embassy of the republic of indonesia strada … 1, bucharest—romania telp. : +40-21-3120742 / ......

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 /

3120743 / 3120744

Facs : +40-21-3120214

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

Pagină 3

No.08/09, August 2009



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



No.08/09 , August 2009

Pagină 4

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


E mbassy of The Rep ub l ic o f Ind ones ia Pagină 5

"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.



No.08/09 , August 2009



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

No.08/09 , August 2009

Pagină 8

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-



No.08/09 , August 2009



Pagină 9

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



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



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



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



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


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-



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.



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



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-



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.



No.08/09 , August 2009

ANNIVERSARY OF

THE 64th INDONESIA’S

INDEPENDENCE DAY

17 AUGUST 2009

embassy of the republic of indonesia strada … 1, bucharest—romania telp. : +40-21-3120742 / ......

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