Lapindo Mud

Java island especially East Java are sinking because of Lapindo Brantas mud crisis. For more than 10 months mud has flowed from an exploratory well near Porong, inundating 25 square kilometers, putting more than 1000 people in hospital with breathing difficulties and forcing more than 10,000 from their homes. It has cut roads, covered train lines and threatens the rail link between Jakarta and Surabaya, Indonesia's busiest port.
A police investigation has found seven Lapindo employees were suspected of criminal negligence over the drilling. An emergency cabinet meeting on Thursday night decided that all measures must be taken to protect and compensate people living in the area, safeguard basic infrastructure, preserve East Java's economy and lessen the environmental damage. Lapindo should meet all expenses, cabinet ordered.
The Geological research until now still doesn't know how to stop the mud, one way has done that is to put big balls that linked each other to the hole but it's failed to stop and even the flow debit become more and more every day. For this case, the team of research told the flow will stop normally for 30 years, but at the time the mud stop flowing the East Java Province will full of mud.
Yesterday the new flow that contain water and sands occurs not far from the main flow, and until today none has been done to stop this although the flow has reach 7 meters from the ground or it has reached 500% bigger than first time the flow found.

Indonesia Malaysia conflict

National Police Chief General (Pol) Bambang Hendarso Danuri

Any news, police chief abruptly called President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, there is also mentioning Police were busy with their family affairs.

National Police Chief General disappearance (Pol) Bambang Hendarso Danuri just before the event sertijab Police officers this morning could lead to various speculations.

Confusion about the information, police spoke. Through the Head of Public Relations Inspector General (Police) Edward Aritonang, Chief of Police was unable to attend because there was an internal affairs police.

"It (family issues) was an internal police. Work profession," said Edward the Head of Public Relations Welcomes Off event at Wisma Bhayangkari, Jl Trunojoyo, South Jakarta, on Friday.

Edward who will occupy his new position as the Central Java police chief explained, Chief of Police was not called by President SBY as the news circulated. "It is the committee already knew the show was done simultaneously. Initially measured can be executed. But it was difficult conditions," he added.

Police Chief Edward was sure to be in Jakarta. "It got to the house earlier in Jakarta in the city alone,"

Kapolri is missing

National Police Chief General (Pol) Bambang Hendarso Danuri

Any news, police chief abruptly called President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, there is also mentioning Police were busy with their family affairs.

National Police Chief General disappearance (Pol) Bambang Hendarso Danuri just before the event sertijab Police officers this morning could lead to various speculations.

Confusion about the information, police spoke. Through the Head of Public Relations Inspector General (Police) Edward Aritonang, Chief of Police was unable to attend because there was an internal affairs police.

"It (family issues) was an internal police. Work profession," said Edward the Head of Public Relations Welcomes Off event at Wisma Bhayangkari, Jl Trunojoyo, South Jakarta, on Friday.

Edward who will occupy his new position as the Central Java police chief explained, Chief of Police was not called by President SBY as the news circulated. "It is the committee already knew the show was done simultaneously. Initially measured can be executed. But it was difficult conditions," he added.

Police Chief Edward was sure to be in Jakarta. "It got to the house earlier in Jakarta in the city alone,"

The Indonesian Government Will Increase Electricity Price Effective July 1, 2010

The Indonesian Government has submitted a proposal for an increase in electricity base price (TDL) to the people assembly. It seems that the assembly has also given a signal to approve the hike by July 1st, 2010. This price increase will be in step and will exclude the 450 volt ampere class which is usually the lower income families.

High Voltage Powerlines in Riau

The assembly budgetary committee head Harry Azhar Aziz stated that the government subsidy will be taken off from middle and upper class families while the poor will continue to enjoy the subsidized price. “Every customer class will have an increase according to its class, it won’t be the same across the board,” he added

The tentative increase is as follow

* 450 VA customers gets 0% increase
* 900 VA customers gets 5% increase
* 1,300 VA customers gets 10% increase
* 2,200 VA customers gets 15% increase
* 3,300 VA customers gets 20% increase
* 6,600 VA customers and up gets 20% increase as well as 20% lower of base price threshold

“Customers with 6,600 VA and up subscriptions are usually luxury houses by people from high income families. Their increase therefore is bigger. The subsidized price is still there, but the usage covered by the threshold is lowered. We have lowered the threshold to 80% last year, and to 50% at the moment with 2010 state budgetary proposal, and will be lowered further toward 20 % later on,” Harry explained.

The Indonesian Consumer Advocacy Group (YLKI) daily manager Tulus Abadi stated that it is very hard to avoid electricity price increase. The last time the price was increased was in 2003. Even then it wasn’t fully implemented.

Other than that, he said, the electricity generation upstream costs have increased many times. The electricity cost of production which is currently around Rp 1.100 (USD 11 cents) per kilowatt-hour can not be covered by the electricity selling price of Rp 650 (USD 6,5 cents) per kilowatt-hour causing unbelievable burden to the state budget.

“We can understand the Government intention to increase the price,” says Tulus

What needs to be remembered, the Government must guarantee some sort of protection scheme for families that need the subsidy. YLKI is of the opinion that the stepped increase proposed by the Government will do just that.

“The 450 VA customers are about 80% of total electricity consumers,” illustrate Tulus

He believes that the increase will not affect the business especially small business.

“Electricity contribution for industry is only about 2 to 10%, except for textile industry. The most important thing is that the Government must maintain the increase price of commodity to not exceeds 10%,” Tulus said

Indonesia fuel subsidies to grow 40 percent due to high oil prices, legislator says

The Indonesian government expects fuel subsidies to increase nearly 40 percent this year due to rising global crude oil prices, a parliament member said late Wednesday.

The fuel subsidies of 127 trillion Indonesia rupiah (US$13.9 billion) will make up about 13 percent of the country's total budget of 987.4 trillion rupiah for 2008.

The projections are based on budget revisions, due to be passed this week, that raise the assumption of the average Indonesian crude oil price to US$95 a barrel from US$80 a barrel, said Emir Moeis, the chairman of the parliament's budget committee.

The government has promised not to increase retail prices of certain petroleum products again after more than doubling them in October 2005, which sent inflation soaring and clipped economic
growth. Fuel subsidies were then making up about a quarter of the budget.

Analysts said the government is also reluctant to increase retail petroleum prices as such a move would hurt President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's reelection chances next year.

Global oil prices topped US$100 a barrel for the first time early this year.

