Year-ender: PRODUCTIVE YEAR IN INDONESIA- PALESTINE TIES By Fardah

       Jakarta, Dec 27, 2010 (ANTARA) - Since the signing of several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) by Indonesia and Palestine on concrete cooperation in October 2007, a number of training programs have been organized for Palestinians in Indonesia.
        Indonesia, as a staunch supporter of the Palestine people`s struggle , has been translating its support into action by trying to train Palestinians in various sectors as part of its capacity building assistance.
      "As preparations for a Palestinian state, Palestine needs to learn how to build institutions, and the most important part in this case is preparing human resources," Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia Fariz Mehdawi said in an interview with ANTARA here recently.

STAGNATION IN CORRUPTION ERADICATION EFFORTS By Fardah

       Jakarta, Dec 22, 2010 (ANTARA) - Despite the country`s efforts to fight corruption and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono`s commitment to eradicating graft , there appears to have been no significant downturn in corruption during the past year.
       According to Transparency International`s Corruption Perception Index (CPI) for 2010, issued last October, Indonesia`s score remained 2.8 on a scale of 10, the same as last year.
       Among a total of 178 countries rated, Indonesia was in 110th place while in 2009 it ranked 111th among 180 countries.

Indonesian migrant workers continue to face ordeals by Fardah

    Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Over four million Indonesians have become migrant workers (TKI) overseas particularly in Malaysia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait.
    Bank Indonesia (BI) has recorded that per September 2010, Indonesian migrant workers` remittances totaled 5.03 billion US dollars, up 2.44 percent from 4.91 billion US dollars in the same period last year.
     Difi A Djohansyah, a spokesman of the central bank, said in Jakarta recently that per September 2010, Indonesia sent 427,000 workers abroad, down 12 percent from 479,000 workers in the same period in 2009.
     With the additional workers, the total number of Indonesian workers abroad in September 2010 reached 4.32 million people.  Poverty and inadequate numbers of jobs in the country are among factors which have forced them to work overseas.

Year-ender: POLEMICS ON YOGYAKARTA'S SPECIAL STATUS DRAGS ON By Fardah

    Jakarta, Dec 15, 2010 (ANTARA) - Not long after being  hit by Mount Merapi's eruption,  Yogyakarta, a former sultanate given special region status since the country's independence  in 1945, is currently undergoing another ordeal but this time socio-political in nature.

           A government-proposed Bill on the Special Status of Yogyakarta has caused Yogyakarta's people to react strongly against the government's intention in the Bill  to revoke  the rights of Yogyakarta's Sultan to be automatically appointed as the province's governor.      

Anas, SBY, democracy the winners in Democrat Party`s congress by Fardah

    Jakarta , May 24, 2010 (ANTARA News) - It turns out that the results of the Democrat Party`s just-ended Second Congress are victories for Susilo Bambang Yudhoyonon (SBY), and Anas Urbaningrum.
      And more than that, it was also a victory for the Democrat Party, the younger generation and democracy within the party in particular, according to some people.

INDONESIAN RED CROSS GOES TO CAMPUS FOR MORE BLOOD by Fardah

      Jakarta, Nov 30, 2010 (ANTARA) - After targeting shoppers, the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) is now going to campuses to collect more fresh blood donations from university students.
      PMI Chief Jusuf Kalla and Rector of Trisakti University Prof. Dr. Thoby Mutis inaugurated a blood donation outlet at the university`s campus in West Jakarta, Tuesday.
       It is the second PMI`s blood donation outlet set up at a university campus, as the first one was inaugurated at the Hasanuddin University`s campus in Makassar, South Sulawesi, several months ago.

ANGKLUNG RECEIVES WORLD RECOGNITION by Fardah

      Jakarta, Nov 19, 2010 (ANTARA) - Angklung, Indonesia`s traditional bamboo musical instrument, which has been frequently played before international audiences in Indonesia as well as overseas, has finally received world recognition.
       Angklung was one of 47 nominations from 29 countries, which had been examined by the UNESCO Inter-Governmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (IGC-ICH) in its fifth session in Nairobi, Kenya, on Wednesday (Nov 17), for inscription into the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

GOVT URGED TO PURSUE CLAIM ON MONTARA OIL SPILL by Fardah

       Jakarta, Nov 16, 2010 (ANTARA) - Although Indonesia`s claim for compensation on the Timor Sea oil spill has been rejected by the Montara oil field`s operator, PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP) Australasia, an NGO has urged the government not to give up but to continue pursuing its demand.
        "Indonesia must not keep quiet about the matter but follow it up," Riza Damanik, secretary general of the People`s Coalition for Fishery Justice (Kiara) said in Jakarta on Monday (Nov 15).
        "It`s regrettable that PTTEP has twice refused the claim amounting to US$2.4 billion presented by Indonesia for the oil spill in the Timor Sea," Damanik said.

Nostalgic Obama charms Indonesians by Fardah

     Jakarta, Nov 10, 2010 (ANTARA News) - The brief visit of US President Barack Obama, especially thanks to his smart interactions with the Indonesian leaders and people directly and indirectly, has been a great success for both Obama and Indonesia.
     Obama, who had spent around four years during his childhood in Jakarta and joined local elementary schools, opened up about his nostalgic feeling about Indonesia, especially its people as well as local food, during his short visit in Jakarta.
    Equally, many Indonesians have loved him since he had declared his US presidential candidacy. Unfortunately some of them "had lost" interest in Obama due among other things to the fact that he twice canceled a trip to Jakarta earlier this year, the slow progress in US-sponsored Middle East peace talks, his policies on Iraq and Afghanistan.

Obama's visit and alleged hidden imperialistic agenda by Fardah

    Jakarta, Nov 8, 2010 (ANTARA News) - After twice canceling his planned visit to Indonesiam namely in March and June this year, it is almost certain that US President Barack Obama will finally land in Jakarta Tuesday (Nov 9) despite the Mount Merapi eruptions.
     Obama`s spokesman, Robert Gibbs, said in New Delhi Monday morning (Nov 8) that US officials were monitoring travel conditions closely due to the ongoing Mount Merapi eruption, but they were "proceeding with plans to depart for Indonesia" Tuesday (Nov 9), Associated Press reported.
     Indonesia is scheduled to be the second stop on Obama`s four-country trip through Asia, covering India, Indonesia, South Korea and Japan.

