Blog Padang Ekspres.Net

Defense minister welcomes BPK audit of helicopter purchase

2011-09-21T17:41:00.000+07:00

Blog Padangekspres.net-Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro says he will welcome efforts by the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) to audit the ministry’s purchase of seven ill-equipped helicopters from Russia, as urged by the House of
Representatives.

“This is technical. Just look into it — not just into what the order was, but also what we actually got. We welcome any efforts by the BPK to audit the purchase,” Purnomo said Wednesday as quoted by tribunnews.com.

Earlier, House Commission I announced that it had discovered the Russian helicopters were without six main supporting devices, including a Global Positioning System (GPS), a dumper, communication tools and weaponry.

The ministry purchased six of the Mi-17 V-5 helicopters using the Russian government’s state loan facility, worth around US$56 million.

He said that the funding was not part of his responsibility.

“This is not at my level. It was a technical specification fund. Just match the items [with the orders]. I have no problems,” he said

Wait and see, says SBY on Cabinet reshuffle plans

2011-09-21T17:31:00.000+07:00

Blog Padangekspres.net-Amid the brouhaha over statements made Monday by presidential special staff Daniel Sparingga that a Cabinet reshuffle was being mulled and would take place within three weeks, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono gave his first public comment on the issue on Tuesday.

“Just wait and see, please," Yudhoyono said, smiling, at the Presidential Palace in Central Jakarta.

He declined to comment further on the issue.

The question was raised after Yudhoyono asked reporters what topics were in the news. The reporters told the President that the public wanted to know about his Cabinet reshuffle plans.

The issue of a reshuffle also resurfaced following a survey released Sunday by the Indonesian Survey Circle (LSI) citing that the public approval ratings for Yudhoyono’s current Cabinet performance had dropped significantly to 37.7 percent this month, as compared to 52.3 percent in January 2010.

The LSI report says the decline is largely attributable to corruption cases implicating several ministers.

A guide to breastfeeding

2011-08-27T09:36:00.001+07:00

Padangekspres.net-While breastfeeding gives baby a great start in life, it can also be a minefield of pain, emotion, frustration and even guilt when it doesn’t happen easily. Here’s a five-point plan to help you through it.

1. Be prepared

"What sets people up for a positive experience is taking a breastfeeding education class before the birth with their healthcare provider or hospital," says Karen Ingram, a spokesperson for the Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA). "It’s important not to leave breastfeeding information to the last minute." The ABA also run classes nationwide, visitwww.breastfeeding.asn.au

2. Learn the art of attachment

Typically, as soon as a baby is born, they will be given to mum for skin-on-skin contact and should start to “root” or nuzzle in, for a feed. The most important thing to get right at this stage is attachment. Milk comes through many small holes in the nipple, like a sprinkler system, so your baby needs to get a full mouthful of both nipple and areole to attach properly. Incorrect attachment, where the baby latches onto a small part of the nipple instead, may cause nipple damage, cracks, bleeding and mastitis.

3. Overcoming obstacles

If your nipples become damaged you can use nipple shields and work on attachment with a midwife or lactation consultant. Creams such as Lanolips 101 Ointment ($17.95, (02) 9315 9315) or MooGoo Udder cream ($11.90, 1300 213 828), can help soothe and heal sore nipples.

If you do contract mastitis, see your GP as soon as possible for a prescription of antibiotics.

4. Build a support team

Spend the first few weeks resting and feeding yourself and bub. "Limit visitors or if they are coming they should be offering tangible help, such as washing dishes, making tea or bringing a casserole,” says Ingram.

"Your partner can also help by changing, bathing and dressing the baby."

There are also several helplines available including the ABA, 1800 686 268; Tresillian (02) 9787 0855 or 1800 637 357; and Karitane 1300 227 464.

5. Don’t get the guilts

If you have given breastfeeding your best shot and it isn’t working out, don’t blame yourself. "Any mothers who have feelings of remorse, guilt or regret need to talk to someone about it," says Ingram. "(At the ABA) we promote breastfeeding but we realise there are huge emotional issues when it doesn’t work out, and no woman needs to feel guilty about it."

A new mum’s experience

Jo Hegerty is a first-time mum to Alfie, 17 months. Here is her story.

"I'd never considered that breastfeeding would not come naturally until I started reading stories about women struggling through it. Breastfeeding was something I wanted to master, and to do this, I needed to be prepared.

I borrowed every book the library had about the topic and most of them just confused me even more. Nonetheless, it did prepare me for what was ahead. I also watched some of my friends’ breastfeed their babies.

Shortly before Alfie's birth, we did a breastfeeding class at the hospital, and that was fantastic. The best piece of advice I got from a friend was to have a midwife present at every feed in those first 48 hours. Alfie had a tiny mouth and was not keen on opening it wide, so against all advice, I would push his chin down (rather than wait for him to open his mouth). This taught me that you have to do whatever it takes to get the attachment right in those early days.

My top tips are: call a midwife for every feed; watch other mums if you can; and finally, be prepared for the fact that breastfeeding is uncomfortable for at least six weeks, but after that it becomes easy – hang in there!”

For more help and support on breastfeeding visit www.breastfeeding.asn.au

How to teach kids manners

2011-08-27T09:30:00.002+07:00

Padangekspres.net-When the parents of today were growing up, we were told to respect our elders, finish every sentence with either "please" or "thank you" and eat with our mouths closed and elbows in.

Friends' parents were called Mr or Mrs – very good family friends might adopt courtesy titles of "aunty" or "uncle" – and terms like "bum" and "shut up" were swear words.

Today, there's no denying that attitudes towards manners have relaxed. But while our kids call people by their first names and may not have intricate understandings of when they can use their fork as a spoon, the thinking behind manners hasn't changed – that is, to show respect, courtesy and compassion for others.

The good old days?

Brisbane parenting and happiness coach Ronit Baras doesn't hanker after the glory days of old when manners were beaten into every child.

"I have challenged this quest for good manners for many years," she says. "When I was a child, I was very rebellious and hated anything associated with manners.

"I believe I did that because my parents and my teachers used manners as a way to control their children and students, instead of explaining what manners meant and how we would benefit from using them."

Neither is she advocating a ban on teaching kids manners – what Ronit believes works more effectively is showing kids the reasons for having manners.

"I believe that when children know what it means to have manners and how they benefit from them, they are polite and show excellent manners naturally and effortlessly," Ronit says.

"Manners are just social codes of behaviour that people have discovered over time that show you can read and follow social cues."

Parents want help

Three out of four parents think children are less well mannered than in previous generations, a study commissioned by Disney in Australia revealed last year.

More than 90 per cent of parents want values and manners taught in schools, although 96 per cent admit mums and dads should be mainly responsible for instilling values in children.

As part of the study, many parents revealed they were desperate for help in ways to teach basic courtesy to kids.

Parents' hunger for help in teaching their kids how to be polite world citizens is evident in the number of books, eBooks and online resources devoted to the topic. US etiquette queen Judith Martin, aka Miss Manners, has been writing three columns a week on courtesy and good manners since 1978, which appear in more than 200 newspapers worldwide.

But, Ronit says, most parents have the best tools to help their kids learn manners – themselves. "Manners are habits and if your kids copy your language (and they will), they will have enough polite, respectful, grateful language to use as reference," she says.

Five manners all kids should learn

Saying "please" and "thank you": Eighty five per cent of people surveyed in a US poll a few years ago said they felt the world would be a better place if we just said "please" and "thank you" more often. And they may just be words, but throwing in a "please" or "thank you" can soften a command, or make a response sound friendly and respectful.
Eating like civilised humans: The subject of table manners could fill pages. But learning some basic politeness like not talking with a mouthful, not reaching in front of others and not burping, passing wind or talking about disgusting topics in public can take kids a long way.
Respecting others' voice space: If someone is talking – whether an adult or one of their friends – kids should learn it's impolite to interrupt. While teaching them to say "excuse me" is good, kids also need to know that saying it over the top of other is not polite.
Don't use rude or disrespectful language: Kids, like all of us, need to learn how speak politely to others and not use rude or inappropriate language and put-downs. This is not about swearing – some non-swear words can hurt a lot more – but continuing the theme of treating others courteously and with respect.
Respect differences: We live in a diverse society now with lots of different cultures, nationalities and traditions. Teach kids to embrace and accept diversity in others.

Diseases without vaccines

2011-08-27T09:26:00.001+07:00

Four deadly diseases that you can't immunise yourself against.

There are a number of diseases researchers are still trying to find vaccines for. Here we investigate four viruses and give you an update on where the experts are at.

Malaria

Malaria is one of the most deadly infectious diseases in the world. Each year there are 250 million cases worldwide, and 863,000 deaths. One in five childhood deaths in Africa is from malaria.

Australia was certified as malaria-free in 1981, however there are still hundreds of cases here each year in people who catch it overseas. While there are a number of anti-malaria drugs, malaria parasites in some parts of the world have developed resistance to these.

Symptoms

Sufferers have a fever, headache, and vomiting, with symptoms usually appearing between 10 and 15 days after the mosquito bite.

A vaccine?

Earlier this month researchers from Griffith University in Queensland said they believed they have discovered a malaria vaccine. PlasProtecT uses low doses of the parasites, put to sleep using a chemical treatment. The first phase of the human trials will take place in the next 12 months.

Dengue Fever

Dubbed 'breakbone fever' dengue fever is transmitted by the bite of a mosquito carrying it.

There is no vaccine against dengue fever, there are no drugs you can take to protect against it, and there is no cure. All doctors can do is treat the symptoms. It can be deadly.

Last year there were 1,201 cases of dengue fever in Australia.

Symptoms

Symptoms begin around a week after being bitten. They include aching in muscles and joints, a high fever, fatigue, a rash and intense headaches. The symptoms last for around a week, but sufferers can still experience fatigue months later.

A vaccine?

There are four strains of the virus, which means a vaccine needs to ideally cover all of them. Earlier this year, as part of the Eliminate Dengue Project, specially bred mosquitos were released in Cairns infected with the natural bacteria wolbachia, which is thought to stop the insects from transmitting dengue fever.

The idea is that they mate with dengue mosquitos and eventually all mosquitos will carry the bacteria – making them unable to give people dengue.

"If these initial trials are successful they will be followed by similar trials in Vietnam towards the end of 2011," said Professor Scott O'Neill, from Monash University.

Ross River (RRV)

Ross River virus is a non-fatal infectious disease spread by the bite of a number of different species of female mosquitoes. Last year 5,141 people were infected with RRV.

The number of cases of RRV are gradually increasing, according to Professor David Gordon, Flinders Head of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases.

"People travel go home infected, get bitten by another mosquito and then that mosquito can spread it to other people." says Professor Gordon.

Symptoms

It can take up to two weeks for sufferers to develop symptoms, these include joint pain, stiffness and swelling, as well as a flu-like illness and a rash. Some sufferers have joint welling and fatigue for months.

A vaccine?

Researchers are testing a vaccine at the moment across Australia in a trial, led by Professor Gordon.

"The vaccine is well on the way," says Professor Gordon. "The trial is likely to finish in about two months."

Chikungunya

Chikungunya virus is a mosquito-borne infection that largely occurs in Africa, Asia and India. There have also been cases reported in Australia of people who caught the infection while travelling abroad, then returned home. There were 54 cases here last year – almost double that of the year before.

There are no specific drugs to cure the disease, treatment is primarily focused on relieving the symptoms.

Symptoms

Symptoms are similar to those experienced in dengue fever, including fever accompanied by joint and muscle pain as well as headaches, nausea, fatigue and a rash. The symptoms last usually for a matter of weeks, but the joint pain can persist for years.

A vaccine?

There is no commercial chikungunya vaccine, although a vaccine trialled on monkeys last year appeared to work.

"At a time when there are no commercially available vaccines ... a virus-like particle vaccine has the potential to have a considerable impact on the spread of this disease," wrote American researcher Dr. Gary Nabel in the journal Nature Medicine. source: bodyandsoul.com.au

What's on in Germany: August 25 - 31

2011-08-27T09:22:00.000+07:00

This Week's Highlights: Frankfurt's Museum Embankment Festival, Berlin's Long Night of Museums, and a wine village in Stuttgart.

BERLIN

Festivals

Druck Festival Berlin

Among the myriad artists who call Berlin home, there's a strapping contingent of silk screen printers. Get a glimpse into their intriguing world of paper and ink at a two-day festival presented by the local printing house Mother Drucker. In addition to workshops and live printing demonstrations, the festival features an exhibition of vibrant works by silk screen artists from across Europe.

Price: €5 (Day Ticket); €8 (Weekend Ticket)
Location: Stattbad Wedding, Gerichtstrasse 65
Times: Saturday, August 27 and Sunday, August 28
More Information: www.druckberlin.com

Galleries/Museums
Long Night of Museums

Music takes the spotlight at Berlin's 29th Long Night of the Museums event this weekend. Over 35 Berlin-based choirs signed on to perform in places like the Ethnological Museum and the Planetarium. But it's not all about singing. Head to the Fire Service Museum for a fire magic show, horse-drawn carriage rides, and a bonfire.

Price: €15
Location: Various
Times: Saturday, August 27, 6pm-2am
More Information: www.lange-nacht-der-museen.de

Events

Swap in the City

It's ladies night Sunday at Goya when Swap in the City sets up beneath the chandeliers at the glamorous Berlin dance club. Grab a cocktail and groove to the tunes of DJane Monique while you browse the racks of chic threads. But you have to give in order to take, so clean out those closets and head over to Goya with at least three new or gently used pieces and let the swapping begin.