Indonesia, the world's fourth most populous country, is Southeast Asia's only member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. However, it has imported oil since 2004 because of aging fields and declining investment in exploration. (***)

Ariel Peterporn scandal

Ariel (Nazril Irham) is the lead vocal of the famous Indonesian pop rock band “Peterpan.” He was born in Pangkalan Brandan, September 16, 1981. Ariel’s voice is one of the very obvious assets alongside with their simple and catchy lyrics, which made their band very famous in their country. Ariel married a lovely lady named Sarah Amelia. They had their daughter named Allea Ananta. However, their marriage was not as smooth as they expected and ended up in divorce by the year 2008. So, Ariel decided to focus on his career.

But it seems controversy likes him very much. Ariel’s laptop was lost, and according to reports, this laptop contains 2 private sex video, which circulated lately over the Internet. When this shocking news exploded, Ariel was named “Ariel Peterporn” because of the alleged sex video.

This alleged sex video of Ariel, he was with the very famous Indonesian model-actress, Luna Maya. And because of this scandal, Luna and Ariel became one of the hottest issues in most Indonesian media. A couple of videos similar to Ariel and Luna’s face while having a sexual intercourse started to circulate over the internet in the past three days.

According to Indonesian Digital Forensic Experts Z Alamsyah Ruby, there are software that can determine and recognize a person’s face caught on video. This particular software is known as facial recognition software or face recognition software.

As expert for this particular field, the video was presented to Ruby. Affirmed by Ruby to City News, the video was authentic and was not engineered or edited by someone.

Ruby stated, “The video was recorded by the cast themselves. The quality seen on the video were all authentic and not a result of edits or video engineering.”

While according to the Ariel and Luna, who recently released a written statement regarding on this matter, denied that they participated on such act and the video was engineered.

Police risk reputation with ‘baseless’ Susno arrest

Former National Police chief detective Comr. Gen. Susno Duadji refused to sign his arrest dossiers on Tuesday, saying he disagreed with all charges used by police to name him a suspect and
arrest him.

Susno was officially arrested on Tuesday night by the National Police and has since been transferred to the Police Mobile Brigade Penitentiary in Kelapa Dua, Depok.

“My detention has no legal basis at all,” Susno told reporters, while being escorted to a car by about a dozen police officers who deterred reporters from interviewing Susno.

The investigation charged Susno with corruption and bribery under the Corruption Law. He allegedly accepted a bribe of Rp 500 million (US$55,000) from Sjahril Djohan, a suspected case broker, to “settle” a fraud case centering on Riau-based arowana fish-breeding company PT Salmah Arowana Lestari.

Arif Yusuf Amir, one of Susno’s lawyers, said the investigators had named Susno a suspect based on testimonies from three witnesses: Haposan Hutagalung, Sjahril and Adj. Sr. Comr. Syamsurizal Mokoagouw.

He said that under the law, a testimony alone was not enough to name someone a suspect and bring formal charges against them.

“The accusation came from Haposan, who said he had been told by Sjahril that he had given the money to Susno. This is hearsay. Haposan didn’t see the bribery take place with his own eyes,” he said.

Earlier reports said that a leaked police dossier on Sjahril stated that he had met Susno at Susno’s house in December 2008 to hand over the bribe. He said Syamsurizal, an anti-narcotics police officer, was in Susno’s house when Susno accepted the bribe.

Susno’s other lawyer, Henry Yosodiningrat, said there was a contradiction in the testimonies of Sjahril and Syamsurizal, who both claimed they had seen the transaction.

“Sjahril said that when he met with Susno, the man was wearing a sarong and holding his grandson, but Syamsurizal said Susno had been dressed formally,” he said.

The chairman of the National Commission on Human Rights, Ifdhal Kasim, found strong indications of human rights violations in Susno’s arrest. “The police have not been able to produce adequate objective evidence in arresting Susno, so there may be violations of human rights,” he told reporters.

He said that a suspect could only be arrested if there was a possibility they would attempt to escape, destroy evidence or repeat the crime.

“I hope Susno’s arrest won’t be a bad precedent for others thinking about whistle-blowing,” Ifdhal said.

The Setara Institute issued a press release that demanded the police explain their reason for detaining Susno, adding that failure to do so would see them lose the public’s trust.

“The public will see the police as a corrupt institution,” it said.

Susno’s family spokesman, Husni Maderi, said Susno’s wife Herawati had sent a letter containing her feelings about Susno’s arrest to First Lady Ani Yudhoyono.

“It was a letter from a mother to another, although it was delivered via the State Secretariat,” he said as quoted by Antara news agency.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto said the government would not interfere with the legal process dealing with Susno.

“Have we ever intervened in a legal process? We haven’t, right?” Djoko said. (rdf)

The Finance Minister Resign

Indonesian Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati quit on Wednesday to take a top job at the World Bank after months spent battling politicians bent on her ouster, sending share prices plummeting.

The surprise move was seen as a blow to economic reform in Southeast Asia's biggest economy and triggered a sell-off on the Jakarta stock market as analysts looked for a credible replacement for the respected technocrat.

“The news is correct. I'm still waiting for the approval of the president. For the time being, I will continue to carry out my duties at the finance ministry during this transition week,” Indrawati, 47, told reporters.

Indonesia's share market closed 3.81 percent lower after Indrawati, once described as the most powerful woman in Asia, confirmed her resignation from the cabinet of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

“This is a shock to the index,” Bhakti Securities analyst Reza Nugraha said.

“Investors have yet to see anyone credible to replace Sri Mulyani so they feel anxious. Shares will continue to fall for a while until investors know who will replace her.”

Yudhoyono praised Indrawati and said her new role as World Bank managing director was “strategic, important and honorable”

the wedding of Nia Ramadhani

Counting down the days toward her coming wedding with Ardie Bakrie, the soap-actress Nia Ramadhani admitted being nervous. Ardie Bakrie is the son of Aburizal Bakrie, chairman of Golkar party and a successful businessman.

"Those who are married must know how it feels. Of course I'm nervous during the few final days," she admitted after the "Kilau 17 Antv" concert at the Kemayoran JIExpo, Central Jakarta, Thursday evening.

Unlike Nia, Ardie said he was more relaxed before that sacred date, April 1st, 2010, when they'd be wed at Mulia Hotel. "The Day is getting close, God willing, the preparations are OK. It's all about mental preparations, the preparation is almost 100 percent done."

Ardie's cool air could be because he's not doing most of the event's concept and details. "Ardie's not worried because he's not handling anything. He doesn't want to know the details," said Nia. But that doesn't mean he doesn't care about the wedding. "He said that if we were both in charge then we'd only fight all the time," Nia added.