IN OCTOBER ALONE, INDONESIA HIT BY THREE NATURAL DISASTERS By Fardah

      Jakarta, Oct 30, 2010 (ANTARA) - The Earth is getting older, judging by the increased frequency of natural disasters in the world lately, especially in Indonesia.
      During this October alone, parts of the country have been seriously affected by three major disasters. The first one was a flash flood in Wasior, West Papua Province, on October 3.

POLEMICS ON HERO STATUS FOR SOEHARTO DRAG ON By Fardah

       Jakarta, Oct 25, 2010 (ANTARA) - A public controversy on the nomination of former president Soeharto for national hero status has been heating up over the past one month.
      As pros and cons have continued to drag on, Social Affairs Minister Salim Segaf Al-Jufri recently explained that proposals to award the national hero title to certain people had not come from the government but from the people.

CENTURY-OLD PALM OIL INDUSTRY STILL BUSY FACING 'NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNS' By Fardah

      Jakarta, Oct 23, 2010 (ANTARA) - Entering the 100th anniversary of the palm oil industry in Indonesia, the world`s largest palm oil producing country, is still preoccupied with responses to anti-palm oil expansion campaigns launched by environmental NGOs.
       A celebration to be highlighted with a number of events such seminars, exhibitions, sports tournaments and charity, will be organized in Medan, North Sumatra, on March 28-30, 2011.
      And the most important, the event will also be used as an opportunity to correct `public misconceptions` on negative impacts of oil palm plantations on the environment.

FINALLY, NATION TALKS ABOUT HERO NOMINATION FOR SOEHARTO by Fardah

        Jakarta, Oct 18, 2010 (ANTARA) - Prayers to observe the 1000 days of the demise of former President Soeharto will be organized in five different places on October 22, 2010.
       By accident, Soeharto has been frequently mentioned in the media following a proposal on rewarding the national hero status to ten people including Soeharto.
       Since his death on January 27, 2008, there have been rarely any news proposing him to receive national hero tittle, as the nation is quite divided in seeing Soeharto.

GOVT TACKLING WASIOR FLOOD DISASTER ALL OUT By Fardah

       Jakarta, Oct 9, 2010 (ANTARA) - The attention of all government officials, from the head of state to ordinary search and rescue officers, is now focused on Wasior, West Papua Province (about 3,500 km from Jakarta), where a flash flood last Sunday (Oct 3) has wreaked lethal havoc.
       According to the latest data, the flash flood killed 124 people, left 123 others missing, 185 seriously, and 535 persons lightly injured.

DUBES: KERJA SAMA RI-TURKI TERUS DITINGKATKAN

       Jakarta, 23/9, 2010 (ANTARA) - Indonesia berupaya untuk terus meningkatkan kerja sama dengan Turki khususnya di bidang perdagangan dan investasi, kata Dubes Indonesia untuk Turki Nahari Agustini.
       "Perdagangan bilateral antara Indonesia dan Turki yang pernah mencapai 2,1 miliar dolar AS pada 2008, diharapkan dapat meningkat menjadi sekitar lima miliar dolar dalam beberapa tahun ke depan," kata Dubes Nahari di Jakarta, Kamis, beberapa saat sebelum bertolak ke Turki untuk memulai tugasnya.

RI WANTS MORE-THAN-DOUBLE INCREASE IN TRADE WITH TURKEY: ENVOY

       Jakarta, Sept. 23, 2010 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government wants to see a more-than double increase in its bilateral trade with Turkey over the next few years , the new Indonesian ambassador to Turkey said.
      "Bilateral trade between Indonesia and Turkey reached US$2.1 billion in 2008, and is expected to rise to around US$5 billion in the next few years," Indonesian Ambassador-designate to Turkey Nahari Agustini said here Thursday before leaving for Ankara.

WAKE UP CALL FOR MEETING MDGs By Fardah

      Jakarta, Sept 17, 2010 (ANTARA) - The deadline for meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MGDs) is only four years away but some countries seem to be on the brink of failure as the number of poor people globally has not decreased significantly.
       The latest warning on a possible failure came from Amnesty International which said in its press statement on Sept. 16, that the MDGs are failing the world`s poorest people because governments are ignoring and abusing their human rights.

MISERABLE LIFE OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN "UNWANTED COUNTRY" by Fardah

        Jakarta, Sept 15, 2010 (ANTARA) - Just one day after Nasir (24), an Iranian illegal immigrant, died of serious depression in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara Province (NTT), Rahiq (28), another Iranian immigrant, was beaten by a mob for trying to escape from a detention center also in Kupang, on August 24.
        Nasir had been detained at the Kupang immigration detention center since last June after being arrested with 40 other illegal immigrants on Sumba Isle, NTT, during their attempt to reach "the New World" of Australia, located south of Indonesia.

POLICE RECORD FEWER TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS DURING IDUL FITRI EXODUS By Fardah

       Jakarta, Sept 13, 2010 (ANTARA) - Police throughout Indonesia have stepped up their monitoring as millions of Idul Fitri travelers are hitting the roads again in a reverse Idul Fitri exodus.
       The government has estimated the number of travelers celebrating Idul Fitri or Lebaran post-fasting festivities in their hometowns this year at 15.5 million.
       Some 89,521 police personnel have been deployed and 2,592 security posts have been set up across the country during "Operation Ketupat" to monitor home-bound and in-bound travelers making long journeys to be with their families on the occasion of Idul Fitri, which fell on September 10, 2010.

GOVT, COMPANIES TRY TO ENSURE HOME-BOUND MOTORBIKERS' SAFETY By Fardah

      Jakarta, Sept 8, 2010 (ANTARA) - Most Indonesian Muslims observe the tradition of returning to their hometowns or villages to celebrate Idul Fitri - which this year falls on September 10 - with their families.
      During the Idul Fitri holiday season last year, the number of home-bound travelers reached about 27.25 million of which 16.2 million used various public transportation modes while the remaining 11.2 million used private cars and motorcycles throughout the country.

CLIMATE CHANGE'S IMPACT IN INDONESIA BECOMING NEAR, REAL By Fardah

      Jakarta, Sept 4, 2010 (ANTARA) - Ode (45), a fisherman of Lebak District, Banten Province, has to sell his belongings to buy food for his family as bad weather has forced him to stay away from open seas over the past two months.
       "I recently sold my television set to meet our daily needs," he told ANTARA at a local fish market in Lebak, Thursday (3/9).
       Like Ode, other fishermen in Lebak District have also complained about their meager fish catches lately due to continuing bad weather conditions marked by strong winds, rain or huge waves in the Indian Ocean.