Price: €15
Location: Goya Berlin, Nollendorfplatz
Times: Sunday, August 28, 4-9pm
More Information: www.swapinthecity.com

COLOGNE

Galleries/Museums

Chto Delat? Perestroika: Twenty Years After: 2011-1991

"What should I do?" is the translation of "Chto Delat," a collective ofRussian artists, critics, philosophers, and writers, which has a show opening at the Kölnischer Kunstverein this week. See films, videos, sculptures, and photographs that offer a perspective on the way Russian society evolved after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Price: €4
Location: Kölnischer Kunstverein, Die Brücke, Hahnenstrasse 6
Times: Friday, August 26, 7pm (Opening); Tuesday - Friday, 1-7pm, Saturday and Sunday, 11am-6pm (Regular Hours); through September 18
Phone: 0221 217021
More Information: www.koelnischerkunstverein.de

FRANKFURT

Events

Museum Embankment Festival

Three days of live music, DJs, workshops, and exhibition tours make Frankfurt's Museum Embankment Festival one of the highlights of summer in Germany. From the Archaeology Museum to the Museum of World Cultures, all the city's major museums host special events, while an open-air program offers plenty of opportunities to soak up some culture outdoors. Don't miss the dragon boat races Saturday morning, and the fireworks show Sunday night.

Price: €4 (Festival Button)
Location: Various
Times: Friday, August 26, 3pm-1am, Saturday, August 27, 11am-1am, Sunday, August 28, 11am-Midnight
More Information: www.museumsuferfest.de

Film

Jean Rouch - Petit à petit

French filmmaker Jean Rouch started making ethnological films in his native Nigeria in the 1940s. His work fuses fictional storytelling with documentary to form a new style called ethnofiction that combines cinéma vérité and La Nouvelle Vague. See the director's 1972 film Petit à petit Wednesday night in Frankfurt.

Price: €3
Location: Weltkulturen Labor, Schaumainkai 37
Times: Wednesday, August 31, 7pm
Phone: 069 212 45115
More Information: www.institutfrancais.de

Music/Concerts

Catalina Olea Sings the Beatles

Jogi Kirschner, Thomas Schilling, and Peter Fahrenholz join Catalina Olea, a New York-born, Germany-based singer of Ecuadorian heritage who sings Beatles songs Friday night at Frankfurt Art Bar. Be wooed by her serene version of "In My Life."

Price: Free
Location: Frankfurt Art Bar, Ziegelhüttenweg 32
Times: Friday, August 26, 8:45pm
Phone: 069 63 30 79 38
More Information: www.frankfurtartbar.de

HAMBURG

Music/Concerts

Red Hot Chili Peppers Live Album Debut

Their tenth studio album I'm With You drops Tuesday in Germany. Celebrate what Anthony Kiedis and the guys are calling a whole new band by watching a live high-definition broadcast of the Red Hot Chili Peppers performing their entire new album in addition to some of their biggest hits. "Take me to the place I love/take me all the wayy-yay-ay-yay."

Price: €17
Location: CinemaxX Hamburg, Dammtordamm 1
Times: Tuesday, August 30, 9pm
More Information: www.rhcplivehd.com

MUNICH

Dance

La La La Human Steps

"Dido and Aeneas" fuses with "Orpheus and Eurydice" in Canadian choreographer Edouard Lock's latest work for the dance company he founded in 1980, La La La Human Steps. Characterized by high-speed virtuosity and exquisite precision Lock's troupe comprises some of the world's most skilled dancers. Witness their inspiring mix of classical ballet and contemporary movements Wednesday at Muffatwerk.

Price: €20 - 47
Location: Muffatwerk, Muffathalle, Zellstrasse 4
Times: Wednesday, August 31 andThursday, September 1, 8:30pm
Phone: 089 458 750 10
More Information: www.muffatwerk.de

Music/Concerts

Annette Neuffer Quintet

Billie Holiday and Lester Young formed one of the finest musical romances of the twentieth century. This weekend, the Annette Neuffer Quintet brings the timeless tunes of that legendary vocalist Lady Day and her saxophone blowing mate Prez to Jazzclub Unterfahrt.

Price: €14
Location: Jazzclub Unterfahrt, Einsteinstrasse 42
Times: Thursday, August 25, Friday, August 26, Saturday, August 27, 9pm
Phone: 089 448 27 94
More Information: www.unterfahrt.de

STUTTGART

Events

Stuttgart Wine Village

Who doesn't welcome an icy glass of Riesling on a warm summer's day? Stuttgart's Wine Village is an annual festival featuring over 200 different types of wines from the Württemberg region. Relax among a traditional Swabian setting, and have a taste of the local Trollingers, Ruländers, Lembergers, and other flavourful varieties.

Price: Free
Location: Marktplatz, Kirchstrasse, Schillerplatz
Times: Wednesday, August 24 - Sunday, September 4; Daily, 11am-11pm; Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 11am-Midnight
More Information: www.stuttgarter-weindorf.de

Celeste Sunderland (news@thelocal.de)

First Lady to launch Indonesian handicraft exhibition

2011-08-03T10:53:00.000+07:00

Padangekspres.net-First Lady Ani Yudhoyono is scheduled to officially open the Kridaya exhibition, an exhibition of Indonesian handicrafts, on Wednesday morning.

The five-day exhibition at Jakarta Convention Center (JCC) will showcase traditional Indonesian handicrafts including batik and wood carvings made by 400 small and medium enterprises in around 300 stalls.

The exhibition, organized by PT. Mediatama Binakreasi and Yayasan Sulam Indonesia, has targeted to receive 35,000 visitors and expects a turnover of Rp. 17.5 billion.

Chinese agency downgrades US credit rating

2011-08-03T10:52:00.002+07:00

Padangekspres.net-A little-known Chinese ratings agency has downgraded the rating of the United States from A+ to A. The move is unlikely to affect U.S. borrowing rates but reflects the pessimism Washington's debt battle has generated worldwide.

President Barack Obama signed emergency legislation to boost the debt ceiling ahead of a deadline to avoid an unprecedented national default.

Still, China's Dagong Global Credit Rating Co. said Wednesday that the deal doesn't change the fact that U.S. debt growth has outpaced its economy and fiscal revenue.

Dagong is little-known outside China but hopes to compete with global ratings agencies Moody's, Standard & Poor's and Fitch.

Moody's has said the U.S. will retain its highest bond rating but with a "negative" outlook.

Bandung wants to be ‘sisters’ with Hong Kong

2011-08-03T10:52:00.001+07:00

Padangekspres.net-The West Java capital of Bandung wants to make Hong Kong its newest sister city in a move to improve trade with one of East Asia’s busiest cities.

“The city of Bandung has established trade cooperation with Hong Kong. In future [this cooperation] is expected to be tied to a sister city [agreement],” Deden Hidayat, the head of the Bandung branch of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), said Tuesday in Bandung.

The “breakthrough”, Deden said, would be a strategic move because Hong Kong was an international trade portal through with Bandung could reach out to the rest of East Asia.

He added that the move was also expected to inspire Bandung to produce higher-quality products, especially processed food and furniture.

Bandung currently has sister city relationships with Germany's Brauschweigh and South Korea's Suwon.

“However, the opportunities for trade cooperation with Hong Kong are much bigger, given that there are about 160,000 Indonesian citizens there. So, the market potential is clear for Bandung products,” Deden said as quoted by Antara.

Former mayor arrested for ignoring police summons

2011-08-03T10:51:00.001+07:00

Padangekspres.net-The North Sumatra Police on Tuesday arrested former Binjai mayor Ali Umri for his alleged involvement in the embezzlement of Rp 900 million (US$106,200) from the Indonesian National Sports Committee (KONI).

Ali remains a witness, but was arrested because he had apparently ignored the police’s summons twice, North Sumatra Police special crimes director Sr. Comr. Sadono Budinugroho said Tuesday in Medan.

“We arrested him at his house on Jl. Karya,” Sadono said, adding that Ali was accompanied by his lawyer during the police questioning.

The police had earlier named Binjai Council Speaker Haris Harto as a suspect in the case, tempointeraktif.com reported.

Going gaga for Tominaga, mori girls, eco-fashion, Final Home and the Lady herself

2011-07-24T07:58:00.001+07:00

By MISHA JANETTE

Going Gaga for design

Padangekspres.net-In the last few weeks, Lady Gaga used her celebrity influence to bring the world's attention back to Japan and its March 11 disaster recovery efforts with her promotion of the MTV Video Music Aid concert.

There's no doubt her involvement in the charity project will raise its profile, especially when you consider the extremely positive effect she has already had on local fashion.

Ms. Gaga insists on only wearing Japanese brands when she is in the country, and her fashion choices have sent massive ripples through the local high-brow fashion market. On her visit to Tokyo in May, she helped launch worldwide careers for several local designers, with shoemaker Noritaka Tatehana being the most prominent. Tatehana now has an exclusive contract to design shoes for her and garnered fans all across the globe, with his designs appearing on the covers of the industry's top magazines.

This time around, the star chose more obscure brands. She wore newcomer Christian Dada for her MTV performance and was also seen wearing items from DOG, a hole-in-the-wall shop in Harajuku. ROGGYKEI, a small, unknown brand from Osaka, was overwhelmed by the boost it got after she wore one of its voluminous feathered necklaces to meet the U.S. ambassador to Japan.

"An overseas website picked up on it and we got six times more page views than usual on our website and online shop," said ROGGYKEI designer Hitoshi Korogi. "Our clients put in more orders too. It's been incredible!"

Understandably, other brands are now rushing to create pieces to send to Ms. Gaga — but not everyone gets lucky. "I made a dress for her, but she didn't wear it," said designer Takumi Yanazaki. "It's OK, maybe I'll be a lucky one in the future.

Ai Tominaga: Celebrating a great model for Japan

Japanese supermodel Ai Tominaga's illustrious 14-year career is the subject of "I, Tominaga," a photography exhibition at the Gyre Building on Omotesando-dori. The show features a selection of images taken by three of her most frequent collaborators, the celebrated photographers Leslie Kee, TISCH and Mika Ninagawa.

Also on display is "#sakuramovement," a Twitter project started by Tominaga. Not long after the Great East Japan Earthquake, Tominaga tweeted to her followers: "Please submit your photos of sakura (cherry blossoms) to me." What resulted was a deluge of hundreds and hundreds of flower photos during a time when confusion and fear was still hanging heavy in the air. For "I, Tominaga," those photos have been assembled into a large mosaic of a cherry-blossom tree.

The scale of success Tominaga has enjoyed is rare in the model world. She has received numerous awards, including the Fashion Editors Club of Japan model of the year, and is also one of the few Japanese models to grace the cover of VOGUE Japan.

Tominaga is also an active member of JOICFP (the Japanese Organization for International Cooperation in Family Planning), an NPO that researches reproductive health in developing countries. At the exhibition, a documentary of her visit to Zambia for JOICFP will be playing.

For those who would like to see Tominaga, she will also be attending a talk show at the exhibition venue, along with TISCH and Numero TOKYO Editor in Chief Ako Tanaka.

"I, Tominaga" runs till July 18 at Gyre Omotesando 3F, 5-10-1 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku; (03) 3498-6990; www.gyre-omotesando.com.

Forest girls along the river

While its Laforet Harajuku location closes for renovations, Japanese brand fur fur will be opening a funky temporary concept store for a month beside the Meguro River.

Along with the usual fare, the shop will carry one-off items from fur fur's archives and special pieces made in collaboration with rebel artist Ken Kagami for the current season. The shop, dubbed Riverside Apartment Shop fur fur, will also host nighttime shopping events and small soirees — things that can't be done in the Laforet complex.

Fur fur has been the authority on mori-girl (forest girl) style since before the trend even kicked off, and its unique take on fashion has made it a must-see on the Japan Fashion Week calendar.

But this past season has been hard on the brand, which decided to cancel its fashion show following the March 11 disaster.

"(Artist) Ken Kagami had major ideas for the collection. There's a large book completely filled with his sketches, set colors and lighting ideas for the fashion show," said fur fur's head of PR, Yuko Maeda. "Now I wonder if we should have done a show anyway. I guess we're just going to have to make up for it this next time."

The current collection, which will be featured at the temporary shop, takes the 1980s Japanese street punk aesthetic of teen gangs, or yankii, and adds cutesy details, such as the frills and doodle prints inherent to the brand.

Riverside Apartment Shop fur fur opens from July 29-Aug. 21; Oak Bldg., 1-20-5 Aobadai, Meguro-ku; (03) 6277-5944; www.furfurfur.jp.

Cosmic Wonder Light Source and mintdesigns get the green light

People Tree, the star fashion brand for ethically conscious fashionistas, is teaming up with two Japanese brands on a few special items designed to leave you without any buyer's remorse.

Cosmic Wonder Light Source and mintdesigns have each designed two items following the People Tree ethos of using fair-trade materials, producing as locally as possible, recycling and reducing pollution.

Cosmic Wonder Light Source regularly gets kudos for its experiments in fashion and art, and for this collaboration they created an organic cotton blouse (¥8,900) and an asymmetrical color-blocked dress smattered with motifs of leaves, apples and flowers (¥12,000).

Mintdesigns is a regular on the Japan Fashion Week runway and has garnered international attention for its whimsical prints on experimental textiles. They have designed a long organic cotton dress in orange and blue (pictured, ¥13,000), and a ¥25,000 jacket sporting a flower motif hand-embroidered in Bangladesh using the folk-art technique of Nakshi Kantha (embroidered quilt). All the new items will be available to buy from July 19.