Nia also denies that their wedding will be one of the most luxurious wedding ever. "That's too much. How do you come up with the money? All we know is that there will a ceremony and a reception."

Tax corruption

Secretary general of the Transparency International Indonesia (TII), Teten Masduki, believes that the tax corruption case implicating Gayus Tambunan, 30, taxation office employee class IIIA, couldn't have been a solo act, especially considering that the young suspect relatively hasn't been in the taxation office for very long.

"I believe he's the operator of a tax mafia whose network needs to be uncovered. It's possible that it might implicate other taxation employees," stated Teten to Kompas, Monday, Jakarta.

Similar to Teten's opinion, economy observer Dradjat Wibowo also stated, "I'm sure Gayus' case is only the tip of the iceberg. Let this be the momentum to scour the mafia in the taxation and customs & excise offices."

Finance minister to trace assets

Separately, the finance minister has been advised to do a shifting burden of proof method on the suspicious assets of all the staff of the taxation and customs & excise offices.

The hifting burden of proof is to confirm tha the assets are from reasonable sources and not from mafia practices, as revealed in the Gayus Tambunan case recently.

"The finance minister, the directorate general for taxation Mochamad Tjiptadjo, and the directorate general for customs and excise Thomas Sugijata, should make a breakthrough for all the staff of the taxation and customs & excise offices by inspecting their assets through the Department of Finance's Inspectorate General and by involving public accountants in the near future," stated Teten.

"If suspicious and considered abnormal, then the finance minister, the directorate general for taxation, and the directorate general for customs and excise should bring the case to the Corruption Eradication Commission for further probing. If proven guilty, then legal sanctions can be applied, or administrative sanctions by dismissals."

Teten is sure that such a breakthrough will be a deterrent for any corruption, bribery, or mafia practices in both offices.

Indonesian officials hailed the detention of a fugitive tax official accused of taking millions of dollars in bribes, but analysts said Thursday that much more needs to be done if the country is serious about fighting corruption.

Tax department officer Gayus Tambunan was tracked down in Singapore after a week on the run and convinced to voluntarily return to Indonesia on Wednesday to face charges that he accumulated some $3.9 million in kickbacks for producing favorable tax assessments.

A member of the special government task force in charge of investigating corruption among the so-called “legal mafia” said Tambunan’s surrender was a key moment in the country’s fight against graft.

“This is the first time that we can reveal a big legal mafia case that involves many officials within government departments, police and other legal apparatus,” Denny Indrayana said. Tambunan’s case has dominated Indonesian headlines since it started to unfold three weeks ago, with each new allegation casting a wider shadow on government officials, police and the judiciary.

In a country familiar with widespread corruption sometimes on a massive scale — former dictator Suharto was accused of graft to the tune of $600 million in his 32 years in power — the case of a public official accused of amassing a relatively small fortune wouldn’t normally grab such attention.

But what caught the eye is the speed with which the 30-year-old midlevel civil servant with a salary of $1,300 per month is accused of building a stockpile that included expensive cars and a luxury home. Investigators say he did so in just over a year.

Also putting the case in the spotlight is the alleged involvement of senior police officers, prosecutors and judges in working to free Tambunan. The assets held in Tambunan’s name were reported to police last year and he was charged with embezzlement in a court case that drew no attention.

But when the four-month trial ended in March with Tambunan’s acquittal, senior police investigator Gen. Susno Duadji went public saying the tax official had bribed his own officers to present a weaker case to the court and allow him access to his frozen accounts.

As the investigation grew, Tambunan fled the country. Tambunan, now being held for questioning, is facing new, more serious charges of money-laundering and corruption and, if convicted, faces 20 years in jail. Tambunan has yet to publicly comment, but task force officials say he admitted to corruption in interviews before he fled and said many colleagues were also involved.

While some in the government say the resolve with which the case was pursued is a sign that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s commitment to stamping out corruption is working, analysts say it is unlikely that a midlevel official acted alone and little has been done to go after more powerful officials.

“The case of Gayus should not be viewed as putting an end to corruption by famous politicians and businessman,” prominent economist Christianto Wibisono said. “The state needs to have the courage to do what is truly needed to stop government from being hijacked by powerful businessmen.”

He said the government must address the core issues that allow corruption to flourish in Indonesia. He said a start would be to pass stricter conflict of interest laws for politicians and to implement blind trusts for the assets of businessmen entering politics.

Aceh Terrorism

According the news latest about terrorist in Indonesia. Aceh Province to be area for have been training them.

Terrorism problem is still very difficult for destroyed. We are going to report about "Teroris Aceh", according a lot of sources in Indonesia Media News.

We can give definition about terrorism that is the unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the intention of intimidating or coercing societies or governments, often for ideological or political reasons.

JAKARTA, Indonesia – Indonesian authorities flew 14 alleged terrorists from Aceh to Jakarta on Friday, hours after raiding another group of suspected Islamic militants in the restive province. Police said they were investigating possible links to a terrorist threat to shipping.

A police officer was killed and at least 10 were wounded in the raid Thursday in Aceh's Lamkabeue village, provincial police chief Maj. Gen. Aditya Warman told reporters.

Police were investigating whether the militants were linked to a threat to shipping in the nearby Malacca Strait, national police chief Gen. Bambang Hendarso Danuri said in Jakarta, without elaborating.

Singapore's navy warned this week that an unnamed terrorist group was planning attacks on oil tankers in the strait, one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.

Danuri said there were casualties among the militants, but declined to give details.

The battle came during a police crackdown on militants in Aceh suspected of being linked to the Southeast Asian terror network Jemaah Islamiyah.

Police announced Thursday that they have charged 14 suspected militants arrested in Aceh with planning terrorist attacks.

They were flown from Banda Aceh on Friday to national police headquarters in Jakarta for further questioning, a police official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

The men were caught in several raids beginning Feb. 22, when four were arrested by police after a gun battle in a suspected militant training camp in Aceh's mountains, police spokesman Maj. Gen. Edward Aritonang said.

They confessed to undergoing paramilitary training, including weapons use and hand-to-hand combat, at the camp in preparation for a terrorist attack, he said, declining to specify the alleged target.

Under Indonesia's tough counterterrorism laws enacted in 2003, planning a terrorist attack can be punished by up to 20 years in prison.

Another suspect was fatally shot by police after he fled with two men from a bus that was stopped at a police checkpoint early Wednesday, Aritonang said. Witnesses said the other two men escaped.