"MILLION FRIENDS, ZERO ENEMIES" POLICY VS BINTAN INCIDENT by Fardah

Jakarta, Aug 26, 2010 (ANTARA) - Today`s headlines in several major Indonesian dailies were mostly about the ongoing row between Indonesia and Malaysia following the Bintan incident which occurred
on August 13, 2010.

The incident was triggered by the violation committed by Malaysian police in arresting three Indonesian marine officers who had caught seven Malaysian fishermen in the act of poaching in Indonesian waters.

The Indonesian officers finally were set free by the Malaysian government on August 17 almost coinciding with the release of seven Malaysian fishermen by Indonesia.

Since then, there has been an outrage among the Indonesian people who considered the Malaysian police were arrogant and had violated Indonesian territory while the Indonesian government was too soft in handling the incident.

Amid mounting public pressure, the House of Representatives (DPR)`s Commission I held a hearing with Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa and Indonesian Ambassador to Malaysia Dai Bachtiar at the Parliament Building in Jakarta, Wednesday (Aug 26) , to discuss the way the government had responded to the violation committed by Malaysia.

On the following day (Thursday, Aug 26), the results of the parliamentarian hearing made headlines in an number of dailies. The Jakarta Post`s headline read "House wants govt to take tough stance on Malaysia".

The English-language newspaper reported that lawmakers had asked the government to take firm diplomatic action against Malaysia, from demanding an apology and freezing bilateral ties to exploring possible military options.

Indonesia`s largest newspaper Kompas put a similar headline reading "Government Must Take Firm Action" (against Malaysia regarding the Bintan incident).

Another English-language daily, The Jakarta Globe put a front page story titled "With Both Sides Feeling Scorned, Row With Malaysia Far From Over".

In Republika Daily, the headline was more neutral, as it wrote: "Indonesia Speeds Up Border Negotations".

Media Indonesia, which is often critical of the government, made an interesting headline which read "Indonesia Being Trapped in Common Stock (`Serumpun`) Diplomacy."

The newspapers wrote that the Indonesian government, which tends to follow a `soft diplomacy`, is being trapped by a diplomacy pattern applied by the Malaysian government which is always

harping on the fact that Indonesia and Malaysia are of the same race, the Malay race, as a pretext to pursue discussions regarding all problems facing the two neighboring countries.

The Indonesian media reported that Tantowi Yahya, a legislator from the Golkar Party faction in the hearing with the foreign affairs minister said that "the zero enemies, million friends" policy often promoted by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono does not mean that Indonesia should always be low profile in order to avoid hostility.

"When we are being insulted, we must not keep quiet. They (Malaysia) are making use of our (Malay) solidarity sentiment to belittle us," Tantowi Yahya said.

Prior to the uproar about the Bintan incident, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had said that in pursuing its active and independent foreign policy, Indonesia wants to have "a million friends, zero enemies."

In his state address on the 65th Independence Day at the Parliament Building last August 16, 2010, the President said the nation could follow all directions in its foreign policy amid the fast changing world constellation.

"We should continue to arouse the spirit of internationalism which prioritizes cooperation and partnership. We have to do it in the belief that our country will be safer, more prosperous and stronger when we have more friends, close friends and partners," he said.

However, not all parties fully agree with the way the nation should apply the "zero enemies" policy.
A number of lawmakers have urged the Indonesian government to demand an apology from Malaysia for the border violations.

If Malaysia failed to apologize, it meant the neighboring country did not respect and lacked good will toward Indonesia, Legislator Hayono Isman of the Golkar Party faction said on Thursday (Aug 26).

"But I am sure Malaysia will apologize to the Indonesian people,"he said.

Isman said Malaysia will lose in the economic sector if its bilateral ties with Indonesia deteriorate following its violations of Indonesian borders.

"Malaysia will lose if it fails to respect Indonesia. Malaysian investments will collapse because they depend on Indonesia," Hayono Isman, a member of the House of Representatives (DPR)`s Commission I, said at the parliament building .

Malaysia as the world`s largest palm oil exporter might face a production decrease as most of the workers on its oilpalm plantations are Indonesians, he said. "Our Ambassador to Malaysia Dai Bachtiar said there are two million Indonesian workers in Malaysia and they mostly work at oilpalm plantations," Hayono said.

The DPR`s Commission I dealing with defense, information and foreign affairs, would continue to follow developments related to the Bintan incident, he said.

"If there is no progress, we will bring the issue to a plenary meeting (of the Parliament) in order to gather more power and to show Malaysia that the case is very important and not a trivial matter. A plenary session of Parliament will mean , we have reached the limit of our patience," the legislator said.

Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa at the parliamentarian hearing said that the government would speed up Indonesia-Malaysia border talks and was planning to have a Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) meeting on September 6, 2010. ***1***

(T. F001/A/HAJM/20:10/H-YH)
(T.F001/A/F001/A/H-YH) 26-08-2010 20:13:04 

REALISTIC (OR PESSIMISTIC?) OUTCOME EXPECTED FROM CANCUN SUMMIT By Fardah

Jakarta, Aug 24, 2010 (ANTARA) - World leaders still have about three months to think on what kind of outcome they expect to come out from the climate change summit to be held in Cancun, Mexico, next December.

It seems that `distrust` between developed and developing countries is still lingering in the climate talks.

The indication got clearer following the United Nations-sponsored climate talks in Bonn earlier this month which concluded with the differences widening, not narrowing, and a greater number of disputed issues .

GOVT CRITICIZED FOR BEING TOO SOFT IN HANDLING BORDER INCIDENT by Fardah

Jakarta, Aug 23, 2010 (ANTARA) - Being kind to neighbors is a noble deed but when it concerns national sovereignty, dignity is at stake and firm action seems to be valued more.

At least that was the lesson learned from the recent border incident between Indonesia and Malaysia.

The Indonesian government recently sent a protest note to Malaysia about the incident that happened last August 13, when three Marine and Fisheries Ministry (DKP) officers based in Riau Islands Province were detained and taken to Malaysia by a Malaysian police boat crew.