People Tree is massively popular all around the world, but it was actually founded in Japan by entrepreneur Safia Minney in 1991 when she moved to Tokyo from London. The flagship stores sit in Ginza and Jiyugaoka and they stock a variety of fair-trade lifestyle items as well as fashion goods.

JT Readers Special Offer

Readers of The Japan Times can receive a 10 percent discount on People Tree online orders when using the code JT1107 at checkout.

The offer is valid until Aug. 15 at www.peopletree.co.jp.

3-7-2 Jiyugaoka, Meguro-ku; (03) 5701-3361; www.peopletree.co.jp.

Final Home's new address

Japanese fashion brands have been cautious about opening boutiques following the March 11 disaster, so it was a pleasant surprise to find a new shop space for longtime brand Final Home at the end of June.

Final Home has actually moved from its 10-year spot in Daikanyama to a prime location right off the Meiji-Jingumae intersection on Omotesando-dori. The shop itself is cozy, its interior designed to look like a jungle campsite, complete with Astroturf and bamboo stalks. Black and orange "bats" hang from the ceiling, although they don't bite — they are in fact high-grade flashlights in nylon bat-shaped cozies, an exclusive item of the shop.

If you are not already familiar with Final Home, then you would be correct to conjecture that it focuses on fashion with an outdoors-y, "survival" spin. Along with functional fashion items for men, women and kids, Final Home also sells emergency kits that come with all the equipment you need should disaster hit.

Final Home designer Kosuke Tsumura sent similar items from his brand's supplies to Tohoku following the Great East Japan Earthquake.

The brand has been on the scene since 1994 and is particularly successful in Paris, alongside Tsumori Chisato, which, like Final Home, shares a position under Issey Miyake's "A-Net" umbrella of brands.[TJP]

Fukushima perseveres with festival

2011-07-24T07:54:00.000+07:00

Padang ekspres.net-FUKUSHIMA — An annual festival that traces its roots to the 10th century opened Saturday in Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, featuring dozens of horsemen in full samurai armor and offering prayers for the victims of the March 11 quake and tsunami.

Paying their respects: Participants in the Soma Nomaoi festival in Soma, Fukushima Prefecture, pray Saturday for the victims of the March 11 quake and tsunami. KYODO PHOTO

The event was almost canceled because of the Tohoku catastrophe and the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear crisis, but the organizing committee of the Soma Nomaoi (Soma Wild Horse Chase), headed by Minamisoma Mayor Katsunobu Sakurai, decided to carry on the ancient tradition, albeit on a smaller scale. As in previous years, the festival will run from Saturday through Monday.

During a ceremony at Soma Nakamura Shrine to kick off the three-day event, Michitane Soma, 36, the eldest son of the 33rd patriarch of the former Soma clan, offered prayers for the disaster victims.

Held every summer at three shrines located in the cities of Soma and Minamisoma, the festival features cavalry and horsemanship, along with a variety of ancient ceremonies.

This year, organizers were forced to cancel two of three key events as they are held between 20 km and 30 km from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant, the zone in which residents must be ready to evacuate or stay indoors in an emergency.

Utility execs are major LDP donors

2011-07-24T07:52:00.001+07:00

Padang ekspres.net-Current and former executives of Tokyo Electric Power Co. and eight other utilities accounted for more than 70 percent of donations made in 2009 by individuals to the Liberal Democratic Party's political fund management body, according to data. The power firm executives made no donations in 2009 to the Democratic Party of Japan. The data also show that such donations started as long ago as 1976.

The findings are expected to further stoke public anger over cozy ties between politicians and power companies amid the crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant.

The 2009 data were obtained from income and spending reports on political funds from 2007 to 2009 by the LDP's fund management body, the People's Political Association.

The association received ¥64.85 million in political donations from individuals in 2009, of which ¥47.02 million, or 72.5 percent, came from executives of the nine power companies.

Donations by power firm executives were mostly made in December, suggesting they were paid systematically. Tepco executives contributed a total of ¥14.27 million, or 30.3 percent of the total.

Chugoku Electric Power Co. executives donated ¥6.80 million. The figure was ¥6.15 million for Chubu Electric Power Co., ¥6.12 million for Shikoku Electric Power Co., ¥3.13 million for Hokuriku Electric Power Co., ¥3.04 million for Hokkaido Electric Power Co., ¥2.75 million for Kyushu Electric Power Co., ¥2.63 million for Tohoku Electric Power Co. and ¥1.86 million for Kansai Electric Power Co. Okinawa Electric Power Co. executives didn't make any donations.

Among other findings, 141 of the 153 executives at the nine power companies made donations in 2009 to the LDP's political fund management body.

Donations by power executives to the LDP's association amounted to ¥56.69 million in 2007, or 63.5 percent of total contributions by individuals, and ¥58.66 million in 2008, accounting for 70.1 percent of the total.

In 1974, the electric power industry declared an end to corporate political donations amid strong criticism of the cozy relations between the utilities and politicians.

However, the donations appear to have begun in 1976, according to reports in past government gazettes and securities filings'

While the donations were made by individual executives in their own name, it is suspected that they in effect constituted corporate donations.

Executives of five utilities — Tepco, Chubu Electric, Kansai Electric, Shikoku Electric and Kyushu Electric — donated a combined ¥17.58 million to the LDP's fund management body in 1976.

The amounts donated are strikingly similar among the five companies, with each president donating about ¥360,000 and each executive vice president around ¥240,000. Other executives donated roughly ¥100,000 each.

The combined amount of donations has increased on an annual basis, rising from ¥17.88 million in 1979 to ¥23.03 million in 1989 and ¥37.59 million in 1999.

In the early 1990s, executives from four other utilities — Chugoku Electric, Hokuriku Electric, Hokkaido Electric and Tohoku Electric — appear to have also started giving political donations to the LDP.[tjp]

Price Gambier Not Improved In Pessel

2011-07-24T07:42:00.000+07:00

PainanPadangekspres.net--After plummeted since a month ago, until now the selling price of gambier dried sap from farmers to traders in the South Coast district has not been fueled up. This condition complained of most farmers in this area gambier.

Adi, gambier farmers in Sungai Tawar Koto XI Tarusan claimed to have suffered no small loss since the selling price of gambier slump.

"The losses have not been improved while the cost of processing gambier prices remain high," complained Adi, Saturday (23 / 7).

According to Adi drop in the price of gambier result of declining demand from importer gambier gambier so much piling up in warehouses. Usually the price will go back boost if the importer demand increases. He hopes ahead of this fast demand will rise again in order to cover the losses already suffered.

"If the conditions of the selling price is still this way, farmers can gambier folded. We can only hope the price will go up ahead of this fast," he hoped.

The same condition also acknowledged tion, gambier farmers in Siguntur. According to him since he dropped the price of gambier forced to reduce production in order not to lose a lot.

"Most of the land had not been harvested to reduce processing costs in order not to lose a lot," said tion.

Currently in the level of traders, farmers purchased gambier Rp12 to Rp14 thousand per kilogram. This price is valid since last month while at the normal price, gambier be sold at a price of Rp24 to Rp26 ribuper kilograms

Truck tonnage in the Port did not apply

2011-07-24T07:33:00.000+07:00

Padangekspres.net-Truck tonnage restriction policy does not apply to trucks carrying goods / containers / cargo out of the Gulf port Bayur, Padang. This is evident from the many trucks carrying goods that exceed the capacity of 9-16 tons already regulated by the government since early July. It is feared, the government's aim to rejuvenate the highway is not optimal.
Marketing and Customer Service Advisor PT. Gulf Branch Bayur Pelindo II, Day Hartadi said, no limitation in the Gulf Bayur truck tonnage as most cargo containers and sealed before being sent by sea. As a result, trunks and cargo can not be dismantled in order to reduce its load.
He said also, the non-application restrictions for truck tonnage will only bring goods into the warehouse located in the city of Padang. In the warehouse then do the restrictions on cargo.
"The warehouses are generally located along the road the Padang By-Pass. It was only a few pounds just from the port, "said Day told Singgalang, Thursday (21 / 7).
It also expressed the Head of the Gulf Kapenbapel Bayur, Sayfrizal. He said, has not been imposed tonnage restrictions for truck loading and unloading out of the Gulf port Bayur. This is because the heavy-laden truck was not carrying goods directly out of the city.
Predictable, if enacted in the Gulf Bayur tonnage, will be a lot of trucks lined up, because they can not carry items in bulk. Until June 2011, traffic flow of goods into the Gulf Bayur showed an increase. For containers, the number reached 29,125 TEUs. General Cargo, 21 968 tons. CARDO Bag, 571 161 tonnes, liquid bulk and dry, each as much as 2241. 896 and 3,114,267 tons. If the imposed restrictions on tonnage, is predicted to be a lot of trucks that are not smooth.
However, no force in the Gulf Bayur tonnage restrictions are concerned, contributed to the condition of roads in the city. Observers are also public policy Sekdaprov Former West Sumatra, Rusdi Lubis said the policy of the West Sumatra provincial government to make this tonnage limit is appropriate public policy. However, the government needs to conduct thorough oversight to the program is running well.
"This is a good development. If the government is committed to improving public infrastructure and facilities, necessary firmness. And most importantly, the losses due to this policy also needs to be a consideration, "said Rusdi explained.

Chili sales drop, Onions surge

2011-07-24T07:30:00.000+07:00

Padangekspres.net-Ahead of Ramadan, the sale price of agricultural products continued to surge, except for chili that does not move the price around Rp5.000 -Rp6.000/kg.
While prices continue to creep up the other vegetables. Onion for example, has reached Rp12. 000/kg, leek Rp5. 000/kg, achieving Rp8.000/kg potatoes, as well as the lo bak has penetrated Rp4.000/kg prices.
"The price of chili is still not moving from Rp5.000/kg," explained the Memorandum, a farmer in the Air Batumbuk, District of Mount Talang, on Singgalang, Friday (22 / 7).
Memorandum of thought, the falling price of chili in a long time is due to the abundant stocks. In the harvest season is now almost all chili farmers feel the increase in yield than usual. Yield increases than normal when grown in the same land and get the same treatment.
Some farmers compare, usually on land that is now working on the highest yields only 230 kg / harvest or every week, but now yields reach 400 kg / harvest. Other farmers also feel the same. So an increasing number of farmers harvested nearly all the chili, so the stock chilli flooding the market.
Even if prices come down and chili at the lowest price in the last five years, but other vegetable prices actually rose. Even the radishes on the previous harvest had not harvested, was now the price jumped sharply. Whereas before tens of tons of turnips left to rot in the fields.
"TURNIP I have about 100 tons more were left to rot in the fields," said Syafrizal. How is it possible to harvest it because the price of rapeseed is only Rp300/kg. And that's hard to find agents or middlemen. Even harvest it because no one wants to be harvested when it will be more losers, after being expelled lift wages, cut AIE, then nothing can be gained by farmers. So left to rot, so it can still be used as fertilizer.
Because of crop failure, many farmers are turning to other crops, such as chili, chili consequently became cheaper. While farmers are back farming turnips slammed over that price, now can smile because they can sell the turnips with a high price. Likewise onion farmers can now breathe relieved as prices continue to soar. Even the price of onions which previously survived Rp6.000/kg, has now reached Rp10.000/kg, and some even sell Rp12.000/kg. as are leek, which usually can only be sold Rp1.500/kg, now also jumped to Rp5.000/kg.
Price tomatpun go soaring. After being slammed into Rp1.000/kg prices, now the price of tomatoes reached Rp4.000-Rp5.000/kg.

Garuda ready to hear pilots’ grievances

2011-07-24T07:19:00.001+07:00

Padangekspres.net-National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia said Friday that it was ready to sit down with its pilots to solve an internal conflict between the two parties.

“We are ready to come together with our pilots who want to deliver their aspirations in relation with the presence of foreign pilots,” Garuda Indonesia vice president corporate communications Pujobroto said in a statement received by The Jakarta Post.

Pilots under the Garuda Pilots Association threatened earlier in the day to strike on July 28 from 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. because they “could not trust the Garuda management anymore”.

The pilots said that they would go head with the plan if the management failed to solve the discrepancy between the salaries of local and foreign pilots.

A foreign co-pilot gets US$7,200 a month while a local captain gets Rp 40 million ($4,680) a month.

“As we mentioned before, the presence of foreign pilots is temporary. Their contracts are for only a year,” he continued.

Hiring foreign pilots, Pujobroto said, was part of Garuda’s efforts to become a world-class airline, anticipating the “ASEAN Open Sky 2015”.

To support its efforts, Garuda is expanding its fleet to 154 airplanes, and thus needs more pilots.

Garuda has hired pilots from the PLP Curug in Tangerang and Bali International Flight Academy, but the new pilots are not ready to operate airplanes as they need further training.

Pujobroto said foreign pilots did not get the benefits that local pilots received, including retirement health insurance and a pension.

“The presence of foreign pilots is also to speed up Garuda pilots’ careers. To become a captain from a co-pilot will [only] take 9.7 years instead of the 18 years previously,” he said.

Pujobroto also ensured that the “total reward” system applied by Garuda Indonesia was appropriate. (swd)

Nazaruddin on air as party executives defend Anas

2011-07-24T07:14:00.000+07:00

Bagus BT Saragih and Adianto P. Simamora

Padangekspres.net-President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s Democratic Party executives moved to curb any potential efforts to oust party chairman Anas Urbaningrum, while ousted treasurer

Muhammad Nazaruddin appeared in a televised interview following his disappearance overseas.