No other terrorist groups are known to be active in Aceh. Separatist rebels signed a peace agreement with Indonesia's government in 2005, ending 29 years of fighting and making the province semi - autonomous. Aritonang said none of the charged suspects belonged to the now-disbanded Free Aceh Movement.

Jakarta (AsiaNews) - Police and anti-terrorist group Densus 88 today arrested 15 terrorists with weapons of war, following an operation in the forests of Aceh Besar Regency, Aceh, and after a shootout. Inspector General Edward Aritonang, spokesman for the police, reported the episode saying that those arrested may be connected with the Islamic terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah. Automatic weapons, thousands of bullets, propaganda material, Islamic fundamentalist books and DVDs and military uniforms similar to Malaysian ones were seized.

For days the police had combed the forest, looking for a military training centre for terrorists. In a first foray February 22 they arrested 4 suspected terrorists after a gun battke in which militants killed two innocent bystanders, a man and his son.

Yesterday at dawn, always in Aceh another suspected terrorist tried to escape carrying weapons and was killed in a shootout, after being stopped for inspection on board a bus in which he was travelling as a normal passenger. Two other people travelling with him escaped. Other passengers are under investigation.

Aritonang said that "it is likely that this group is organizing an imminent armed attack" in the country, but did not explain whether there are indications of the possible target. He added that some terrorists have carried out military training in other countries, but did not disclose where.

The police have also ruled that the terrorists arrested in recent weeks are former members of the Aceh separatist Movement for the Liberation of Aceh (Gerakan Aceh Merdeka). This group signed a peace agreement with the Indonesian government in 2005 after 29 years of civil warfare with the army and the police. In exchange for the dissolution of GAM, Jakarta granted autonomy to the provincial government of Aceh and has enabled the adoption of Islamic law (shariah) in the predominantly Muslim province.

Banda Aceh (ANTARA News) - A top Aceh councillor has dismissed local rumors about Malaysian involvement in the terror network police are currently trying to break up in the province.

The chairman of the Aceh Legislative Assembly (DPR Aceh), Hasbi Abdullah, said it was inconceivable that Malaysia was helping to turn Aceh into a terrorist base "because the neighboring country is strongly committed to helping Aceh improve its economy."

"I think, it is most unlikely that Malaysia, its military in particular, is training terrorists in Aceh," Hasbi told reporters here Wednesday.

He was commenting on and at the same time reiterating a statement by Malaysian Defense Minister Achmad Zahid Hamidi denying the rumors of Malaysian military involvement in the terror network some members of which were recently arrested by Indonesian police.

The rumors began circulating after Indonesian police were reported to have found a number of military uniforms resembling those of Malaysian servicemen at a certain location in Aceh.

The Malaysian defense minister issued the denial following reports about an Indonesian police raid on a terrorist training camp in a forest in the Jalin region of Aceh Besar district on Monday (Feb 22).

Hasbi said Malaysia was strongly committed to helping Aceh`s economic development. Citing an example, he said a Malaysian businessman would soon invest in a project to build a fuel oil bunker in Pulau Aceh, Aceh Besar district.

"Therefore, it is not possible that our close neighbor is helping terrorists in Aceh," he said.

About the presence of the terror network in Aceh itself and who they were, Hasbi said "there must be a certain group that wants to disrupt the peace in Aceh."

He ruled out the possibility that they were rogue elements of the former Free Aceh Movement (GAM) which had fought a guerilla war against the government for many years.

It was true there was still a handful of former GAM combatants who after the cessation of hostilities with government had remained discontented, he said. "But we are keeping a close watch over them and the Aceh administration is taking care of their welfare," he added.

He said he was sure terrorism could not flourish in Aceh because Aceh society was against the creed and did not have any roots in the province.

What the police had discovered in Aceh Besar district recently appeared to be still a network in an "embryonic" stage, Hasbi said but he had met the Aceh police chief and urged the latter to investigate the matter thoroughly and nip it in the bud.

Malaysia’s armed forces are not connected with terrorist activities in Indonesia’s Aceh province, the country’s defense minister has said, despite a report that Malaysian military uniforms were confiscated in a raid there last week.

Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi told reporters Malaysia never got involved in conflicts within neighboring countries, according to newspaper Web site thestar.com.my.

Zahid urged Indonesian authorities to investigate thoroughly.

Some regional media outlets quoted Agence-France Presse last week as saying Malaysian military uniforms were found in a raid in a remote region of Aceh Besar. At least ten people have been arrested there over the past week, and four have been charged with terrorism-related activities.

Imlek in Indonesia

Two days before Imlek (Chinese New Year), businesses in the Chinatown area in Jakarta ran out of stocks for their red lanterns and ‘Shanghai’ costumes. Imlek is a time for colourful parades featuring dances of the lion and other puppets, and performances of Chinese folk rituals on the streets and in Chinese temples. Imlek is also celebrated at Sunday mass in a Catholic church with performances of Chinese songs and dances. The church is decorated in lucky colour red from its carpet to its candles, including the priests’ robes.

Decorations and ornaments in the lucky colour red, representing Chineseness, together with Chinese cultural performances like the dragon and lion dances have become products of mass consumption in post-Suharto Indonesia. Major shopping malls decorate their interior with red lanterns and gigantic angpao, the red envelopes used for gifts of money. TV shows adopt Imlek themes, ranging from game shows where audiences dress in traditional Chinese costumes to talk shows featuring Chinese feng shui and fortune telling.

TV shows adopt Imlek themes, ranging from game shows where audiences dress in traditional Chinese costumes to talk shows featuring Chinese feng shui and fortune telling

Many assimilated Chinese-Indonesians find these new cultural expressions unfamiliar, if not foreign. But, notwithstanding their lack of knowledge about the rituals and practices carried out in the festival, they have embraced Imlek. To them, it is both an acknowledgement of their long suppressed identity and a symbol of new opportunities for freedom of expression.
A contested festival

Around the world, Chinese New Year is a cultural celebration. However, in Indonesia, Imlek has been much contested. This is partly because Confucians in Indonesia celebrate Imlek as a sacred day that commemorates the birth of Confucius, just as Christians celebrate Christmas to remember the birth of Jesus Christ.

While Confucianism is generally understood by Chinese elsewhere as a set of ethical rules or a moral philosophy, in Indonesia it has been an institutionalised religion since the beginning of the twentieth century. Under the New Order, Confucianism’s status as a religion was revoked, and expressions of Chinese ethnicity and culture outlawed. But after the fall of Suharto in 1998, the Supreme Council for the Confucian Religion in Indonesia (MATAKIN), which claims to represent up to a million Indonesians, asked that the government recognise Imlek as a national holiday. Other Chinese organisations in Jakarta welcomed this proposal, and supported it by lobbying the government.