LONG, WINDING ROAD AHEAD FOR RI'S NUCLEAR ENERGY AMBITION By Fardah

Jakarta, Aug. 2, 2010 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government has been mulling construction of a nuclear power plant since the 1980s prompted by predictions of the increasing unsustainability of the existing and mainly oil- and coal-fired national power generation system.

"Law No. 17/2007 mandates the use of nuclear energy in Indonesia by 2015-2019, so we should have a nuclear power plant by 2019 at the latest," Dr Taswanda Taryo, deputy head for research and development result empowerment of the National Nuclear Energy Agency (BATAN), said in Surabaya (East Java) recently.

GLOOMY PICTURE ON NATIONAL CHILDREN'S DAY By Fardah

Jakarta, July 23, 2010 (ANTARA) - It was a celebration for around 25,000 children participating in a National Children`s Day 2010 function at the Beautiful Indonesia in Miniature Park (TMII), eastern Jakarta, Friday.

The children, mostly kindergarten, elementary and junior high school students from Jakarta and surrounding areas, enjoyed dancing, singing and other activities at the Children`s Palace as well as other stands at TMII at the function which was also attended by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and First Lady Ani Yudhoyono.

ILLEGAL LOGGING DECLINES BY 75 PCT - TRUE OR JUST ON PAPER? By Fardah

Jakarta, July 17, 2010 (ANTARA) - London-based Chatham House issued a report on significant decline of illegal logging activities in some developing countries, during a seminar on "Illegal Logging and Related Trade" held at the Royal Society, London, July 15.

According to the report entitled "Illegal Logging and Related Trade: Indicators of the Global Response", total global production of illegal timber has fallen by 22 percent since 2002.

MOLOTOV BOMB ATTACK ON TEMPO OFFICE DEPLORED By Fardah

Jakarta, July 7, 2010  (ANTARA) - Various parties have deplored Tuesday morning`s Molotov bomb attack on Tempo magazine`s office building, characterizing the incident as an attempt to terrorize the press and restrict its freedom.
Unidentified persons threw three Molotov bombs at the publication`s office building on Proklamasi street, central Jakarta, at 2.45 am Western Indonesian Standard Time (WIB) Tuesday (July 6).

RI'S POPULATION INCREASES TO NEARLY QUARTER BILLION By Fardah

Jakarta, July 2, 2010 (ANTARA) - Indonesia, the world`s largest archipelagic state, is now estimated to have a total population of over 237 million, according to latest data of the the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS).

The data was collected from the just-concluded 2010 population census, which was carried out nation-wide in May 2010.

The latest population figure keeps Indonesia in the fourth rank of the world`s most populous countries, after China (1,338,410,000), India 1,182,867,000, and the US (309,636,000), according to data from the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

According to the UN figure, China`s population constitutes 19.59 percent of the world`s 6 billion population, India`s 17.32 percent, the US`s 4.43 percent and Indonesia`s 3.43 percent.

Indonesia`s total area covers 1,904,569 sq km (or no. 16 in width in the world), comprising 1,811,569 sq km of land area and 93,000 sq km or water area. The country has 17,508 islands of which only 6,000 are inhabited. The nation`s five big islands are Papua, Kalimantan, Sumatra, Sulawesi and Java.

Announcing the census` temporary findings, BPS Chairman Rusman Heriawan confirmed here Thursday (July 1) that the census has covered 100 percent of the Indonesian population as well as foreign nationals living in Indonesia.

He, however, admitted that there were some difficulties in collecting data from apartment residents since not all of them, especially those in Jakarta, were willing to receive census takers.

For their data, the census personnel partly asked information from the apartments` management officers.

The BPS on its website monitored recently said the just-ended 2010 census counted the members of 65 million households throughout the country.

The census was carried out by about 600,000 field officers recruited in the respective localities to ensure their familiarity with the conditions of their working areas.

They recorded among other things information on individual family members, the conditions of their housing facilities and buildings, and the characteristics of households.

The census also aims at evaluating the achievements in efforts to realize the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Based on the census, the BPS has recorded that the number of males in Indonesia`s population surpasses that of females.

"The balance is quite slim, but there are more men than women in the country," the BPS chairman said without giving exact figures.

East Kalimantan Province has more males than females, he said. Meanwhile, the contrary was found in West Sumatra Province which has more women than men, he said, adding that apparently the province`s men preferred to move to somewhere else to work.

Furthermore, the BPS revealed that about 64.23 percent of poor people in Indonesia were found in villages.

"In the March 2009 - March 2010 period the number of urban poor declined by 810,000 to 11.1 million while those in villages declined by 690,000 to 19.93 million," BPS chief Rusman Heriwan said.

He said that in 2009, the number of poor people in Indonesia was recorded at 32.53 million, most of whom, namely 63.38 percent, lived in villages and 64.65 percent (32.53 million) earned a living in the agricultural sector.

Rusman said that the problem with poor people was not merely about their number or percentage but also how serious their poverty was.

Besides reducing the number of poor people, the government was also trying to improve the nature and depth of their poverty, he said.

He said that in the March 2009 - March 2010 period, the depth and nature of the poverty indice experienced a decline. The poverty depth index dropped from 2.5 in March 2009 to 2.21 in March 2010. In the meantime, the poverty nature index also dropped from 0.68 to 0.58 in the same period, he said.

According to the BPS data, Indonesia`s population in 1971 was 119,208,229, in 1980 147,490,298, in 1990 179,378,946, in 1995 194,754,808, and in 2000 206,264,595.

The country`s population growth rate during the period of 1971-1980 was 2.31 percent. And thanks to the successful family planning program, particularly in 1980-1990, the population growth rate declined to 1.98 percent, and in 1990-2000 it went down further to 1.49 percent.

Of the total population in 2000, 121 million people or 60.1 percent lived on Java Island, making it the country`s most crowded island with an average density of 103 people per km2.

Jakarta, the capital city, which is located on western Java island, alone has about nine to ten million inhabitants.

Speaking at the opening of a Family Planning National Working Meeting in February 2009, Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Aburizal Bakrie said the pace of population growth in Indonesia had reached an alarming level.

The minister said if the government failed to do something about the population growth rate, the country would face a runaway population boom in the next 10 to 15 years.

Meanwhile, National Family Planning Coordinating Board (BKKBN) chief Sugiri Sjarief admitted the past five years had seen a stagnation in family planning programs.