“I am overseas,” Nazaruddin said, in the interview to dispel rumors that he had slipped back into the country.

Nazaruddin had granted an interview via an Internet video call to Iwan Piliang, a fellow Democratic Party member, on Thursday night. The interview was broadcast by MetroTV at around 9:30 p.m. on Friday.

During the interview, Nazaruddin confirmed that he was behind a series of BlackBerry messages.

The messages accused party members of corruption in various government-funded projects, including an athletes’ village built in Palembang, South Sumatra, for the 2011 SEA Games. Party members previously raised doubts that Nazaruddin was behind the messages.

Nazaruddin then displayed a USB memory drive and a CD, saying they contained evidence of the various acts of corruption committed by other party members. The CD, he said, contained a CCTV recording of Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) deputy Chandra M. Hamzah’s visit to Nazaruddin’s house.

Earlier on Friday, Yudhoyono talked to the press at the Presidential Palace to comment on Nazaruddin’s claims.

“Nazaruddin, come back home.”

It was Yudhoyono’s second official comment to the press about Nazaruddin’s claims after a press conference on July 11.

“[Nazaruddin’s] statements on television confuse us. They upset [us] and makes us distrust one another,” Yudhoyono said.

Party executive Mohammad Jafar Hafsah said he heard that some regional party members might push for Anas’ suspension in the meeting on Saturday and Sunday in Sentul, south of Jakarta.

“Insya Allah [God willing], there will be no attempt to convert the meeting into an extraordinary congress to change party leadership.”

Jafar said party executive board members had approached members from provincial and municipal chapters to convince them that any moves against Anas “would be bad for
the party”.

Sutan Bhatoegana, party deputy secretary-general, said he had warned that party members who proposed any efforts to change the meeting into an arena to topple Anas “could face severe punishment for violating the party’s code of ethics”.

The Democratic Party chair position has been a hot seat after Anas’ former colleague, graft fugitive Nazaruddin, accused Anas of “masterminding” a number of instances of graft in government projects.

Nazaruddin — who was fired as party treasurer and left the country a day before a travel ban was imposed on him — also accused Anas of distributing US$20 million he had illegally received from businesspeople to “buy votes” to secure his victory in the party’s chairmanship election in 2010.

Anas has denied Nazaruddin’s claims, saying that his colleague “has been used politically to attack me and tarnish my good name”.

Nazaruddin also accused Anas of making an illegal deal with Chandra and KPK enforcement deputy Insp. Gen. Ade Rahardja to keep Anas and other Democratic Party politicians out of the KPK’s investigations.

Andi Hajramurni contributed to this story from Makassar

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RI poised to dominate ASEAN

2011-07-24T07:13:00.000+07:00

Rangga D. Fadillah

Padangekspres.net-Coordinating Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa was upbeat on Friday that Indonesia would soon become the largest automotive market in ASEAN, given current trends.

He continued that, with current income per capita at US$3,500, wealthier people’s purchasing power would allow industries, including the automotive, to grow faster.

“I believe that we will outperform Thailand in the coming few years, not only becoming the largest
automobile market in Southeast Asia, but also the largest production hub for the East Asian market,” he said, when opening the 19th Indonesia International Motor Show (IIMS) at the Jakarta International Expo Center in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.

To accelerate the automotive industry’s growth, it is necessary to develop better infrastructure in order to improve productivity and competitiveness, said Hatta.

The precise plan has been included in the newly launched Master Plan for the Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesian Economic Growth, he revealed.

The master plan contains development plans in six economic sectors: energy-related development in Sumatra; industry and services in Java; mining in Kalimantan; agriculture, forestry and fisheries in Sulawesi and North Maluku; tourism and food in Bali and Nusa Tenggara; and natural and human resources in Papua and Maluku.

Hatta also promised the government would provide tax allowances for environmentally friendly cars. The incentive is scheduled to be issued in August at the latest.

Separately, Indonesian Automotive Industry Association (Gaikindo) deputy chairman Johnny Darmawan reported that Indonesia’s automotive industry was indeed enjoying a very conducive period.

He said production in 2010 jumped 51 percent from 2009.

Sales hit 764,710 in 2010, accounting for 30.6 percent of the market share in Southeast Asia. The market contracted in 2009 due to the financial crisis, in which only 486,061 units were sold.

Gaikindo estimates that by the end of this year, sales might peak at between 780,000 and 830,000 cars.

Google talks of Indonesian expansion

2011-07-24T07:01:00.000+07:00

Padangekspres.net-Google plans to expand their offices to Indonesia by 2012 to tap into the country’s potential, where 40 million people are wired to the Internet.

Google’s expansion plans were revealed during a meeting between Vice President Boediono and Google chairman Eric Schmidt in Jakarta on Friday.

Vice Presidential spokesman Yopie Hidayat said the visit by Google was a “courtesy call” during which Google “expressed its interest” in expanding its offices to Indonesia.

“Eric Schmidt said to the vice president that Google was designing plans to develop its business in Indonesia,” he told The Jakarta Post.

Yopie said that Google wanted to start the expansion by the end of 2011, provided that it perceived factors, such as “the compatibility of an e-payment platform with the Indonesian banking system” in the country as “congruous” with its business.

He added that Google’s minimum investment would usually be around a minimum of US$100 million.

However, neither the exact date nor further details of the expansion were discussed during the meeting.

“[The people at Google] are conducting studies and analysis as preparation efforts,” he said. “They will execute their plans once they consider that all is in accordance with the parameters of their company”

Once in Indonesia, Google intends to “accelerate many matters in Indonesia”, with an emphasis placed on “supporting small and medium enterprises’s [SME] access international markets”, he said.

“What is already there in their vision is building an e-transaction platform and marketing channel for SMEs in Indonesia to access the global market,” he added.

Communications and Information Ministry spokesman Gatot S. Dewabroto revealed that two months ago Google had deployed a team to visit the ministry to speak on matters related to Google’s expansion to Indonesia.

He said Google had a plan to open a branch here as early as October this year.

Eric Schmidt said at a press conference after the meeting that these SMEs were potential drivers of the economy.

“There are 50 million small businesses in Indonesia, I had no idea it was that large. Those [small businesses] will be the engine of growth for the future economy,” he said, as quoted by Antara news agency.

With more than 22 million users, Indonesia trails only the United States and Britain in the number of registered Facebook users.

Information technology expert Heru Sutadi however said that beyond opening a branch office and providing platforms, Google should also establish a server in Indonesia if it was serious about investing in Indonesia.

The mayor and former mayor of the suspect

2011-07-22T15:19:00.000+07:00

Padang ekspres.net-Mayor Pariaman Mukhlis Rahman and former mayor of Pariaman Mahyudin named as a suspect in the alleged corruption case of procurement of land for sports facilities and infrastructure in Pariaman 2007. Until yesterday (21 / 7), the third suspect was not arrested.

Together Mukhlis and Mahyudin, police also set the former Head of Governance Setdako Pariaman, Anwar as a suspect. Their determination letter as a suspect, investigators have been sent last week to three.

Special Criminal Police Director of West Sumatra, Comr Budi Utomo said that the three named as a suspect for allegedly violating the Law No. 31/1999 junto Law No. 20/2001, concerning the Eradication of Corruption.

Investigators also have obtained evidence, testimony of 25 witnesses, and a description of the three suspects.
In the case of purchase of the land area of 22,335 m2, the investigators estimated state losses of Rp 1.6 billion. This figure is obtained from the calculation of the State Audit Board (BPK). For the procurement of land, Pemko Pariaman spend USD 3 billion. But after dikroscek, landowners claimed only received Rp 1.3 billion.

At that time, who served as Sekko Mukhlis, is vice chairman of the procurement committee (not the head of such previous news), and Mahyudin as chairman of the committee. As for Anwar is chairman of the planning team, and the people who determine the location. "They (suspects, red) subject to the Law on Corruption Eradication exact chapter three, and chapter two," said Budi Utomo was accompanied by the Special Police Kasubdit I Ditreskrim West Sumatra, Denny Siahaan AKBP to Padang Ekspres, yesterday (21 / 7).

Be examined
Yesterday, investigators examined Mahyudin turn. Meanwhile, Anwar is scheduled to be examined today. Mukhlis will be examined next July 26. Mahyudin examined starting at 09.00, in room Special Sub I Ditreskrim Corruption. Mahyudin wearing a brown short-sleeved shirt, accompanied by his legal adviser, Donny Indra. When checked, Mahyudin was busy showing a number of files to investigators.

"Mr. Mahyudin was questioned as a suspect. I just found out he was named as a suspect after Mr Mahyudin contacted me and asked me as his PH, "Donny said on the sidelines of his client inspection.

Contacted separately, PH Mukhlis Rahman, Erizal Effendi claimed his client had not received a letter setting as a suspect. "Maybe the letter was given directly to the mayor of Pariaman. But if it had come in, certainly in the near future we as a PH of his, will receive a letter from our clients, "he said.

Know of Staff
Mahyudin when examined as a witness May 18, claiming to know the state loss of Rp1, 6 billion, rather than Mukhlis Rahman. "I know there are indications of corruption of one of my staff. Previously I never knew, and the problem was also once I ask Sekko Pariaman, "he explained.

Mahyudin said the land purchase in Karanaur, Pariaman was not the government do with the land owners directly. "The purchase of the land was done by involving a third party. The report I received, the purchase of land running smoothly and in compliance rates between landowners with Pemko Pariaman. So, I did not know there is a problem because there has been a member of the committee which administers it, "he said.

Denied Involved
Previously, Mukhlis said was not involved in this case. Negotiating the price of land, said Mukhlis, do Mahyudin the then mayor of Pariaman. "Negotiation is not the landowner, but by the third parties named Fitrias Grill, which is the family of the landowner or landowner power sellers," said Mukhlis to Padang Express.

The price of land, said Mukhlis, negotiated three times since the first price was considered too high, reaching Rp 4 billion more. "So be negotiated again until the price of land to Rp3 billion more to be decided on October 30, 2007," he explained.

After the price match, legalized sale and purchase of land, witnessed all the land procurement committee. The first party liable PPH 5 percent, which if calculated nominal Rp135 thousand per meter.

"All the money was given to the first party the power of landowners, who negotiates with Pemko Pariaman. Related to the recognition of landowners who claimed he only received Rp 1.6 billion, that I never know, because all the money has been given, "he explained.

However, he admitted the money for payment of land sale and purchase of Rp 3 billion more, indeed he is issued. "But the money spent had been through the process, and approval of the mayor of Pariaman, Mahyudin. If there is no permission, it is unlikely that money spent, "he explained.

Mahyudin and Mukhlis Rahman is okay to argue and defend yourself, but the police claimed to have evidence and strong arguments. "We have two valid evidence," said Budi Utomo, accompanied by Denny. This, he said, according to the Book of Law Article 184 Criminal Code (Criminal Code)

Japan's crippled nuclear plant reaches stability

2011-07-20T08:16:00.001+07:00

Padangekspres.net-The crippled reactors at Japan's tsunami-hit nuclear power plant have reached stability more than four months since the disaster and the plant is on track for a cold shutdown within six months, the government and plant operator said Tuesday.

Workers have toiled in hot and harsh conditions to stablize the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami destroyed reactor cooling systems, triggering partial meltdowns of the reactors and making the disaster the world's worst nuclear crisis since Chernobyl.

The assessment of reactor stability was based on several milestones: temperaures at the bottom of reactor pressure vessels are no longer climbing, a makeshift system to process contaminated water works properly after initial problems and nitrogen injections are helping prevent more explosions.

Radiation around the plant has shown a "sufficient decrease" from peak levels measuredsoon after the disaster, according to the report released by the government and TEPCO, the plant's operator.

The progress achieves TEPCO's initial goals of its road map to bring the plant under control, the report said.

"The accident has not been resolved, but we have been making progress steadily," rade and industry minister Banri Kaieda said. "We will continue our utmost effort so that we can bring this to an end as soon as possible."

The work now shifts into a second stage, when workers will aim to further cut radiation released into the air, soil and water. They expect a cold shutdown sometime i January.

A reactor reaches cold shutdown when the temperature at the bottom of the reactor pressure vessel drops below 100 degrees Celsius, and when the release of radioactive materials is "under control."

TEPCO also said it will continue to improve conditions for workers by expanding temporary dormitories and onsite rest stations, as well as stronger controls over their radiation exposure.

Still, growing worries about radiation in Japan's beef supply underscore the widespread impact of the nuclear accident.

On Tuesday, the central government instructed Fukushima to suspend shipment of all beef cows raised in the prefecture.

The move comes amid a growing tally of cows - now about 650 - that were fed radiation-tainted rice straw and then shipped nationwide. Some of the meat has already reached consumers.

Major supermarket chain Aeon acknowledged over the weekend that 14 of its outlets in Tokyo and nearby prefectures sold meat from the exposed cows between April and June.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said the contamination stems from rice straw that had been sitting outside since the March 11 disaster, then fed to the cattle.

Fukushima officials have said they did not properly inform farmers to avoid using feed stored outdoors.

Cesium levels exceeding the legal limit has been detected in beef samples in three cities.

"We are doing utmost to track down beef that might have been fed rice straw," Edano said. "If we find any samples we will suspend it from distribution and inspect."