The Confucians justified the designation of the Imlek year on the basis of Confucius’ birth year as comparable to the remembrance of Anno Domini in the Western calendar as the year of Christ, and the Muslim Hijrah calendar which calculates its year from the year Prophet Muhammad made the pilgrimage from Mecca to Medina. In order to maintain this ‘tradition’, Chinese organisations and Chinese-Indonesian cultural observers have to re-create a version of ancient Chinese history which shows that this calculation of the year of Imlek was practised in ancient China. They use a version of the Chinese calendar, obsolete even in China, according to which the year of Imlek is marked from the year of Confucius’ birth in 551 BC. This is one of the elements adopted by Confucians in Indonesia to legitimise Confucianism as an institutional religion. Another is their canonisation of Confucius as a Prophet, who obtained from Heaven the decree to spread the ‘gospel’ among the Chinese, along with their treatment of the Confucian texts (The Four Books and Five Classics) as a religious Holy Book.

In 2000, President Abdurrahman Wahid declared Imlek an optional national holiday. Two months later the Minster for Home Affairs abolished the 1978 Ministerial Instruction on Confucianism and in doing so restored it as Indonesia’s sixth officially-recognised religion. Since 2000, MATAKIN has organised formal annual Imlek celebrations to which national leaders, such as the President, and prominent Chinese are invited to attend. These annual celebrations hold significant meaning for the Chinese, as they are seen as a renewal of government commitment to Chinese religion and culture in Indonesia. To remind ethnic Chinese of the ‘origin’ on Imlek, organisations like MATAKIN publish articles in newspapers and magazines a few days before Imlek. Ironically, none of MAKATIN’s articles are published in Chinese, and none of the Chinese publications in Indonesia mention such ‘tradition’. The Chinese-educated ‘totok’, who maintain their Chineseness through Chinese culture and language and transnational ties with China and other Chinese overseas, appear to find such ‘tradition’ irrelevant and/or unnecessary.

Chinese-Indonesians who do not embrace Confucianism challenge the appropriateness of its status as a religion and argue that Imlek is a purely ethnic/cultural festival. In fact, ethnic Chinese Christians, Catholics and even Muslims have celebrated Imlek as an ethnic and cultural festival. They feel excluded when the Confucians claim Imlek as a religious celebration. To them, Imlek only became a Confucianist festival due to strategic need in order to be recognised as an official holiday, like other religious holidays; not because it is historically a religious holiday.
Quandaries around identity

The politics of Imlek do not stop at the debate about whether it is a religious or cultural festival. As Imlek has become increasingly commercialised, some argue that the cultural symbols for Imlek have become part of popular culture, learned and performed not only by Chinese Indonesians, but also Indonesians of other ethnic backgrounds. Other ethnic Chinese have strategically appropriated these symbols, aggressively commodifying them in order to demonstrate government recognition of Chinese identity and equal status.

However, the increased visibility of Chinese cultural products – and the consumption of them by non-Chinese Indonesians – should not be naïvely read as heralding a new acceptance of the ethnic Chinese. The New Order’s assimilationist rhetoric still has a strong influence in Indonesia. New Order ideologues constructed a singular identity, which meant that the more Chinese a person was, the less Indonesian he/she became, and vice versa. The re-emergence of symbols of Chineseness could be interpreted as a return to an essentialist notion of Chineseness, substantiating the popular myth, ‘once a Chinese, always a Chinese’. Politically, this may mean that Chinese-Indonesians’ loyalty is increasingly questionable as they have now become ‘more Chinese’ and thus ‘less Indonesian’. Meanwhile, pressing issues faced by the Chinese are still left largely unattended.

The New Order’s assimilationist rhetoric still has a strong influence in Indonesia

As a result, some Chinese-Indonesians are justifiably cautious about the exuberant celebration of Imlek. For instance, in early 2004 a prominent Catholic Chinese, Harry Tjan Silalahi, was quoted expressing his concern that the celebration of Imlek might have gone ‘over the limit’, as it could ‘disturb’ the feelings of Indonesians living in poverty. Underlying this concern is a fear that anti-Chinese sentiment or worse may be triggered as a result of social jealousy. Anti-Chinese sentiment is alive and well in Indonesia, and easily set off by a range of issues. This is exemplified in the case of Imlek in Pontianak.

The Chinese are the third largest ethnic group in Pontianak, after the Dayak and Malays. But the Imlek celebration there in 2008 was low-profile. Two days before Imlek the mayor of Pontianak issued Decision No.12/2008, which prohibited the display of fireworks and public performances of dragon and lion dances during the festival. The decision was made in response to the demands of the United Malay Front Movement (Gerakan Barisan Melayu Bersatu), which had taken a hardline anti-Chinese stance, calling for a ban on Chinese language and characters in public places, and rallied for Malay nationalism. The leader of the Movement, Erwan Irawan, believes that lion and dragon dance performances should not be allowed anywhere in Pontianak because they are not part of the ‘Indonesian culture’. This incident again shows the narrowly defined notion of ‘Indonesianness’ and the continuing vulnerability of Chinese-Indonesians.

Silalahi’s statement regarding the celebration of Imlek as ‘over the limit’ raises questions about the ‘limit’ for the expression of Chineseness. Where is the limit? Who decides where the limit is? Should the government dictate or draw the line to set a limit for cultural expression? Or should the Chinese-Indonesians themselves exercise discretion? These questions are not exclusively for the Chinese-Indonesians to answer, but they epitomise the problems that need to be addressed.

PIN-codes for 264,000 Indonesia bank accounts stolen

JAKARTA - A spokesman for the national police in Indonesia, Edward Aritonang, has said that 13 suspects had stolen a grand total of some 264,000 PIN-codes for personal bank accounts belonging to Indonesian customers. However not all the stolen PIN-codes are active, most of them were, as it seems. Some people may already have closed their accounts earlier.

Some of the suspects were experts in banking crimes and have experience with forgery of credit cards. As has become clear in the most recent days, billions of Rupiah's have been stolen from hundreds of accounts in Indonesia. Most of them had their accounts with big national banks like BCA, BNI and BRI.

Banking crime case applying skimming of ATMs as its mode has troubled the public. Six banks in Indonesia like Bank Central Asia, Bank Mandiri, Bank Negara Indonesia, Bank Rakyat Indonesia, Bank Permata and Bank Internasional Indonesia have been breached.