Indonesia`s population will boom and reach 255 million in 2015 missing the target of 237.8 million if it grows at its present rate, a family planning official said .

"If support to the family planning program remains as it is now, the country`s population may swell to 330 million by 2050 or far beyond the target of 255 million," the head of the National Family Planning Coordinating Board (BKKBN), Dr Sugiri Syarief said on the sidelines of the commemoration of World Contraception Day.

BKKBN Chief Sugiri Syarief said his office has set a target of achieving new 7.1 million Family Planning users this year.

Seen the economic perspectives, Vice President Boediono said early this year that the family planning program plays an important role in boosting national development and economic growth,

"The family planning program continues to play an important role in preventing a population explosion," Boediono said when officially opening the National Congress of Population Development and Family Planning Program 2010.

If Indonesia failed in implementing the Family Planning program, the country could face a population explosion which later would trigger social problems, he said.

***3***

(t. F001/A/HAJM/16:20/a014)
(T.F001/A/F001/A/A014) 02-07-2010 17:38:46
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INDONESIA HOSPITAL IN GAZA FOR GAZANS By Fardah

Jakarta, June 17, 2010 (ANTARA) - In a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Jakarta recently, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono spoke of Indonesia`s plan to construct a hospital in Gaza, Palestine.

"We will build a hospital in Gaza worth Rp20 billion in the hope it will increase public health facilities in Gaza," the President said at the Merdeka Palace, last May 29, when speaking at a joint press conference after meeting with visiting Mahmoud Abbas.

RI CALLS FOR REDOUBLED EFFORTS TO END ISRAELI OCCUPATION By Fardah

Jakarta, June 7, 2010 (ANTARA) - Amid the global outrage following the Israeli attack on the Mavi Marmara of the Gaza-bound Freedom Flotilla, the Indonesian government has called for redoubled efforts to end the Israeli occupation of Palestine.

Redoubled efforts were necessary to ensure that "we speak with one voice in demanding that Israel, immediately and without delay, lift its illegal blockade of the Gaza Strip, its occupation of Palestine, which has caused a deep humanitarian crisis," Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa said in his speech at the expanded extraordinary meeting of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Executive Committee in Jidda on Sunday (June 6).

THE LINK BETWEEN OBAMA, FREEDOM FLOTILLA AND INDONESIA By Fardah

Jakarta, June 4, 2010 (ANTARA) - News on the postponement of US President Barack Obama`s upcoming visit to Indonesia from June to November 2010 was no surprise to some Indonesians.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told Reuters in an email that Obama postponed the trip again in order to deal with the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and other important issues.

In Jakarta, presidential spokesman Dino Patti Djalal confirmed the postponement, saying "President Yudhoyono and his US counterpart agreed to set right date for the visit either in November or before that." Patti Djalal said , adding the two presidents spoke about it on the phone on Friday morning.

ATTACK ON FREEDOM FLOTILLA PITS ISRAEL AGAINST WORLD COMMUNITY By Fardah

Jakarta, June 2, 2010 (ANTARA) - Battles between Israel and Palestine or other Arab countries are no longer something extraordinary but the current situation where Israel has to face activists from various countries and condemnation by many nations following its attack on a Gaza-bound humanitarian ship is really something.

An outraged world continues to condemn Israel`s deadly attack on a convoy of aid-carrying ships headed to Gaza that killed 19 people aboard the "MV Mavi Marmara" early Monday.

PALESTINIAN PRESIDENT TO PAY SECOND VISIT TO JAKARTA By Fardah

Jakarta, May 27, 2010 (ANTARA) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will pay a working visit to Jakarta on May 28-29, 2010 or about three years after his first state visit here in October 2007.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said on Tuesday, apart from bilateral issues, he and Abbas would also discuss a new chapter in the peace process between Palestine and Israel.

In a statement shortly before leaving for Oslo, Norway, the President said Indonesia would remain consistent in its support for the cause of an independent state of Palestine.

Anas, SBY, democracy the winners in Democrat Party`s congress by Fardah

     Jakarta, May 24, 2010 (ANTARA News) - It turns out that the results of the Democrat Party`s just-ended Second Congress are victories for Susilo Bambang Yudhoyonon (SBY), and Anas Urbaningrum.
       And more than that, it was also a victory for the Democrat Party, the younger generation and democracy within the party in particular, according to some people.

TO USE OR NOT TO USE E-VOTING SYSTEM IN 2014 POLLS By Fardah

Jakarta, May 20, 2010 (ANTARA) - Using the electronic voting (e-voting) system in the general elections in 2014 has lately become a public discourse in Indonesia.

Some officials have expressed pessimism and others optimism the e-voting system can be applied in this archipelagic country with a population of around 230 million.

Among the pessimists was Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi who believed that the Indonesian public were not ready for electronic voting (e-voting) in the presidential and legislative elections in 2014.

Two of Democrat party`s best cadres vying for top seat by Fardah

     Jakarta, May 16, 2010 (ANTARA News) - The relatively new but very popular Democrat Party (PD) is going to hold a national congress to elect a new leader, with at least two of its best cadres, Andi Mallarangeng and Anas Urbaningrum, vying for the position.
    Another candidate for the party`s top job is Marzukie Alie, currently the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The party`s congress will take place in Bandung (West Java), May 21-23, 2010.

GOVT FINALLY TO MEDIATE GREENPEACE-PT SMART DISPUTE By Fardah

Jakarta, May 11, 2010 (ANTARA) - After seemingly preferring to remain a silent spectator of the ongoing dispute over the issue of forests being converted into oil palm plantations between Greenpeace and PT Sinar Mas Agro Resources & Technology Tbk (PT SMART), the government now finally intends to mediate.

Deputy Agriculture Minister Bayu Krisnamurthi unannounced on Friday (May 7) his office was ready to facilitate a meeting between Greenpeace and PT SMART to clarify their respective stances on the matter.

INDONESIA TO EMBRACE INT'L BIODIVERSITY DAY, YEAR By Fardah

Jakarta, May 5, 2010 (ANTARA) - Indonesia has been acknowledged by scientists as one of the world`s mega centers of biodiversity for her abundant flora and fauna species and a wide range of natural habitats.

Having a population of around 235 million, Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world, located between two oceans, the Pacific and the Indian, and bridging two continents, Asia and Australia.