Rupert Murdoch spars with lawmakers in hearing

2011-07-20T08:14:00.001+07:00

Padangekspres.net-Rupert Murdoch sparred Tuesday with a committee of lawmakers over the phone-hacking scandal that has rocked his global empire, reeling from tough questioning before recovering his composure and rebuffing his interrogators with flashes of his legendary toughness.

The elder Murdoch banged his hands on the table and said the day was the most humble of his life, becoming flustered when committee members peppered with him questions and turning to his son James for some answers.

He recovered later in a tense question-and-answer session with lawmakers, pushing back with firm denials of wrongdoing.

Murdoch, 80, said he was "shocked, appalled and ashamed" at the acking of the phone of a murdered schoolgirl by his now-shuttered News of the World tabloid. He said he had seen no evidence that victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attack and their relatives were targeted by any of his papers.

Murdoch said he was not responsible for the hacking scandal, and his company as not guilty of willful blindness.

He repeatedly batted away questions about operations at the News of the World by saying he wasn't really in touch with the tabloid or didn't know what was going on there.

Murdoch also told the committee that he didn't believe the FBI had uncovered any evidence of hacing Sept. 11 victims in a recently launched inquiry.

He said he lost sight of News of the World because it is such a small part of his company and spoke to the editor of the paper only around once a month, talking more with the editor of the Sunday Times in Britain and the Wall Street Journal in the U.S.

James Murdoch apologized for the scandal, telling British lawmakers that "these actions do not live up to the standards our company aspires to."

The younger Murdoch said the company acted as swiftly and transparently as possible. Rupert Murdoch acknowledged, however, that he did not investigate after he Murdochs' former U.K. newspaper chief, Rebekah Brooks, told parliament years ago that the News of the World had paid police officers for information.

Asked by lawmakers why there was no investigation, he said: "I didn't know of it."

He says the News of the World "is less than 1 percent" of his ews Corp., which employs 53,000 people.

Murdoch also said he was not informed that his company had paid out big sums - 700,000 pounds ($1.1 million) in one case - to settle lawsuits by phone hacking victims.

James Murdoch said his father became aware of the settlement "in 2009 after a newspaper report It was a confidential settlement. "

He said a civil case of that nature and size would be dealt with by the executives in the country involved - in this case James Murdoch, the head of News Corp.'s European and Asian operations.

James Murdoch says news organizations need to put a stronger emphasis onethics in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal, telling lawmakers that "we do need to think in this country more forcefully and thoughtfully about our journalistic ethics."

The value of the Murdochs' News Corp. added around $1.5 billion while they were being grilled, trading 3.8 percent higher at $15.54 The stock has taken a battering over the past couple of weeks, shedding around 17 percent of its value, or around $8 billion.

Rupert Murdoch's wife Wendi Deng and News Corp. executive Joel Klein, who is overseeing an internal investigation into the wrongdoing, sat behind him as he spoke.

The elder Murdoch denied that the closure of the News of the World was motivated by financial considerations, saying he shut it because of the criminal allegations.

There has been speculation that Murdoch wanted to close the Sunday newspaper in order to merge its operations with the six-days-a-week Sun, which some have said will relaunch as a seven-day publication.

Asked by a Tuesday whether there was a financial motive for closing the paper, Rupert Murdoch said: "Far from it."

Politicians also pushed for details about the Murdochs' ties to Prime Minister David Cameron and other members of the British political establishment.

In a separate hearing, lawmakers questioned London police about reports that officers took bribes from journalists to provide inside information for tabloid scoops and to ask why the force decided to shut down an earlier phone hacking probe after charging only two people.

Detectives reopened the case earlier this year and are looking at a potential 3,700 victims.

The scandal has prompted the resignation and subsequent arrest of Brooks and the resignation of Wall Street Journal publisher Les Hinton, sunk the Murdochs' dream of taking full control of lucrative satellite broadcaster British Sky Broadcasting and raised questions about his ability to keep control of his global media empire.

Rupert Murdoch is eager to stop the crisis from spreading to the United States, where many of his most lucrative assets - including the Fox TV network, 20th Century Fox film studio, The Wall Street Journal and the New York Post - are based.

London's departing police chief revealed that 10 of the 45 press officers in his department used to work for News International, but he denied there are any improper links between the force and Murdoch's media empire.

"I understand that there are 10 members of the (Department of Public Affairs) staff who have worked in News International in the past, in some cases journalists, in some cases undertaking work experience with the organization," Paul Stephenson said.

News International is the British newspaper division of Murdoch's global News Corp.

Stephenson denied wrongdoing, or knowing the News of the World was engaged in phone hacking - but acknowledged that in retrospect he was embarrassed the force had hired Neil Wallis, a former executive of the paper, as a PR consultant,

After being asked about his relationship with Wallis, who was arrested last week, Stephenson said he had "no reason to connect Wallis with phone hacking" when he was hired for the part-time job in 2009.

He said now that the scale of phone hacking at the paper has emerged, it's "embarrassing" that Wallis worked for the police.

Stephenson announced his resignation Sunday, saying allegations about his contacts with Murdoch's News International were a distraction from his job.

He was followed out the door by assistant commissioner John Yates, who gave evidence before the hotly anticipated appearance by the Murdochs and Brooks.

Yates said that with the benefit of hindsight he would have re-opened an inquiry into electronic eavesdropping of voicemail messages.

Yates said if he "knew now" how the phone hacking scandal would enfold, he would have done something different.

He has denied wrongdoing in the scandal.

London's Metropolitan Police force said Tuesday it had asked a watchdog to investigate its head of public affairs over the scandal - the fifth senior police official being investigated. The Independent Police Complaints Commission will look at Dick Fedorcio's role in hiring a former News of the World executive as an adviser to the police.

Fedorcio also was questioned by lawmakers Tuesday, along with Stephenson and Yates.

But it was the appearance by the Murdochs and Brooks that was drawing huge public interest.

Murdoch's car was mobbed by photographers as he arrived for the hearing about the scandal, which has swept from his media empire through the London police and even to the prime minister's office.

The Range Rover quickly drove off, returning returned to Parliament about half an hour before the hearing was due to start.

Members of the public and journalists lined up hours ahead of time in hope of a spot in the small committee room, which holds about 40 people. More will be able to watch in an overspill room, and Britain's TV news channels are anticipating high ratings for the appearance.

Cameron cut short a visit to Africa and is expected to return to Britain for an emergency session Wednesday of Parliament on the scandal.

A former News of the World reporter, Sean Hoare, who helped blow the whistle on the scandal, was found dead Monday in his home. Police said the death was "unexplained" but is not being treated as suspicious. A post-mortem was being conducted Tuesday. Hoare was in his late forties.

Brooks' spokesman, David Wilson, said police had been handed a bag containing a laptop and papers that belong to her husband, former racehorse trainer Charlie Brooks. Wilson said the bag did not contain anything related to the phone hacking scandal and he expected police to return it soon.

The bag was found dumped in an underground parking lot near the couple's home on Monday, but it was unclear how exactly it got there. Wilson said Tuesday that a friend of Charlie Brooks had meant to drop the bag off, but he would say only he left it in the "wrong place."

In New York, News Corp. appointed commercial lawyer Anthony Grabiner to run its Management and Standards Committee, which will deal with the scandal. But News Corp. board member Thomas Perkins told The Associated Press that the 80-year-old Murdoch has the full support of the company's board of directors, and it was not considering elevating Chief Operating Officer Chase Carey to replace Murdoch as CEO of News Corp.

News Corp.'s widely traded Class A shares fell 68 cents to $14.97 Monday - down 17 percent since the scandal reignited on July 4.

Britain's Independent Police Complaints Commission also is looking into the phone hacking and police bribery claims, including one that Yates inappropriately helped get a job for the daughter of Wallis. Wallis has been arrested on suspicion of conspiring to intercept communications.

London police also confirmed that they once employed a second former News of the World employee besides Wallis. Alex Marunchak had been employed as a Ukrainian language interpreter with access to highly sensitive police information between 1980 and 2000, the Metropolitan Police said.

The police force said it recognized "that this may cause concern and that some professions may be incompatible with the role of an interpreter," adding that the matter will be looked into.

Meanwhile, Internet hackers took aim at Murdoch late Monday, defacing the sites of his other U.K. tabloid, The Sun, and shutting down website of The Times of London. Visitors to The Sun website were redirected to a page featuring a story saying Murdoch's dead body had been found in his garden.

Internet hacking collective Lulz Security took responsibility for that hacking attack via Twitter, calling it a successful part of "Murdoch Meltdown Monday."

Lulz Security, which has previously claimed hacks on major entertainment companies, FBI partner organizations and the CIA, hinted that more was yet to come, saying "This is only the beginning."

It later took credit for shutting down News International's corporate website. Another hacking collective known as Anonymous claimed the cyberattack on The Times' website.

Preachers and conservatism in RI

2011-07-16T19:41:00.001+07:00

Al Makin, Yogyakarta

Padangekspres.net-The career of the late Zainuddin MZ, known as a preacher to a million followers, tells us about another side of Indonesian Muslims’ religiosity.

Indonesians are fond of religious preachers. Religion, and religious piety, has dominated the public for a long time. Religion is a vital element to control Indonesian politics.

From the 1970s to the 1990s, Indonesia witnessed several religious preachers who came and went. Good fortune sided with those who entertained the public with religious jargon and terms. These preachers mixed the ingredients of religious advice and humor, which were easily understood by Indonesians.

From the 1980s to the early 1990s, Zainuddin was a rising star. His speeches were broadcast on radio and TV, and were recorded in cassettes and CDs, which are still widely sold. Nobody could mistake Zainuddin’s voice — the ways in which he greeted the audience, told funny jokes, and closed speeches.

Additionally, some preachers were often critical of the New Order regime. I still remember that when I was in senior high school, a mosque in my village had difficulty getting permission from the local authority to invite a preacher, who had a reputation for his harsh criticism of the New Order regime’s policies on Islam.

Indeed, Soeharto was careful about “political Islam” and any seeds of radicalism, which might endanger the government. Police often monitored religious ceremonies. Religious preachers were often accused of inciting hatred against the government. Any use of religion in public was deemed dangerous.

On the other hand, religious speeches were indeed essential elements in various Islamic ceremonies, such as the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad (Maulid), memorizing the day the Koran was sent down to earth (Nuzul al-Qur’an), and the evening journey of the Prophet to Jerusalem and the heavens (Isra Mi’raj).

As far as the public is concerned, Syukran Makmun came prior to Zainuddin’s fame. But Makmun’s hoarse voice is often monotonous. His jokes are not always funny. By contrast, Zainuddin successfully managed his tone. He created many amusing anecdotes.

Zainuddin’s career is perhaps comparable only to that of Abdullah Gymnastiar, aka Aa Gym, who, unlike Makmun and Zainuddin, was not trained at a traditional religious boarding school (pesantren).

Besides Aa Gym’s charisma, and his calm and tranquil performances on the stage that charmed Indonesian Muslims, particularly women, the media contributed greatly to Aa Gym’s success. Indeed, it is the media and method, not particularly the message, which played a vital role in Aa Gym’s public show.

Whereas Zainuddin’s speeches often contained theological and complicated religious matter, Aa Gym’s messages are often modest, humble and plain, dealing mostly with ordinary daily life.

Later generations of public religious preachers, from Arifin Ilham, Hariyanto, Yusuf Mansur, Mamah Dede, Jefry al Bukhori, to Maulana, more or less walked in Aa Gym’s footsteps. Instead of religious messages, most of them exploited the media to cover their stage performances.

Religious sermons, like soap operas, comedy shows, and other TV programs, have turned out to be public entertainment.

Note that the media, which raised the figure of Aa Gym, also caused his tragic fall. His second marriage, which cannot be accepted by his first wife, was blown up. Thus, the media played a critical role in the rise and fall of
Indonesian religious preachers.

The role of religious preachers in the Indonesian public domain indicates that the people still deemed oral traditions as higher than reading. To listen to preachers giving speeches entails less effort than reading books. In various ceremonies, religious speeches were important elements that some people enjoyed. They seemed thirsty for religious advice and humorous anecdotes. Struggling with their own hard lives, they wanted to listen to the stories of an eternal comfortable life in paradise in the hereafter.

However, not only do most preachers undermine life in this world — which is indeed temporary — compared to the eternal world after life, they also ridiculed science, logic and reason. On the pulpits, many preachers challenged scientific discoveries, which, according to their belief, were untenable. They then called upon the audience to return to “piety” and religious dogma. They stressed that human reasoning can never surpass religion.

Indeed, religious speeches have nurtured conservatism, fundamentalism and even radicalism.

Many commentators and pundits have so far concluded that radicalism is not an indigenous character of Indonesian Islam. Many have pinpointed that radicalism in the country came from outside influences brought by transnational organizations and networks, such as the Jamaah Islamiyah (JI).

However, we should not neglect the role of religious preachers’ messages broadcast for more than three decades on radios and TVs every day. People are used to listening to religious dogma, which they prefer to logic and reasoning.

The writer is a lecturer at Sunan Kalijaga State Islamic University, Yogyakarta.

Syafii Maarif: State loses against Nazarrudin

2011-07-16T19:39:00.002+07:00

Padangekspres.net-Syafii Maarif, former chairman of the country’s second largest Muslim organization, Muhammadiyah, lamented the prolonged manhunt of graft fugitive Muhammad Nazarrudin.

He questioned the authorities’ political will to arrest the suspect, who made headlines for his key role in the alleged bribery case involving construction of the SEA Games athlete’s village in Palembang.