In response to the matter, the Crime and Investigation Division of the Indonesian Police announced the following list on the allegedly skimmer-installed ATMs in Bali and other areas:

1. Bali Wisata Tour & Travel, Jl. Teuku Umar 186, Denpasar.
2. Glony Restaurant, Jl. Legian no.445, Legian Kaja, Bali.
3. Bali Puri Niaga,
4. Bali Padma Hotel 1, Jl. Padma Utara Legian no.1, Kuta.
5. Hayam Wuruk Plaza 2, Jl. Hayam Wuruk no.98, Denpasar.
6. Okie's House. Jl. Popies Lane II Kuta Bali.
7. Kartika Plaza 1, Jl. Kartika Plaza no.89 Kuta, Bali.
8. Kartika Plaza 2, Jl. Kartika Plaza no.89 Kuta, Bali.
9. Watrerboom Park & Spa (1), Jl. Kartika Plaza Kuta.
10. Ubud 2, Jl. Raya Ubud 10, Ubud - 80571.
11. UD Ron Ron, Kuta.
12. Galeri Dewata Swalayan, Jl. Raya Kuta no.165, Kuta.
13. Visi Realty, Jl. Teuku Umar, Denpasar.
14. Mai Mai Restaurant, Jl. Hanoman, Padang Tegal, Ubud 80571.
15. Kuta Suci Arcade, Jl. Pantai Kuta, Kuta Bali.
16. Pepito Supermarket, Jl. Kediri no.36 A Tuban, Bali.
17. Siliwangi 1, Smg, Jl. Jend. Sudirman 120-121, Semarang - 50141.
18. Gosha, Jl. Dhyana Pura, Seminyak, Badung, Bali.
19. Puri Niaga, Kuta.
20. Bali Bagus Abadi Cargo, Jl. Pura Bagus Taruna, Kuta.
21. Waterboom Park & Spa (2), Jl. Kartika Plaza Kuta.
22. Griya Kopo Permai, Komp. Kopo Permai II B1.6 AR/1-2, Badung.
23. Super Ekonomi Malioboro, Jl. Teuku Umar Barat, Denpasar.
24. Gazebo Beach Hotel, Jl. Danau Tamblingan no.35, Sanur, 80225.
25. Mitra 10 Denpasar, Jl. Gatot Subroto Barat no.659-660, Denpasar.
26. Hotel Taman Suci, Jl. Imam Bonjol 45, Denpasar.
27. Discovery Shopping Mall 1, Kuta.
28. SPBU Dewi Sri, Jl. Dewi Sri, Kuta.
29. SPBU Kunti, Jl. Kunti Seminyak, Kuta.
30. Kiosk Sweta Lombar, Jl. Sandubaya-Sweta-83236-NTB.
31. Kiosk Kartika Plaza 1, Jl. Kartika Plaza no.89 dan 98 Kuta, Bali.
32. 8470 Kiosk Kartika Plaza 2, Jl. Kartika Plaza no.89 dan 98 Kuta, Bali.
33. 8476 Kiosk Visi Realty, Jl. Teuku Umar, Denpasar.

Indonesian Banking Crime

The more you understand about any subject, the more interesting it becomes. As you read this article you'll find that the subject of news is certainly no exception.
VIVAnews - Since 2004, there have been 231 cases of banking crimes reported by Bank Astaga.com lifestyle on the net to the authorities. The cases consist of crimes committed against 105 banks. Deputy Governor of Bank Astaga.com lifestyle on the net Budi Rochadi said the reports were the consequence of Joint Ministerial Decree (SKB) between the AGO, the Indonesian Police and Bank Indonesia. œThe SKB is an attempt to improve collaboration in solving alleged banking crimes,� Rochadi said at the Commission XI meeting on Tuesday, February 2. Most of this information comes straight from the news pros. Careful reading to the end virtually guarantees that you'll know what they know.

He also said the SKB will also be used to lead banking industry into becoming a healthy and reliable industry. Law will be enforced to crimes committed by various parties, including the commissioners, directors, bank employees, shareholders and other parties affiliated to banking industry. Recently, national banking was shaken by the case of account hacking using the ATMs. The total amount of loss reached Rp 5 billion. -- Translated by: Nataya Ermanti ¢ VIVAnews
Those who only know one or two facts about news can be confused by misleading information. The best way to help those who are misled is to gently correct them with the truths you're learning here.

Gus Dur Died

Former President Abdurrahman Wahid or popularly also known as Gus Dur died during medication after suffering from complications caused by heart disease, kidney disorders and diabetes for years, Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital director Akmal Taher said.

Indonesia`s fourth president died at the age of 69 at 18.40 west Indonesia time (WIB).

"The country has lost a prominent figure whose ideas always enlightened the people," Indonesian Moslem Students Movement secretary general Zaini Shofari said.

Gus Dur was born in Denanyar village, Jombang district, East Java, on August 4, 1940. He is survived by his wife, Sinta Nuriyah, and four daughters, namely Alissa Qotrunnada Munawaroh, Zannuba Arifah Chafsoh, Annita Hayatunnufus, and Inayah Wulandari.

He served as the country`s fourth president from October 20, 1999 to August 24, 2001.

Christmas in Indonesia

Although Indonesia is predominantly a Muslim country, it is a national holiday for Christmas in Indonesia. Although Christmas in Indonesia is not as commercialized as the western countries, you get to see the sale of turkeys, cranberry sauce, tropical pine trees, and other Christmas goodies in the western-oriented supermarket chains in Indonesia at the time of Christmas. Christmas cards and decorations are also available in the leading department stores during Christmas in Indonesia.

The Christian community in Indonesia organizes many holiday activities and charity functions during the festival. Christmas bazaars, which take place in November, are usually organized by larger women's groups in Indonesia. Meanwhile, the hotels in Indonesia welcome their western tourists with 'Merry Christmas' signs and by cater for the western tourists during Christmas by erecting beautifully decorated Christmas trees and by arranging some special functions for the Christmas feast. 'Merry Christmas' signs start appearing in the premises of these hotels during Christmas.

The Western festive mood can be captured in the shopping malls of Indonesia during Christmas. Huge Christmas trees decorated with tinkling ornaments and dazzling lights are set up in major cities of Indonesia. Indonesian men dressed like Santa Clause, sporting a long white beard, are often spotted in the shopping malls, giving out small Christmas gifts. Christmas fairs are also arranged by some of the leading restaurants of the country. It is warming to see people celebrating Christmas in Indonesia in harmony.