The country consists of more than 17,000 islands, including five main islands - Java, Kalimantan (Borneo), Papua, Sumatera and Sulawesi, which host the world`s third largest forest area after Brazil and Zaire.

KPK FINALLY SUMMONS VP, FINANCE MINISTER ON CENTURY BAILOUT By Fardah

Jakarta, April 27, 2010 (ANTARA) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has finally done what many people following developments in the Bank Century case had been waiting for : summoning Vice President Boediono and Finance Minister Sri Mulyani.

Boediono, former Bank Indonesia (BI) Governor, and Sri Mulyani, former chairperson of the defunct Financial System Stability Committee (KSSK), are considered key figures in the government`s decision to bail out the failed bank.

RI STARTS LOOKING AT GREEN ECONOMY STRATEGY By Fardah

Jakarta, April 23, 2010 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono when addressing the Global Ministerial Environment Forum in Bali last February, called for the adoption of a green economy development strategy which was pro-growth, pro-job and pro-poor.

"Striving for a Green Economy, we will more quickly mainstream ecological concerns into our economic decision-making. This can ensure sustainable and inclusive growth and the achievement of the MDGs. Thus we have a clear opportunity to reshape our economic systems and to introduce ``green growth` as a global paradigm," he told roughly 100 environment ministers attending the forum.

RI Gets Int`l Support For Its Climate Change Fight by Fardah

     Jakarta, April 20, 2010 (ANTARA News) - Indonesia, home of the world`s third largest forest area after Brazil and Zaire, has received support from several countries for its efforts to preserve some of the `Earth`s lungs`.
     "Bilateral cooperation in forest preservation with a number of other countries has been smooth. A while ago, I received delegations from 15 countries including Norway, Switzerland, Germany, Japan, France, Iran and Algeria," Environment Minister Gusti M Hatta told ANTARA on the sidelines of a global environment ministerial-level meeting in Nusa Dua, Bali Province, last February 2010.

SRI LANKAN BOAT PEOPLE IN LIMBO AS AUSSIE CLOSES DOOR by Fardah

Jakarta, April 20, 2010 (ANTARA) - About a week after the Australian government decided to tighten its door close, immigration authorities transferred 134 Sri Lankan immigrants in Banten to the Tanjungpinang immigration detention center in Riau Islands.

The Sri Lankan refugees had so far been held in their boat at Indah Kiat harbor, Banten, since October 2009. They had refused to leave their boat for six months during which they kept on insisting on being allowed to travel to Australia.

NGOs HAIL PRESIDENT'S CALL FOR COOPERATION IN FIGHTING ILLEGAL LOGGING By Fardah

Jakarta, April 9, 2010 (ANTARA) - Before leaving for an ASEAN Summit in Vietnam, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono made a significant call for partnership with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in environmental preservation.

"The government and non-governmental organizations share the same spirit with regard to environmental conservation efforts," the head of state said before leaving for Hanoi, Vietnam, to attend an Asean summit on Wednesday (April 7).

WAITING FOR HIGHER EMISSION CUT PLEDGES TO SAVE EARTH By Fardah

     Jakarta, March 22, 2010 (ANTARA) - Scientists have warned that the earth`s temperature rise should be limited to no more than two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial times by the end of the century if devastating climate change is to be avoided.
     The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in its report noted that this can only happen if global greenhouse gas emissions peak by 2015 and rich nations slash their carbon pollution levels by 25 percent - 40 percent from 1990 levels by 2020.

FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISTS : TO KILL OR NOT TO KILL By Fardah

     Jakarta, March 18, 2010 (ANTARA) - Many parties have applauded the Indonesian police for their most recent successes in fighting terrorists in Tangerang (Banten Provice) and Aceh Province, but some have expressed regrets about the harsh way the police had handled them.
       The Densus-88 anti-terror police shot dead three terror suspects in two separate places in South Tangerang, Banten Province, last March 9, 2010. One of the dead victims was Dulmatin, a most-wanted terror suspect.

REBUILDING TRUST TOWARDS MEXICO CLIMATE CHANGE SUMMIT By Fardah

       Jakarta, March 10, 2010 (ANTARA) - A number of countries attending an informal meeting on climate change in Bali last February emphasized the urgency of rebuilding trust in the runup to the Mexico Climate Change Summit late this year.
       "The greatest challenge facing all countries towards Mexico is to rebuild trust," Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa told the press after chairing an informal ministerial level meeting on climate change in Nusa Dua, Bali Province, on February 26, 2010.

IS THERE EMPATHY FOR STREET CHILDREN? by Fardah

      Jakarta, March 5, 2010 (ANTARA) - "Though deprived of my rights, I still want to devote my life to the nation..." said part of the lyrics of a song 9-year-old Irwan sang in a public minibus at the Kampung Melayu bus station recently.
      It might be a mere `illusion` for a street child like Irwan to make a `big contribution` to the nation as even to buy simple meals, he has to beg, which is a violation of Jakarta`s Bylaw No. 8/2007 endorsed by the home affairs ministry in early 2008.
    The new ordinance, which replaces a 19-year-old bylaw on public order, bans residents from selling goods on the streets, sidewalks, pedestrian bridges and other public spaces. It also prohibits people from giving money to beggars, buskers and street children.

News Focus: Preserving Marine `amazon` To Curb Climate Change by Fardah

    Jakarta. March 4, 2010  (ANTARA News) - Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad has compared Indonesia`s marine and coastal ecosystem to the Amazon rainforests for sharing carbon sink role.
     Indonesia is one of the world`s largest maritime countries with about 5.8 million square kilometers of marine territory. Forests, oceans and adjoining marine ecosystems are like the lungs of the atmosphere.

INT'L COOPERATION CRUCIAL TO PREVENT HAZARDOUS WASTE IMPORTS by Fardah

      Jakarta, March 1, 2010 (ANTARA) - As a vast archipelago country, Indonesia has at least 2,000 locations which are potential entry points of illegal imports of hazardous and chemical wastes.
      Therefore, it was not a surprise when Environment Minister Prof Gusti 0Muhammad Hatta recently said that Indonesia was vulnerable to illegal trafficking in hazardous substances and wastes.
       "We believe that international cooperation and agreements, at both global and regional level, are crucial in tackling these challenges," the minister said in his opening address at the Simultaneous Extraordinary Meetings of the Conferences of the Parties (COPS) to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, which was held in Nusa Dua, Bali Province, Feb. 22-24.