“How could law enforcement officers be unable to immediately locate and arrest Nazarrudin? The state has lost to Nazaruddin – should it fail to apprehend him,” Syafii said, as quoted by tribunnews.com on Saturday in his speech during an event organized by the newly established National Democrat party on Saturday.

Police claimed last week that they had managed to locate Nazaruddin, who reportedly sent messages from hideouts via BlackBerry messaging, exposing an unholy alliance implicating top politicians.

On Friday, however, National Police chief Gen. Timur Pradopo said that police had not yet found the former treasurer of the ruling Democratic Party.

Syafii said Indonesia was still waiting for new individuals with proven integrity and strong moral character.

“This nation is waiting for involvement from people with ethics. We are witnessing the suppression of the nation’s morality,” he said.

House to propose lawsuit to speed Century bailout probe

2011-07-16T19:39:00.001+07:00

The House of Representatives’ supervisory team overseeing the Bank Century bailout case plans to use the bank’s former owners’ lawsuit, which was filed with the International Court against the Indonesian government as new evidence that might encourage the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to accelerate its investigations.

Supervisory Team member Akbar Faisal said that the lawsuit from former Century controlling shareholders Hesham Al Waraq and Rafat Ali Rifzi regarding the bailout was likely linked to graft that led the government to bail out Century.

“The owners themselves wondered about the government’s decision to bail out the bank. Law enforcement officers may find something from this,” Akbar said, as quoted by kompas.com on Saturday.

“We hope that law enforcement institutions will use it as new evidence,” Akbar said.

Hesham and Rafat filed an international arbitration lawsuit against the Indonesian government in May this year, only months after the Central Jakarta District Court convicted them in absentia to 15 year in prison and a Rp 3.1 trillion fine to be paid to the state for numerous alleged instances of bank fraud. Prosecutors said that Hesahm and Rafat’s crimes led the government to disburse Rp 6.7 trillion

(US$744 million) to bail out Bank Century.

Indonesia does not have child friendly cities: UNICEF

2011-07-16T19:38:00.000+07:00

The United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) said that there is not one city in Indonesia that complies with its “child friendly city” criteria, adding that the closest to compliance was Surakarta, Central Java.

“There are five conditions for a child friendly city, namely the fulfillments of child rights, services that support child growth, supporting child participation in the family, community and society,” UNICEF Child Protection specialist representative Naning Puji Yulianingsih said Saturday as quoted by kompas.com.

Naning said in Surakarta the city administration had provided a “platinum card” for poor children, which could be used to access premium medical services, as well as discounts at book stores, along with many other benefits.

She added that the main problem in Indonesia was always the government’s lack of commitment, even though it had ratified the UN convention to be a child friendly country. Implementation in the field, however, was far from satisfactory.

“Most local government officials only focus on projects that offer them benefits. Other than that, they show little commitment,” she said.

Our politicians, their wealth and the virtue of honesty

2011-07-16T06:33:00.000+07:00

Indra Soebagjo, Jakarta

Padangekspres.net-I don’t usually remember the content of Friday sermons, but somehow this particular sermon during Friday prayers in the bustling city of Bandung was different.

The preacher was lecturing about the virtue of honesty and asked a question that has lingered in my mind to this day. His question was: “Can ill-gotten wealth be considered as good fortune [rezeki]?”

As the preacher continued with his sermon, my mind drifted back to the days when I was a high school student.

I remembered one evening, it was nearing 8 p.m. and I was heading toward the bus station in Blok M, South Jakarta.

I remember seeing a rubbish cart on the pavement but something next to it made me stop dead in my tracks. Beside the cart, sheltered from the cold night wind, I saw a mother feeding her two young children.

I stopped and kept my distance from them, protected by the darkness of the night, to observe this heart-breaking sight.

I saw the mother hand-feeding a plate of rice and a small piece of meat to the mouths of her hungry children. I could see and feel through the children’s eyes the daily pain and suffering they had to
endure.

Each mouthful of rice they swallowed had given them the hope of coping and surviving yet another day. “God bless this mother and her children. Give them the strength to survive and provide them with the happy lives they deserve,” I prayed quietly to myself.

It is state funds, originally allocated for people like that mother, that corrupt thieves in this country have stolen to maintain their lavish lifestyles or fraudulent agendas. I want them to see the eyes of these children every time they line their pockets with their dirty money.

I gave the mother Rp 5,000 (58 US cents), with the sincere hope of lessening her burden. That was all I could do.

After the sermon, I picked up a newspaper at a street corner that once again reminded me of all the corruption and stealing taking place in this country.

Each person in power tries to be righteous by denying any wrongdoing and accusing others as common criminals.

The words of the preacher started to make perfect sense of what is happening around us today.

Looking at the picture in the newspaper of a corrupt tax employee being led away by state prosecutors, I wondered what was going through his mind.

Did he honestly think he could escape the law and live happily ever after without a single care in the world? Even if he did manage to evade the law, how would he feel, as a low-level civil servant, to be riding a car fit for a president? Dark-tinted car windows would be required to hide his shame, if he has any.

Don’t get me wrong. Money is important and I would love to have lots of it as long as it is rightfully mine! I personally believe that the Laws of Nature never rest and will always maintain the universal balance in life.

Every action one does must be based on good faith and good intentions. Not the perfect traits for any politician but I truly believe that eventually honest officials and politicians will prevail.

The people can sense the sincerity and the positive energy emitting from honest politicians and thus give their support and, most importantly, their blessing.

Take the case of the two people who were arrested and are currently being tried for selling iPads without proper Indonesian instruction manuals via the Internet. According to the charges, these people have violated the Consumer Protection Law and Telecommunications Law.

I suspect the original intention of the “sting” operation was to extort free iPads but when the scenario failed to go as planned, the police had no choice but to continue the role as impeccable enforcers of the law while, at the same time, unwittingly becoming the laughing stock of society.

Again, please execute this sting operation in good faith and with good intentions. By doing so, you can read the Consumer Protection Law and other relevant laws with better clarity.

Otherwise, you will be chastised by the same society you are supposed to serve and protect.

Can you imagine, as a result of this case, if I sell my old German car, I will get eight years in prison because the manual is in German! What kind of society are we creating who fear the arbitrary use of criminal charges by their government?

This country has serious problems and needs serious people to resolve them. Every day we read about a government busy with its internal strife but hardly any news about its achievements in running the country. The time has come to stop all this nonsense.

No more comedians or pseudo-intellectuals getting valuable air time on television, expressing their absurd opinions. No more people with lack of integrity holding high offices. No more indecisiveness from our leaders.

We need to bring back honest politicians, honest law enforcers and honest people and I truly believe the day will come when this country shall again be a great and respected country as it is destined to be!

To answer the preacher’s question, ill-gotten wealth can never be considered as good fortune (rezeki) because you will lose it as easily as you stole it.

God Bless Indonesia!

The writer is a graduate of the School of Law, University of Indonesia, and currently working in the telecommunications sector.

BP adopts new safety standards for Gulf drilling

2011-07-16T06:32:00.002+07:00

Padangekspres.net-A year after it capped its out-of-control well in the Gulf of Mexico, oil giant BP PLC said Friday it is taking new steps to improve the reliability of the cement used to seal its wells and the fail-safe devices used to prevent blowouts.

The U.S. government welcomed the voluntary measures announced by the British firm - which seemed to target shortcomings addressed in several investigations of the disaster - but also noted that it has already established what it believes are strong safety and environmental standards that all operators are required to meet in order to operate in deep waters.

Eleven men were killed when the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded off Louisiana on April 20, 2010, leading to the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history. The well was capped on July 15, 2010, and permanently sealed from the bottom two months after that. The government estimates that some 206 million gallons (800 million liters) of oil were released by BP's Macondo well a mile (1.6 kilometers) beneath the sea. Tens of billions of dollars have been spent or committed by BP on cleaning up the devastation and compensating victims.

BP said that with regard to its drilling operations in the Gulf in the future it will:

-Require that one of its engineers or an independent third-party monitor conduct lab testing of the cement used to seal its deepwater wells. It will provide the results to government officials.

-Require extra precautions be taken with blowout preventers used on rigs it leases to drill its wells. The measures involve using blowout preventers with extra shearing devices that would cut through drill pipe and seal a well in the event of a mishap.

-Include in its oil spill response plan information about enhanced response measures based on lessons learned from the Deepwater Horizon disaster.

The cement and blowout preventer used with BP's well and the oil spill response plan it employed during the disaster all came under fire in numerous investigations of the disaster by the government, Congress and the companies involved.

New drilling rules have been imposed, a high-tech system for capping a blown-out well and containing the oil has been built, and regulators have taken steps to ramp up oversight of the industry.

But industry experts have said that despite the extra measures taken by government and industry since the Deepwater Horizon explosion, they believe another disaster could happen again.

They have noted that the effectiveness of the much-touted containment system has been questioned, and a design flaw in the blowout preventers widely used across the industry has been identified but not corrected.

Sony Ericsson posts $71M loss in 2nd quarter

2011-07-16T06:32:00.001+07:00

Padangekspres.net-Mobile phone maker Sony Ericsson on Friday reported a euro 50 million ($71 million) loss in the second quarter, saying the impact of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami hurt profitability.

The Swedish-Japanese joint venture posted a profit of euro 12 million in the same quarter last year.

Net sales were euro 1.19 billion, down from euro 1.76 billion a year ago

Sony Ericsson said the earthquake on March 11 disrupted its supply chain, with mobile phone shipments falling 31 percent to 7.6 million units.

"We estimate that the impact of earthquake-related supply chain constraints on our portfolio was close to 1.5 million units, with most of the effect in the early part of the quarter," CEO Bert Nordberg said.

London-based Sony Ericsson is moving away from cheaper phone models and seeking to take on Apple Inc.'s iPhone, Research in Motion's Blackberry and Nokia Corp.'s N9 in the higher-priced smartphone market. Sony Ericsson last month unveiled two new Android phones, the Xperia ray and Xperia active, that it plans to launch in the third quarter. Sony Ericsson estimates that it has 11 percent of the Android market.

"Our shift to Android-based smart phones continues with smartphone sales accounting for more than 70 percent of our total sales during the quarter," Nordberg said. "We have shipped more than 16 million Xperia smart phones to date. We have introduced eight new Xperia smart phones this year and we continue to see strong consumer and operator demand across the Xperia smartphone portfolio."

The average selling price of a Sony Ericsson phone dipped 3 percent to euro 156 from a year earlier, but was up 11 percent from the first quarter.

The company maintained its projection for modest industry growth in the global handset market for 2011.

BNP2TKI receives ambulance, 50 trolleys

2011-07-16T06:31:00.001+07:00

Padangekspres.net-The National Agency for the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (BNP2TKI) on Friday received an ambulance and 50 trolleys as part of a grant from a private company to offer better care to returning migrant workers.

"An ambulance is essential to take care of injured workers or to transport those who have died," PT Paladin International president director Surachman Jusuf said Friday.

Surachman said that trolley would be used by the workers to carry their luggage at the airport.

BNP2TKI chairman Jumhur Hidayat said that agency would maintain the ambulance and trolleys.

"We will use the ambulance and trolleys to increase our services to the workers," he said. "They work very hard overseas, therefore we should offer them comfort upon their return."

Last week, the BNP2TKI signed an MoU with PT Nurkumala Abadi to provide cell phones for migrant workers sent to South Korea to improve communications among the workers in an effort to reduce incidents of abuse in the workplace. (aaa)

Arsyad claims no knowledge of falsified documents

2011-07-16T06:30:00.001+07:00

Padangekspres.net-Former Constitutional Court judge Arsyad Sanusi, who was questioned over an alleged election document forgery case, claimed that police investigators showed him several letters during Friday's questioning that he had never seen before.

"They showed me six letters from the Constitutional Court and the General Elections Commission (KPU) that I have never seen, read or known about before. The letters make me wonder how cruel the Constitutional Court is to its former judge," Arsyad said after more than nine hours of questioning at police headquarters on Friday.

He said that the six letters included two requests from the KPU to the court and two responses to the requests dated Aug. 14 and Aug. 16, 2009, a letter announcing an internal investigation and a letter announcing that a team would be formed for the investigation.

Arsyad said the police asked him some 25 questions about his meetings and relationships with a suspect in the case, Mashuri Hasan, former Constitutional Court clerk Zaenal Arifin, Constitutional Court chief Mahfud MD, 2009 candidate Dewi Yasin Limpo, former KPU commissioner Andi Nurpati and Constitutional Court staff members such as Nallom Kurniawan and Muhammad Fais, who were questioned by police investigators previously.

The case involves a dispute between Dewi Yasin Limpo of the People's Conscience Party (Hanura) and Mestariyani Habie of the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra). Both claimed to have won a seat in the House of Representatives to represent the South Sulawesi electoral region I in the 2009 election.

The case went to the Constitutional Court, which ruled in favor of the Gerindra candidate. However, in a KPK plenary session, an explanation letter from the court stipulated that the Hanura candidate had won the seat.

The Constitutional Court said it had held an internal investigation of the case.

Arsyad said the internal investigation never question him. (rcf)

Beyonce says she sweats a lot and can't control her nose running while on stage

2011-07-16T06:24:00.002+07:00

Padangekspres.net-SNIFFLES ... Beyonce says she can't control her runny nose while on stage. Picture: AP Photo/Charles Sykes

She also said she would "be dripping" if she didn't have wind machines on stage. Picture: Supplied

THE 29-year-old singer - who is known for her sexy dance routines - finds her sets often don't go quite as planned due to her runny nose, leading to bubbles forming when she can't blow it.

