP of the 33 provinces in Indonesia. The national working congress will discuss local strategic issues including support for Sail Indonesia in Morotai, and the expansion of several areas in North Maluku.

Read More....

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.

Read More....

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.

Read More....

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.

Read More....

Canadian envoy praises developments in Aceh

Canadian Ambassador to Indonesia and Timor Leste Mackenzie Clugston expressed admiration and happy to see the rehabilitation and reconstruction in Aceh province following the tsunami six years ago.

"This is a very favorable development and progress and it is still possible to expand cooperation with the Canadian government," he said after meeting with Aceh Governor Irwandi Yusuf here Wednesday.

While the humanitarian aid program for Aceh from the Canadian people has ended, that country was still promoting and expanding cooperation with the Aceh administration in building the economy of the area.

During the humanitarian program, some 200 million US dollars had been contributed for the reconstruction of Aceh.

The Canadian ambassador said Banda Aceh had changed a great deal. It is cleaner, more beautiful, and many trees had grown. Road traffic has become very orderly as new roads had been built and opened.

In the meantime, Governor Irwandi Yusuf said Aceh is still providing an opportunity to foreign investors, especially in the agricultural industry.

"He also at the same time introduced himself as the new Canadian ambassador to Indonesia. He also invites the ambassador to see for himself the potentials in Aceh for investment," Irwandi Yusuf said.

Read More....

Visit Bogor 2011

Various preparations have been made for Visit Bogor 2011 in a bid to increase the number of tourists visit this year.

Bogor district culture and tourism office spokesman Baehaki said here on Saturday that the district administration has designed a budget of Rp7.4 billions for the implementation of Visit Bogor 2011.

"But we are still discussing the amount of budget because it is predicted to be about tens of billions of rupiah for the program," Baehaki said.

He explained that the budget would be used for promotion and other activities related to the implementation of Visit Bogor 2011 which is to be launched later this month to increase to number of tourists visiting Bogor district this year.

Baehaki said the number of tourists visiting Bogor in the previous years rose only by 5 percent and therefore with the Visit Bogor 2011 the number was expected to increase by 15 until 20 percent.

"With such a program we hope the number of tourists visit to Bogor will increase by 15 to 20 percent this year," Baehaki said, adding that the Visit Bogor 2011 would be officially launched on February 26 in conjunction with Dongdang cultural festival.

Meanwhile, Dongdang cultural festival committee chairman Erwin Suryana said the participants this year were expected to rise from 1000 last year to 2,000 people.

"Bogor district head will officially launch Visit Bogor 2011 in conjunction with Dongdang cultural festival on February 26," Erwin Suryana said.

Read More....

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.

Read More....

Ariel Gets Three Years in Jail

Suspect of porn video case Najriel Irham, better known as Ariel Peterpan, had been sentenced three and a half years in jail plus a fine of Rp250 million, minus period of detention, Presiding judge Singgih Budi Prakoso said at the district court building here Monday.

The court said Ariel had been proven guilty of disseminating porn videos.

The verdict was much lower than the public prosecutor`s demand for five years and three months in jail.

The court reasoned that the accused was still relatively young and had never been involved with the law, while the negative factor was that the accused never admitted his guilt.

The court gave the accused seven days for submit a plea

Read More....

US embassy launches 2011 ITB entrepreneurship challenge program

Jakarta  - The US embassy in Jakarta in partnership with Asgar Muda Foundation launched the 2011 ITB (Bandung Institute of Technology) Entrepreneurship Challenge for young Indonesians.

"The US has a huge stake in Indonesia`s success and part of that means we want to do everything we can to support Indonesia, especially for the young people of Indonesia to succeed," US Ambassador to Indonesia Scot Marciel said here Thursday (27/1).

According to Marciel entrepreneurship is one of the areas that the US embassy may support by teaming up with creative Indonesians to promote the sector.

"So I am pleased that the US Embassy in Jakarta is teaming up with the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) and the Asgar Muda Foundation for this year`s IEC (ITB Entrepreneurship Challenge), it is really a unique sample of collaboration, we have the university, NGO and the government that are working along to promote the event," Marciel said.

The IEC would also produce an eight-episode TV reality show in one of Indonesia`s private television to promote the spirit of entrepreneurship to Indonesian young people.

By entering its sixth year, the ITB Entrepreneurship Challenge is a nation-wide business plan competition open to university students grouped into three-person teams, to promote entrepreneurship and economic development in Indonesia,

The US embassy has awarded the Asgar Muda Foundation to work together with the ITB entrepreneurship Challenge committee to produce a reality TV show of this year`s competition, which will include a series of business challenges.

Entrepreneurship is critical to a nation`s economic development, where some researchers suggest that for a country to become economically developed, at least two percent of its citizens should be entrepreneurs.

Entrepreneurship is associated with the qualities of innovation, adding values and taking risks where young people can learn the values through education.

The IEC committee believed that Indonesia needed comprehensive entrepreneurship education integrated into the national education system.

Read More....

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.

Read More....

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.

Read More....