MEXICO MEETING SHOULD FOCUS ON TRUST REBUILDING : MARTY, DE BOER

      Nusa Dua, Bali, Feb. 26, 2010 (ANTARA) - The next climate change conference in Mexico should focus on rebuilding trust and implementation of existing agreements, according to Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa and UNFCCC Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer.
      The greatest challenge facing all countries towards Mexico was to rebuild trust, said the Indonesian foreign affairs minister at a press conference after concluding an informal ministerial level meeting on climate change here Friday.

UNEP CHIEF: ENVIRONMENT MINISTERS FIND COLLECTIVE VOICE AGAIN

       Nusa Dua, Bali, Feb. 26, 2010 (ANTARA) - UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner is optimistic about the results of the just concluded Bali environment ministers` meeting here as the conference had enabled them to find a collective voice again after the "great frustrations" in Copenhagen.
       "Without that there would never be any progress," Steiner told the press after the closing of the three-day 11th Special Session of the UNEP Governing Council and the Global Ministerial Environment Forum here on Friday.

Menteri LH Terima Delegasi 15 Negara

     Nusa Dua, 26 Februari 2010 (ANTARA News) - Menteri Lingkungan Hidup Gusti M Hatta menerima delegasi dari 15 negara untuk membicarakan kerjasama bilateral selama pertemuan lingkungan hidup tingat menteri di Nusa Dua, Bali, 22 hingga 26 Februari 2010.
     "Kerjasama bilateral sudah berjalan lancar. Selama saya di sini (Nusa Dua - Red.), delegasi dari 15 negara menemui saya, antara lain dari Norwegia, Swiss, Jerman, Jepang, Prancis, Iran, dan Aljazair," kata Menteri Gusti M Hatta kepada ANTARA, di Nusa Dua, Jum`at.

INDIA JOINS UNEP'S GLOBAL TREE-PLANTING CAMPAIGN

      Nusa Dua, Bali, Feb. 25, 2010 (ANTARA) - India has joined UNEP`s Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign (BTC) by planting two billion trees since 2007, bringing the international campaign`s total to date to over 10 billion planted trees worldwide.
       India also launched a compensation afforestation programme under which any diversion of public forests for non-forestry purposes was compensated through afforestation in degraded or non-forested land, India`s Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Forests Vijay Sharma announced here on Thursday.

RI, UNEP launch `Blue Carbon` global scientific assessment

    Nusa Dua, Feb 25, 2010 (ANTARA News) - Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad and UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner launched a global scientific assessment on `Blue Carbon` here on Thursday.
     "Indonesia, as a country having 92,000 km-long beach and coastal areas, second after Canada, wants to do more on ocean and marine ecosystems for future generations," Minister Fadel said at a press conference held on the sidelines of the 11th Special Session of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum being organized on February 24-26.

PRESIDENT TO OFFICIALLY OPEN GLOBAL MINISTERIAL ENVIRONMENT MEETING

       Nusa Dua, Bali Province, Feb. 24, 2010 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is scheduled to officially open the 11th Special Session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum at Bali International Convention Center here Wednesday.
      The meeting`s theme is "Environment in the Multilateral System" and it will discuss three topics, namely "International Environmental Governance (IEG) and sustainable development", "The Green Economy" and "Biodiversity and Ecosystems".

PRESIDENT OUTLINES FIVE STRATEGIES TO SAVE ENVIRONMENT

        Nusa Dua, Bali, Feb. 24, 2010 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono outlined five strategies to save the environment when officially opening the 11th Special Session of the UNEP Governing Council /Global Ministerial Environment Forum, here on Wednesday.
      The first strategy is to change the pattern of production and consumption in order to save the Earth which is seriously damaged, for the sake of the present and future generations.

UNEP LAUNCHES HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES RESPONSIBILITY CAMPAIGN

      Nusa Dua, Bali, Feb. 24, 2010 (ANTARA) - The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) here Wednesday launched a `Safe Planet` or `body burdens` campaign to raise global awareness of the need for action on the threats posed by hazardous chemicals and wastes.
      "Hazardous chemicals and wastes are not only around us, but they are in our bodies," said Fatoumata Keita Ouane, senior scientific officer at UNEP`s secretariat to the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants.

UNEP/GEF PROJECT SUCCESSFULLY CONSERVES SIBERIAN CRANE

       Nusa Dua, Bali, Feb. 24, 2010 (ANTARA) - Siberian cranes and millions of other migratory waterbirds have been saved through a conservation project supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by the International Crane Foundation through the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP).
        "In 2002, the birds were not seen," said Claire M Mirande of International Crane Foundation, and senior director of Conservation and Science, concurrently director of UNEP-GEF Siberian Crane Wetlands Project, here, Wednesday.

UNEP SASAKAWA PRIZE GOES TO GREEN STOVE, CLEAN LIGHTING PROJECTS

      Nusa Dua, Bali, Feb. 23, 2010 (ANTARA) - Green stove and clean lighting projects serving remote communities in Latin America, Africa and India have won the 2009-10 UNEP Sasakawa Prize.
        "Through pioneering green ovens and sustainable lighting, Nuru Design and Trees, Water and People are changing the lives of thousands of school children, housewives, and villagers across Latin America, Africa and India. This is the Green Economy of tomorrow, in action today," United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Executive Director Achim Steiner, said here on Tuesday.

F-11 COUNTRIES CALL FOR MOBILIZATION OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES

          Nusa Dua, Bali, Feb. 23, 2010 (ANTARA) - F-11 countries have called for mobilization of the financial resources of developed countries through the establishment of mechanisms such as REDD-plus.
         The agreement to provide incentives to Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) action through the immediate establishment of a mechanism including REDD-plus, to enable the mobilization of financial resources from developed countries, must be urgently realized, according to a press statement issued by ministers attending the F-11 countries meeting here on Tuesday.