She said: "My nose runs a lot and when I'm singing I can't blow it, so there have been occasions when I've ended up with a bubble coming out my nose."

Beyonce's nose is not the only problem on stage – the Girls (Who Run the World) hitmaker confesses she needs to have wind machines blowing air around her constantly because she is a profuse sweater, The Daily Telegraph reported.

She added: "Everyone thinks I have fans because I'm being fashionable, but I work so hard on stage if I didn't have them I'd be dripping."

In addition to sweating and excess mucus, Beyonce – who is married to hip hop star Jay-Z - also finds she no longer likes her feet due to the stress she has put on them from dancing in heels.

Speaking on a TV show set to air on ITV in the UK in December, she said: "If I could change one part it would be my feet. After all the years dancing they're a little beat up. And I wear big earrings because I don't like my ears."

However, her foot problems did not stop Beyonce spending £9,000 when she took a trip to London's Oxford Street earlier this week.

A source who saw her shopping said: "It was like that shopping scene out of the film 'Pretty Woman'.

'Everyone was gobsmacked by the speed she was choosing clothes. When she hit the shoe section she picked up even more speed. The woman clearly loves footwear."

Inter-village brawl, a man almost killed

2011-07-13T21:36:00.001+07:00

Elfiandra, 25, a resident Malancar Jorong Malancar Kanagarian Pintupadang, District Mapat stumps, Pasaman, beaten nearly killed masses of the village Tanjungair Kenagarian Lubuklayang South Marancar Rao District around 21:00 pm Tuesday night (12 / 7). As a result of alleged beatings were no old grudges between the two villages.

Elfiandra conditions were now forced to lie down and helpless in hospitals Lubuksikaping. Because the victim suffered injuries that made a bunch of sharp weapons mass. There are three ex-wound victim sharp weapon which forced the medical team stitched the back section. In addition to the back section victim also suffered head injuries hit the wood section.

According to the victim's sister, Elfiandra accompanied by her sister Jessica, along with other families, said the incident began when the victim was about to depart from the village to Bukittujuah, to call her family overseas. At that time the victim with a motorcycle dibonceng sekampungnya friend Henry. And there is one more friend Fennel with alone.

Coming home from Bukittujuh, at around 21:00 pm they were immediately intercepted by a mob allegedly set of Tanjungair it. "They immediately raided and beating both of us (Henry and Elfiandra, red). About 1.5 miles from the crime scene Malancar village where I live, "the story calls Elfiandra Andra, to Padang Express in hospitals Lubuksikaping Wednesday (13 / 7).

It is said Andra, the mass was most likely before long to wait for our return in the way of cross-Rumbai Rao, then immediately attacked and beaten by the masses who have emotions. At that time, they used wooden beams to paralyze even the sharp senjat target.

"We had a fight, but their numbers are too much there are 30 around people, especially, they use a knife stabbing my back three times. As a result, I immediately fell down, "said Andra wailed in pain.

Added, one of his relatives said, it is known that perpetrators of the attacks and beatings of residents Tanjungair, Curanting, Kanagarian Lubuklayang, District of South Rao. At the event, Andra friend named Fennel forced to flee into Marancar for help citizens. But Andra already slumped on the ground in a state far from the residential area.

Meanwhile, Abdul Muas are also civil servants in the Commission Pasaman, the victim's family said, so far not known for sure what the motive for the beatings to his family. Because no question they undergo a blind attack. However, from the information obtained, it could be because of old grudges are still stored. The reason is, there used to be residents of Tanjungair caught stealing 80 kg of rubber ellipsoid Malancar owned by residents.

Though the problem of theft 80 kg rubber ellipsoid Malancar already owned by residents settled well and have reconciled at the police station Pasaman some time ago.
But, the reality people still keep the embers Tanjungair grudge because their citizens are caught stealing gum. And residents who stole the rubber had become the butt of residents malancar.

"Yes, most likely due to revenge, they are not happy and the players gang up Marancar citizens," said Muas while visiting the victims, while also delivering the victims arrived at hospitals Lubuksikaping around 04.00 WIB Wednesday. (13 / 7)

Currently, residents in the village Malancar still alert to anticipate the worst that could happen. And for the incident has been handled by the police from the police Pintupadang, not far from the scene of events (the scene) takes place.

Invisible Criminal Police Pasaman AKP. Ediwarman justify the events of the attack carried out against citizens Marancar Tanjungair citizens. And while this has made the development of events that nearly killed the victim. "Perpetrators will be subject to Article 170 of the Criminal Code of the beatings," said the Invisible Reskrim Ediwarman

Brawl, 12 students secured Padang Police Members

2011-07-13T21:34:00.000+07:00

Padangekspres.net-Not quite a week school year, but the fight has begun to color the world of education in the city of Padang. Because last Wednesday (13 / 7) at about 13:00, hundreds of students from eight schools involved in the brawl action Imam Bonjol Padang, is more severe among these students are carrying a sharp object like a samurai and a knife.

In this action 12 students who participated tawurab successfully secured by the police. Among the students who secured were from different schools including nine students from SMK Padang Kosgoro, two students Muhamadiyah 1 Padang, and one person from Smk 1 Padang. 12 people are pelaja, M. Fadli, Sanfadi, Iksan Raka, Dani, Seprima Deden, Efri Mulyadi, Eka Kurniawan, Aldo Dinata, Rudi, Budiman, Yudi, and Rudi.

Meanwhile Questioning chronological brawl, according to Aldo, one student from SMK Kosgoro Tauran was started when students from SMK Kosgoro, Muhammadiyah, SMK 1, and Kartika was sitting in the Imam Bonjol Padang, was attacked by the students of STM 2 Padang, SMK PGRI 6 Padang, Labor SMK, SMK 5, and SMK YAPI.
"Once that happens the action to attack each other between the two camps, ranging from the action of throwing stones. Until there from the opposite sides are carrying knives and samurai. Until shortly after the action of the units attacking each member of the Police immediately arrested pelajaar Padang involved Tauran and taken to Mapolresta Padang, "explained Aldo.

About 100 students were involved in Tauran came from different schools including Kosgoro SMK Padang Padang SMK 1, 5 Padang SMK, SMK Earth I and II, SMK Labor, YAPI SMK, SMK Muhammadiyah 1 Padang, STM 2Padang but which can be secured only 12 students only. While students who bring weapons can not be secured.

Aldo revealed, these issues are sulah old, due to reports of his friends from SMK Kartika is blackmailed by a student of SMK Padang PGRI 6, which has provoked anger from her friends until it happened Tauran.

Meanwhile, 12 students secured in Mapolresta yangberhasil Padang. Will be developed in order to provide a deterrent effect and make a statement will not repeat such actions. And will be returned after calling the headmaster and the student's parents

Again, Malnutrition Case Found in Pasbar

2011-07-13T21:32:00.002+07:00

Padangekspres.net-Again, cases of malnutrition are found in Pasaman West (Pasbar). This time it happened to the pair anes (43) and Misbah (43), resident ellipsoid Simpang Rabat, District Trenches Balingka Koto.

His son, aged 4.5 years Wafiatul AHDI allegedly indicated experiencing malnutrition. She suffered severe malnutrition with weight loss is only about 8 Kg, of normal weight people.

Recognition of his parents, anes (43), his son suffered malnutrition since 3 years ago. The disease is known as his son was taken for treatment to Pukesmas Maid (Pustu) District Trenches Balingka Koto, Pasbar. At that time, his son said disease of malnutrition.

Despite having received treatment from a midwife and healer village, until recently, his son does not go away. Shortage of funds into the cause of children not getting proper treatment. So that the healing process so that their children be forced to be admitted to a maximum of improvised at home.

Understandably, he only worked as a handyman who earn Rp40 thousand per day. With the money that he support his family of eight people. So he's very difficult to treat her son.

Misbah, living in a house that is very simple. The walls of his house only made of wood measuring 5x5 meters. The roof was made of leaves rumbio. Inside the house, there are only 2 beds made of wood with no mattress. The only thing of value owned by the family is an old bicycle Ontel.

"I want this child recovered, but alas I have no money to take her medication. He is the son the only one in this family. I do not know what to do, can only hope to wait for the generous helping hand to help cure my son, "he said sadly.

Separate place, Chief Medical Officer Pasbar, Esveri Bry K, while in this paper confirm the discovery of cases of malnutrition associated recognizes there are many toddler-toddler in Pasbar with poor nutrition and malnutrition.

"If being recorded up to the level ellipsoid-ellipsoid, we find many cases like that of this Wafiatul. We're so overwhelmed to collect data, because the budget for data collection, there is nothing that we can not do much, "said Bry.

Responding to the findings of this poor nutrition, it appealed to the public, so that parents can enable existing posyandu its region respectively.

"So far, we see the public is less concerned about the existence of posyandu. Therefore, we'll let the public in order to re-creating the IHC, because the IHC's many services and important information that we usually get associated with health care to the community, "

Misbakhun allowed to leave jail: Govt

2011-07-13T21:30:00.000+07:00

Padangekspres.net-The head of the Jakarta office of the Law and Human Rights Ministry, Sihabudin, said graft convict Muhammad Misbakhun may spend daylight hours out of prison as the ministry had approved an assimilation period for the notorious politician.

“A convict under the assimilation period can leave prison in the morning and go back to his or her cell before evening,” Sihabudin told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

A report was circulating on Twitter on Wednesday that Misbakhun, a former lawmaker from the Prosperous and Justice Party, was seen out with his wife in a Jakarta mall while many assumed he was in Salemba Penitentiary in Central Jakarta serving a two-year sentence.

An account under the name of @antonirizal77 tweeted at about 3 p.m., “Misbakhun wandering around at 14:35, when he should be in the detention center of the [police's] criminal investigation unit. He's at Riceball PlazIND,” referring to the Rice Bowl restaurant in Plaza Indonesia in Central Jakarta. He attached a photo on the tweet, depicting a person whom he said was Misbakhun chatting with a woman.

Sihabudin said he did not know whether the one being discussed on Twitter really was Misbakhun or not. “One thing’s for sure, Misbakhin was under the supervision of a guard while outside prison,” he claimed.

Convicts can enjoy assimilation periods provided they meet certain criteria.

According to the 1999 Justice Minister Regulation on Assimilation and Release on Parole, a convict should have done at least half of his or her jail term to be eligible for assimilation. The convict’s disciplinary record must also be clean for the last nine months.

Misbakhun has spent 15 months of his two-year sentence in prison. The Jakarta High Court found the politician guilty in January of using fictitious deeds to obtain credit from the ill-fated Bank Century.

The court approved an appeal by prosecutors, who demanded a longer prison term for Misbakhun after a lower court in November last year sentenced the politician to one year in jail.

The politician has been detained since April 2010, and may be released on parole in August.

Nazaruddin allegedly got Rp 4.3 billion for athlete’s village project

2011-07-13T21:29:00.001+07:00

Padangekspres.net-Former Democratic Party treasurer M. Nazaruddin allegedly received a Rp 4.3 billion commission for helping PT Duta Graha Indah (PT DGI) win the tender to build a SEA Games athletes’ village in Palembang, South Sumatra.

The amount was revealed in the indictment of the company’s marketing manager, Mohamad El Idris, a defendant in the bribery case of the project, at the Corruption Court on Wednesday.

“The defendant handed over checks worth Rp 4.3 billion to Muhammad Nazaruddin through Yulianis and Oktarina Furi at PT Anak Negeri (Nazaruddin’s company) in Mampang, South Jakarta,” prosecutor Agus Salim read out the indictment as reported by kompas.com.

Nazaruddin, whose whereabouts is unknown, is also a suspect in the case.

According to the indictment, Nazaruddin was the mediator between PT DGI and Sports and Youth Ministry secretary Wafid Muharam. Nazaruddin reportedly worked on behalf of PT DGI to win the tender for the development project through his subordinate Rosalina Manulang, PT Anak Negeri’s marketing director.

Rosalina and Wafid are also suspects in the case.

The prosecutor went on to say that the RP 4.3 billion commission was paid in two phases. For the first payment, in February 2011, El Idris reportedly handed over two checks worth Rp 1 billion and Rp 1.1 billion respectively through one of Nazaruddin’s financial staffers, Yulianis.

In the second phase a few days later, the defendant allegedly handed over two more checks to another financial staffer, Oktarina Furi, worth Rp 1.1 billion and Rp 1 billion respectively.

“All the checks were handed over to Nazaruddin as a legislator as part of the company’s commitment to give 13 percent in fees to Nazaruddin if it won the tender,” said Agus.

Employees of Freeport continue strike

2011-07-13T21:28:00.001+07:00

Padangekspres.net-JAYAPURA, Papua: The employees and management of copper mining company PT Freeport Indonesia continued their strike for a third day on Wednesday, demanding that the company renegotiate their contracts.

“Up until now the management still does not acknowledge the executive board members of the All-Indonesia Labor Union [SPSI] of the PT FI branch,” the union’s deputy secretary Obed Lobo told The Jakarta Post.

Obed said that the union had thoroughly dealt with its internal problems including the annulment of Nur Haida’s leadership by the SPSI’s central executive board.

“We tried to meet with the management together with the Central SPSI executive from Jakarta but we were not welcomed,” Obed said.

With the refusal, he said, he did not know who else could represent the workers to discuss the solution over the problem. He also said that they would continue the strike until an agreed condition was reached between the employees and the management.