Dahlan Takes Helm of Indonesia's Electric Utility

Media mogul Dahlan Iskan officially took over as president director of state utility company PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara on Wednesday, vowing to accelerate the conversion of its power plants from diesel fuel to natural gas.

Speaking after Dahlan’s inauguration, State-Owned Enterprises Minister Mustafa Abubakar said he had set six goals for Dahlan in his first year. The goals were to reduce operational and production costs; lift the level of electrification in Indonesia; improve financial performance; optimize procurement; minimize electricity losses; and secure financing for PLN’s 10,000 megawatt project.

“Dahlan has signed the performance contract that has specific targets and timelines,” Mustafa said.

“We will evaluate his work, whether he achieves these targets or not, within a year.”

However, Jacobus Purwono, director general of electricity at the Energy Ministry, said Dahlan’s performance would be evaluated mainly on whether he could solve the power crisis that has plagued Greater Jakarta in recent months and led to Dahlan’s predecessor, Fahmi Mochtar, losing his job.

Dahlan said the conversion from diesel to natural gas would boost PLN’s gas consumption by 1.7 percent by the end of next year.

The plan to use more gas has the support of upstream oil and gas regulator BPMigas, Mustafa said.

However, Pri Agung Rakhmanto, an energy analyst from the Reforminer Institute, said government efforts to secure enough domestic gas for PLN would be difficult because gas producers could get higher prices by exporting the gas.

Both Dahlan and Mustafa said there were no immediate plans for a power price increase in 2010.

Dahlan said he was also planning to implement a prepaid power scheme in more than 100 cities that would see consumers pay for electricity in a similar fashion to buying credit on a prepaid mobile phone.

The prepaid scheme would also cause consumers to be more efficient in how they use power, Dahlan said.

Golkar lawmaker Airlangga Hartato said the main problem being encountered by PLN was a lack of financing.

“As long as PLN gets enough financing to expand its network, the power shortage problem will be solved,” he said.

Opposition to Dahlan’s appointment among PLN workers was high. The company’s labor union claimed Dahlan’s appointment was politically motivated, because he was a strong supporter of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and had played a major part in his re-election campaign.

A union plan to block the ninth floor of PLN headquarters, where the president director’s office is located, before the inauguration ceremony was thwarted by security guards.

After the inauguration ceremony, a number of workers made their presence felt by holding up placards rejecting Dahlan as the new president director.

Dahlan said he thought the workers were underestimating him. He said the workers were probably unaware that he has six years of experience in the electricity industry. “I have sufficient experience,” he said.

Six of PLN’s eight directors were also replaced.

Century Bank Scandal

Even though it is the products of PT Antaboga Deltasekuritas Indonesia that are being questioned, the Capital Market and Financial Institutions Supervisory Agency (Bapepam-LK) and customers who invested in the products claim that the actual fraud occurred at Bank Century. All transactions of PT Antaboga Deltasekuritas Indonesia investment products were done at Bank Century. None of the customers actually went to Antaboga.

As it turns out, Antaboga has permit as investment manager but that permit was never activated. Neither did it ever issue mutual funds products. “Antaboga does not have mutual fund products. Its investment manager permit was never activated. Neither was its permit as a broker,” said Fuad Rahmany, head of the Bapepam-LK, Jakarta, Dec. 10.

Furthermore, Robert Tantular, who has been arrested for different charges and is currently detained, has been named by Bapepam-LK as the brains behind the scam. “The customers’ money was used by Robert Tantular. He is the brains behind it all,” said Fuad.

In fact, all of the money that Bank Century customers invested went directly into his pocket, merely passing through Antaboga. “The money went to Century owners,” Fuad said. It’s a good thing, Fuad went on to say, that Robert was already caught and behind bars. Robert was arrested in relation to the Bank Century scandal that led to its takeover by the government.

The technique that Robert used has been described as ‘advanced’. Fuad described it as such, saying that the modus have been discovered after an investigation by the Bapepam-LK’s investigation team. “He took the customers’ money using advanced techniques,” Fuad said.

Bapepam-LK will continue to look into who was actually responsible for the fraud. “If indeed a group in the company is guilty, it can be shut down. But if only certain parties are responsible, then it’s those parties that would be prosecuted,” said Fuad.

Bapepam-LK itself was unaware of the product being sold. It was not registered and there were in fact no mutual funds. “The mutual funds did not exist. It was fictive,” said Fuad.

Despite the fact that the ‘fictive’ products were issued by Antaboga and that Robert Tantular has already been arrested, Bank Century is taking the heat.

“The problem is, it was Century’s marketing who offered the product to Century customers and the transactions occurred there,” said Bapepam-LK’s Director of Verification and Investigation Bureau, Sarjito, Dec. 9.

Fuad Rahmany related similar sentiments about Century. According to Fuad the actual fraud occurred at Bank Century because it was there that the transactions were done. “There is something not right with what Bank Century was doing,” Fuad said, Dec. 10.

The customers were offered the products there, even though the products being sold were Antaboga’s products. “They said it’s Antaboga products but they were sold at Century,” said Fuad.

This is why, Fuad said, most of the victims are Bank Century’s customers. “Customers bought and put their money there (at Bank Century),” he said. The customers never even went to Antaboga’s office. At least not until they realized there was something wrong with their investment.

Antaboga’s customers did in fact disclose that they bought the products from Bank Century branches. As such, they are asking Bank Century to take responsibility. “We don’t care. Bank Century has to take responsibility,” said Gunawan, a representative of the customers who fell victim, to VIVAnews, Jakarta, Wednesday, Dec. 10.

The victims said that they have always been dealing with Bank Century customer service with regard to their investment. Bank Century employees have convinced them that the discretionary fund investment products they offered were safe. “All we know is that the product was sold by Century, not Antaboga. That’s why we were convinced,” said Gunawan, Dec. 10

Meanwhile, a team has been formed by Bank Century to deal with customers who had bought Antaboga products through Century. The customers themselves have decided to form a team. About 50 of them had gone to Century’s central office yesterday, Dec. 10, to meet with Century’s representatives. During the meeting they agreed to form a working group.

According to Deddy Traina, Bank Century’s Corporate Secretary, the meeting includes five representatives from the customers’ side, from different regions. “Later, Antaboga investors will be able to relate their problem through the working team,” said Deddy.

The number of customers who have filed a complaint to Bank Century is about 150 people as of Wednesday, Dec. 10. These customers became agitated after finding out that they could not cash their funds even after they were due last month. They were interested in investing their money in the first place because they were offered a high interest rate of 11.5 to 13 percent.

The total amount of customers’ money at issue amounts to Rp 1.5 trillion (approx. US$137.37 million).