HIGHER EMISSION CUT TARGETS NEEDED TO MEET 2 DEGREE LIMIT

     Nusa Dua, Bali, Feb. 23, 2010 (ANTARA) - Gas emission cut pledges listed in the Copenhagen Accord are likely not enough if the world wants to limit two degree rise of global temperature, according to UNEP.
      There were still opportunities to increase the targets and countries needed to define longer target than 2020, said United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Executive Director Achim Steiner, here on Tuesday.
       Countries will have to be far more ambitious in cutting greenhouse gas emissions if the world is to effectively curb a rise in global temperature at two degrees Celsius or less, according to a new greenhouse gas modeling study based on the estimates of researchers at nine leading centers compiled by UNEP.

RI congratulated for rejecting e-waste from US

      Nusa Dua, Bali, Feb 23, 2010 (ANTARA News) - The Basel Action Network has praised Indonesia for turning down nine containers of e-waste (electronic waste) from the United States last November 2009.
     "Last night, I congratulated the Indonesian environmental affairs minister for the Indonesian authorities` diligent action," Jim Puckett, coordinator of Basel Action Network (BAN), said here on Monday.

RI VULNERABLE TO TRAFFICKING IN HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES, WASTES

       Nusa Dua, Feb. 22, 2010 (ANTARA) - Indonesia is vulnerable to illegal trafficking in hazardous substances and wastes, according to the country`s environment minister.
       As a vast archipelagic country, Indonesia had about 2,000 locations which were potential entry points, Environment Minister Prof. Muhammad Hatta said here on Monday in his opening address at the Simultaneous Extraordinary Meetings of the Conferences of the Parties (COPS) to the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions.

UNEP TO HOLD WORKSHOP ON REPORTING GREEN IN BALI

     Jakarta, Feb. 21, 2010 (ANTARA) - The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is to organize a workshop on "The Reporting Green- The Environment as News," in Nusa Dua, Bali Island, from February 22 to 26, 2010.
      The workshop will bring journalists into an active dialogue with experts, politicians and civil society leaders on current key environmental issues such as biodiversity loss, opportunities of the green economy and the future of environmental governance, according to Wambui Munge of UNEP Newsdesk, in a statement received by ANTARA, Sunday.

UNEP SELENGGARAKAN LOKAKARYA PEMBERITAAN LINGKUNGAN DI BALI

       Jakarta, 21/2, 2010 (ANTARA) - Program Lingkungan Hidup PBB (UNEP) akan menyelenggarakan lokakarya "Pelaporan Hijau Lingkungan Hidup sebagai Berita", di Nusa Dua, Bali, pada 22-26 Februari 2010.
      Peserta lokakarya akan berinteraksi aktif dengan para pakar, pejabat, dan tokoh masyarakat sipil untuk membahas berbagai masalah lingkungan seperti keragaman hayati dan ekonomi berwawasan lingkungan, kata Wambui Munge, pejabat di unit pemberitaan UNEP, dalam pernyataannya yang diterima ANTARA, di Jakarta, Minggu.

Promoting Healthy Life by Donating Blood by Fardah

Jakarta, Feb 6, 2010 (ANTARA News) - New chairman of the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) Jusuf Kalla has urged the public to make donating blood part of their life style and something to be proud of.

Kalla`s appeal is not an exaggeration as according to the World Health Organization (WHO), blood transfusion saves life and improves health.

RI MULLING ACTIONS, COST TO CUT GAS EMISSIONS By Fardah

      Jakarta, Feb. 3, 2010 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government has started mulling actions and calculating the cost to implement its plan to cut gas emissions by 26 percent in 2020 and by 41 percent with international support.
      "In the spirit of thinking outside the box, in September this year Indonesia declared an emission reduction target of 26 percent of `business as usual` by 2020, and this can be increased to 41 percent with enhanced international assistance," President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said in his speech before participants of the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), in Copenhagen in December 2009.

WAITING FOR AUSTRALIA'S GOOD WILL ON MONTARA OIL SPILL By Fardah

       Jakarta, Jan. 25, 2010 (ANTARA) - Australia must have felt great relief when a leak at an oil rig in its Montara field was permanently plugged but neighboring countries like Indonesia and Timor Leste may continue to bear the consequences of the sea pollution the leak caused.
       In mid-January 2010, the leak following a blowout at the West Atlas rig operated by PTT Exploration & Production (PTTEP) Australasia, a unit of top Thai energy company PTTEP, was finally plugged and secured permanently. But the leak had allowed hydrocarbons to spill into the Timor Sea between August and November last year.

Sri Lankan Immigrants Finally Off to Third Countries by Fardah

    Jakarta, Jan. 21, 2010 (ANTARA) - After staying in Riau's immigration detention center for almost three months, all 78 Sri Lankan immigrants, who had earlier been 'rescued' by Australia's customs vessel Oceanic Viking, have finally left Riau, for third countries, either Australia, Canada or New Zealand.
        Escorted by Indonesian foreign ministry and Australian embassy officials, the last batch of the immigrants left Riau on Wednesday (Jan. 20). The 16 immigrants were flown to Jakarta before proceeding to Australia and the Philippines.
        "They are the last batch of a total of 78 Sri Lankan immigrants who were accommodated at the Tanjungpinang immigration detention center after they had to get off the Australian vessel Oceanic Viking," Samsu Rizal, an Indonesian foreign ministry official, said in Tanjungpinang, Riau Province, Wednesday (Jan. 20).

BPOM Finally Acts Against Hazardous Snacks At Schools by Fardah

      Jakarta, Jan. 14, 2010 (ANTARA) - It is surely a great relief for parents when they read news on steps being taken by the Drug and Food Supervision Agency (BPOM) to stop the sale of snacks containing hazardous chemical substances at or near schools.
        Even parents who are aware of the risk of consuming food or drinks sold by hawkers, are helpless when their children, tempted by the colorful snacks and beverages on offer at or near their eschools, do so.
        The best they can do is tell their children not to buy colorful snacks and beverages, but children's other favorite snacks like 'mie bakso' (meatball and noodle soup), crackers and fried tofu might also contain hazardous substances.

TREE PLANTING GOOD BUT PROTECTING REMAINING FORESTS BETTER by Fardah

     Jakarta, Jan. 11 , 2010 (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government has been busy launching tree planting programs over the past few years, while environmental NGOs such as Greenpeace and WALHI have been actively promoting a logging moratorium in Indonesia's remaining forests.

        Indonesia has the third largest tropical rain forest area in the world after Brazil and Congo. The country's forests are habitats to various flora and fauna species including rare ones such as orangutans, komodo dragons and Sumatran tigers.