But there is a possibility that this figure would increase. "That's the outstanding amount that are due. We'll see. There's apossibility the amount would increase," he said Sarjito, Dec. 9.

Meanwhile, Bapepam-LK had also said that it will continue its investigation on all parties that could possibly have been involved, including Century’s marketing department. “The investigation schedule is already done. All who was involved would be investigated, until this matter is cleared,” said Sarjito.

However, this does not mean that Antaboga’s management is not involved. “I can’t say that. In principle, if they knew but they let it happen, they will still get it,” said Sarjito

Police in hot water after criminalizing KPK officials

Six national commissions criticized the police on Tuesday for criminalizing two deputy chairmen from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

"We regret and are concerned with the criminalization of KPK deputies carrying out the commission's function, duty and authority to eradicate corruption in Indonesia," National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas-HAM) chairman Ifdhal Kasim said in a joint statement prepared by the six commissions.

The statement was signed by representatives of the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI), the KPK, the Financial Transaction Report and Analysis Center (PPATK), the National Police Commission (Kompolnas) and National Commission on Vio-lence against Women (Komnas Perempuan).

The commissions said the action had indications of legal uncertainty and a was a violation of human rights.

The two KPK deputy chairmen - Chandra M Hamzah and Bibit Samad Rianto - were named suspects two weeks ago for an alleged abuse of power in issuing travel bans on corruption suspects Anggoro Widjojo and Djoko S. Tjandra (who are now at large) and for lifting a travel ban on Djoko.

The police subsequently accused them of having received bribes from Anggoro to halt investigations into corruption cases implicating Anggoro's company, PT Masaro Radiokom.

However, the police have failed to convince the public over the accusations, as to date they have failed to produce any evidence to support the charges.

Both Chandra and Bibit have been suspended from their duties because of their status as suspects, and President Susilo Bambang Yu-dhoyono has set up a five-member selection committee to shortlist candidates to replace them.

"This will damage Indonesia's image especially regarding its commitment to fighting poverty, and reduce international trust for investment in this country," Ifdhal said as quoted by Antara state news wire on Tuesday.

Ifdhal urged the police to speed up the legal processing of the two KPK deputy chairmen so they could have legal certainty.

"Should the police not have enough evidence to support these allegations, their names should be cleared."

The KPK is currently led by two deputy chairmen, Haryono Umar and M. Jasin, of its original team of five.

Aside from Chandra and Bibit, suspended KPK chief Antasari Azhar is also facing legal problems because of his implication in the murder of the director of a state-owned firm, Nasruddin Zulkarnen.

According to Attorney General Hendarman Supandji, his office handed over Antasari's murder case files to South Jakarta District Court on Monday.

"But we have yet to inform the President of this development," he said.

If the dossier was accepted by the court and Antasari becomes a defendant, he must be dismissed from his position.

The selection committee for the replacement KPK leadership is holding a series of intensive meetings to discuss potential candidates.

Anti-corruption activist Teten Masduki claimed he had turned down an offer for the position because there were no guarantees he would not be criminalized by police while doing the KPK's job.

Hendarman, on the other hand, said he had proposed 8,000 names of attorneys to the committee, and expected at least one to be appointed to chair the commission.

Antasari ‘framed’

Dropping a bomb: Former South Jakarta police precinct chief Williardi Wizard (right) testifies for former Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chairman Antasari Azhar (left), who is charged with murder, at the South Jakarta District Court on Tuesday. Williardi recanted his initial testimony and claimed he was pressured by police investigators to fall in line with a plot to frame Antasari. Persdanetwork/Bian Harnansa

High-ranking police officers ordered a senior officer to take part in a conspiracy to frame top antigraft official Antasari Azhar for murder, a key witness testified Tuesday.

“The dossier containing my testimony was arranged by the police,” Sr. Comr. Williardi Wizard said in his testimony at former Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chairman Antasari's trial at the South Jakarta District Court.

“I agreed with the content [of the dossier] after some high-ranking police officers approached me
about it.”

Williardi alleged that at midnight several days after the murder of businessman Nasruddin Zulkarnaen, a director of state pharmaceutical company PT Putra Rajawali Banjaran, the National Police's Brig. Gen. Irawan Dahlan picked him up at his home and took him to the Jakarta Police headquarters.

There, he was met by former National Police deputy chief detective Insp. Gen. Hadiatmoko, he went on, and was told to make a “necessary” dossier.

“Just do your best so that we can [use the dossier to] frame Antasari and you'll be free to go by tomorrow,” Williardi said, quoting Hadiatmoko.

He added the Jakarta Police's chief and deputy chief detectives were also present at the meeting.
“They said their target was only Antasari Azhar,” he said.

“The chief detective told me to sign a prepared statement similar to that signed by Sigid Haryo Wibisono [another suspect in Nasruddin's murder] because that was the instruction from a superior officer.”

Asked by Antasari's lawyers who the superior officer was, Williardi said, “The National Police chief.”
Antasari is on trial for masterminding the murder of Nasruddin, killed in a drive-by shooting in Tangerang in March.

“They said the National Police superior officers would guarantee everything and I would only face disciplinary action,” Williardi told the court.

At a hearing Monday in his trial at the Tangerang District Court, Williardi said South Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Chairul Anwar was the one who had planned the murder.

“It was a state duty. The shooters and the kill order came from Chairul, having been issued directly by the National Police chief,” he said as quoted by Antara.

His testimony is the latest slap in the face for the police force, which has been widely lambasted for not dropping bribery, extortion and abuse of power charges leveled against suspended KPK deputies Bibit Samad Rianto and Chandra M. Hamzah, and for not arresting Anggodo Widjojo, the central figure in the alleged framing of both KPK deputies.

In their indictment of Antasari, prosecutors alleged the former antigraft chief had been having an affair with Nasruddin's third wife, golf caddie Rhani Juliani. They claimed Nasrudin had found out and later hounded Antasari’s family about the affair, which they said triggered Antasari to have Nasruddin killed, with assistance from media tycoon Sigid Haryo Wibisono, who provided the funding, and Williardi, the former South Jakarta Police chief, who recruited the hit men.

Sigid and Williardi are being tried separately in the case.

Upon hearing Williardi's testimony in Jakarta, an emotional Antasari covered his face with his hands and said, “God doesn't sleep ... The truth is finally revealed.”

Defense lawyer Juniver Girsang said the team would move for Antasari to be removed from custody.
“Williardi’s testimony is yet more proof that this case was plotted to frame Pak Antasari,” he said.