Thousands of employees were still seen blocking the road heading to mining sites as of Wednesday, reportedly cutting the company’s production by up to 90 percent as most of the workers on strike were from the production unit.

Papuan strike halts world's biggest gold mine

2011-07-13T21:26:00.000+07:00

Alfian Kartono, Associated Press,

PadangEkspres.net-Fair pay: In this Sunday, July 10, 2011 photo, workers of global mining giant Freeport-McMoran gather during a strike in Timika, Papua province, Indonesia. Thousands of workers are currently on a strike at the gold and copper mine in eastern Indonesia to demand higher wages and protesting the dismissal of their six union leaders. (AP Photo)A few clicks on the keyboard of his computer was enough to get Simon Windesi and his friends riled up about the low wages their employer, a global mining giant, pays in this far-flu Indonesian province.

After years of toiling at Freeport-McMoRan's gold and copper mine in easternmost Papua province - where tribesman can still be found living a near-Stone Age existence in dense jungles and rugged mountains - many still get just US$1.80 an hour.

"That's a 10th what the company pays workers in other countries!" the 43-year-old said after a quick Internet search. "And this is their biggest profit-maker. Their production costs are the lowest. How does that make sense?"

The men are among 10,000 employees who - while renegotiating contracts and protesting the dismissal of six union leaders - last week brought operations at Grasberg, the world's biggest gold mine by known reserves, to a standstill.

Within days of launching their July 4 strike, the site, a sooty kilometer-wide gash in the otherwise lush Puncak Jaya mountain range, was all but abandoned.

Gray piles of ore stood untouched. Trucks had stopped ferrying copper and gold concentrate to the port. And cargo ships, empty, had no place to go.

Sinta Sirait, vice president of PT Freeport Indonesia, said Tuesday that management and union officials reached an agreement just before midnight Monday.

Details of the new contract have yet to be released, however, and there was no sign by mid afternoon that the mine was coming back to life.

"We need everyone to get back to work as quickly as possible," Sirait told reporters. "Many sites are filling up with water. We have to get them dried out."

Indonesia has had a long, complicated relationship with Freeport - a powerful player in the world markets for gold, copper and molybdenum - and Papua, its most remote province, both geographically and politically.

Earlier this decade, Freeport admitted it was paying the Indonesian military and police to handle security operations at Grasberg - a source of of ongoing controversy as the rugged Papua region is home to a decades-long low-level guerrilla war that has left more than 100,000 people dead, many at the hands of Indonesia's security forces.

Because foreign journalists and human rights workers are barred from entering the province, allegations of abuse are almost impossible to confirm. But video clips of soldiers laughing as they torture suspected separatists, burning their genitals, have in recent months found their way to YouTube.

Months after Gen. Suharto seized power in a 1965 coup, Jim Moffett, Freeport's chairman, reached out to the dictator, forming what was to become a close friendship and eventually winning the right to explore for gold and copper.

Freeport, now based in Phoenix, Arizona, pumped $175 million into Papua to build a Western-standard road, pipelines, an airstrip and a new, first-class mining town - all of it to serve the mining operation.

The Grasberg mine helped bolster Suharto's corrupt and often bloody regime until his 1998 ouster and, even today, remains one of the country's biggest sources of income, helping shield it from outside criticism.

It generates more than $2 billion in taxes, royalties and dividends every year, according to data provided by the University of Indonesia's Economic and Social Research Institute.

Locals complain, however, they have seen little benefit, pointing to environmental damage caused by mine tailings pumped into the Aghawagon River and its tributaries.

Some of the mine employees interviewed by The Associated Press argue that ethnic Papuans should make up a larger part of the Grasberg work force. Of the 20,000 employees, around two-thirds are brought in from Java, Sumatra and other Indonesian islands.

Many in the province of nearly 3 million people remain desperately poor and ancient tribal ways still pervade life. Men wear nothing but feathers in their hair and hollowed-out gourds that cover their penises.

They hunt with bows and arrows and live in villages ringed by thatched huts, reachable only by foot or small aircraft.

In the last five years, Internet access has improved dramatically, especially in bigger cities like Timiki and Jayapura, providing many with their first direct link to the outside world.

People read company reports and newspaper articles, post YouTube videos and join in chatroom discussions.

Windesi and his friends say that has helped raise awareness among the mine's workers about their low pay.

"We believe this mine helps finance Freeport's other operations," said Herman Sirakoie, 29, who last week joined thousands of others workers in a half-day march from company's mining town, Tembagapura, to Timika.

Dozens collapsed from dehydration and exhaustion along the way, he said, compelling the company to send 60 buses to pick them up.

"We just want to know why we're getting less than workers at other Freeport companies," said Sirakoie, who usually spends his day loading gold and copper concentrates onto cargo ships for export.

Peacekeeping and women’s role in peace and security

2011-07-13T08:42:00.002+07:00

I Gede Sumertha KY,

At the end of the Cold War, internal armed conflicts constitute the vast majority of today’s wars. Many of these conflicts take place in the world’s poorest countries, where state capacity may be weak and where belligerents may be motivated by economic gain.

Situations like this make a government unable to deliver basic needs for the people and can cause a state of emergency.

These conflicts can destroy the normal economy and the majority of the population typically lives under very difficult economic conditions to begin with.

With many male relatives killed, injured or displaced by the conflicts, women take on additional responsibilities to care for and feed their families.

Yet traditionally, women and girls tend to have less access than men to education, skills and credit and fewer prospects for employment. In such an environment, exchanging sex for money or food is often a means of economic survival for many women and their families.

Populations in post-conflict environments — especially women and children — are particularly vulnerable to sexual exploitation and abuse.

In response, the United Nations Security Council issued resolution No. 1325 on Women and Peace and Security on Oct. 31, 2000.

The resolution reaffirms the important role of women in maintaining and promoting peace and security.

It also calls on all parties in conflict to take special measures to protect women and girls from gender-based violence — particularly rape and other forms of sexual abuse — during armed conflicts.

The resolution provides a number of important operational mandates with implications for member states and entities in the UN system.

Historically, the practice of peacekeeping began in 1948 when the first UN military observers were deployed to the Middle East.

During the ensuing Cold War, the goals of the UN’s peacekeeping mission were limited to maintaining cease-fires and stabilizing situations on the ground.

Several of the UN longstanding peacekeeping operations fit this “traditional” model.

With the end of the Cold War, the strategic context for UN peacekeeping changed dramatically and the Security Council began to work more actively to promote the containment and peaceful resolution of regional conflicts.

The transformation of the international environment has given rise to a new generation of “multi-dimensional” UN peacekeeping operations.

These operations are typically deployed in the dangerous aftermath of violent internal conflicts and may employ a mix of military, police and civilian capabilities to support the implementation of a comprehensive peace agreement.

UN integrated missions are usually mandated to deliver a wide range of functions, including support to the peace process, facilitation of humanitarian and development assistance, human rights monitoring, protection of civilians, disarmament, demobilization, repatriation, reinsertion and reintegration and security sector reform under a single, over-arching management arrangement, i.e. under the authority of a Special Representative of Secretary-General/Head of a Military Component.

Therefore, in the multidimensional peacekeeping operation known as an integrated mission, the main task of the military component of the UN is demanding the cooperation between the military component of the civilian component in terms of humanitarian aid and protection for civilians.

The activities of the peacekeeping operations for multidimensional peace processes represent the initial stages of the transition process, namely the state of war to peace conditions.

The continuation of the peace process was followed by a number of humanitarian aid activities and efforts that support the development and peace building.

Respect for human rights was one of the main reasons for founding the UN. The UN Charter requires all member states to promote and encourage respect for and observance of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion.

In order to meet the challenges posed by Security Council Resolution No. 1325, the Peacekeeping Center of the Indonesian Military, which was established on Jan. 29, 2007, has been providing TNI soldiers, male and female, who will conduct UN missions with gender equality materials in their pre-deployment training.

The TNI’s Peacekeeping Center is committed to promoting international human rights law, especially in disseminating its content to military personnel who will conduct UN missions.

There are four subjects delivered in predeployment training: human rights in peacekeeping, child protection, prevention of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse, and Security Council Resolution No. 1325 on Women and Peace and Security.

Based on that resolution, the TNI has attempted to meet the number of women personnel in its UN peacekeeping mission as regulated by the UN of a maximum of 10 percent of a total contingent.

But, in practice, it has never been fulfilled because of two reasons: first, many women candidates have failed in the recruitment process because of minimal English skills and second, many of them are married and cannot get their husbands’ permission to join in a UN peacekeeping operation.

However, despite remaining at the minimum, there is an increasing number of female soldiers participating in UN peacekeeping operations, from three participants in 2007/2008 to 24 participants in 2010/2011.

The writer is the chief of the Indonesian Military’s Peacekeeping Center.

Welcome nation #193

2011-07-13T08:42:00.001+07:00

The newly declared South Sudan will formally join the United Nations this week as its 193rd member. The Security Council is set to discuss the application Wednesday and the General Assembly is expected to endorse it on Thursday — a formality, albeit an important one.

The people of South Sudan overwhelmingly voted to secede from Sudan proper in a January referendum. The break up of any nation may seem tragic, but defending an indefensible unity, one that has cost 50 years of violent warfare, millions of deaths and millions more displaced, was even more tragic.

With the war put behind them, Sudan and South Sudan can now get on with the more difficult and arduous task of nation building and providing for development. The experience of newly independent nations, including Indonesia some 66 years ago, shows that building the nation is the hardest part; even harder than winning freedom itself. So many things could go wrong, and many things do go wrong.

The UN membership and the wider international recognition that follows should open the way for countries around the world to lend assistance to South Sudan. The prolonged war had condemned South Sudan, in spite of its vast oil resources, to be one of the poorest countries in the world. Some of the attention and the aid should also go to Sudan.

Indonesia, as a leading member of the Non-Aligned Movement, should take the initiative in organizing assistance in the framework of South-South cooperation for South Sudan. While the movement’s members may have limited resources, they, including Indonesia, have had experience in providing technical assistance in the past. Any new nation will need to recruit and train as many civil servants as possible in all areas, and some of these civil servants could be the beneficiaries of experience and training from other developing countries.

South Sudan security will also be important in ensuring political stability. Given that race and religion were the dividing factors in the Sudan war, Indonesia could offer its good offices and experiences in promoting interfaith dialogue in the two countries.

The opportunities to assist a new nation are as ample as the challenges it may face. Indonesia made the right gesture in sending its envoy in Sudan, Sujatmiko, to represent President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the independence declaration in Juba on Saturday. Indonesia should open diplomatic ties with South Sudan as soon as it is admitted to the UN.

RI recognizes newly-born South Sudan

2011-07-13T08:41:00.001+07:00

Padangekspres.net-As a staunch supporter of democracy, Indonesia has officially recognized South Sudan, a country that became independent on July 9 and joined the community of nations, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

On behalf of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Indonesian Ambassador to Sudan and Ethiopia Sujatmiko attended the South Sudan’s independence ceremony in Juba, the capital of the new nation.

South Sudan’s first President Salva Kiir Mayardit invited President Yudhoyono to attend the independence ceremony. The presence of the Indonesian ambassador at the independence ceremony was a clear sign that Indonesia welcomes South Sudan’s independence.

“As a country that highly values democracy, RI [Republic of Indonesia] congratulates South Sudan, which declared its independence through a referendum in a democratic manner,” Sujatmiko said in Juba.

Until last Saturday, the Christian-majority South Sudan was a part of Muslim-majority Sudan. Years of conflict between Christian south and Muslim north resulted in death and destruction. Finally, both warring factions inked the Naivasha Agreement for comprehensive peace in 2006.

It was this agreement that paved the way for a peaceful referendum in January 2011, in which South Sudanese overwhelmingly (almost 99 percent) voted for independence.

The oil-rich but under-developed South Sudan will become the 193rd member of the United Nations. With South Sudan’s separation from Sudan, the African continent now has 54 countries.

As a land-locked country, South Sudan still has to depend on its former foe, northern Sudan, for exports and imports. In this case both Sudanese can learn from Indonesians and the people of Timor Leste, which separated from Indonesia through a referendum to eventually become an independent country in 2002.

Asian giants such as China, India, Japan and South Korea are in line to help the new nation. As a co-chair of the Asian-African Summit, Indonesia should not lag behind other nations in establishing diplomatic relationship with South Sudan.

Police: We know where Nazaruddin is (but we're not telling)

2011-07-13T08:40:00.001+07:00

The National Police say they have learned the whereabouts of fugitive graft suspect M. Nazaruddin, an official says.

“We have located his position. However, I don't want to mention any location since we fear that he will run away to other places should I mention his current location,” National Police chief detective Insp. Gen. Sutarman said Monday.

Sutarman declined to specify whether Nazaruddin remained hiding abroad or had returned to Indonesia.

Nazaruddin, a suspect of bribery linked to the construction of an athletes' dormitory for the 2011 SEA Games, reportedly left Indonesia to fly to Singapore to seek medical care shortly after the bribery case emerged. He said that he would return to Indonesia after he recovered.

However, Nazaruddin, a former treasurer of the ruling Democratic Party, reportedly left Singapore in late June.

Since he left Indonesia, the press have received numerous Blackberry messages from a person claiming to be Nazaruddin. The messages contain allegations about bribery implicating several high-ranking members of the Democratic party.

The police have cooperated with interpol to track down and arrest the fugitive. Sutarman said that the police would continue to work with interpol to find Nazaruddin. (rcf)

SMP 29 Solsel Minim Learning Space

2011-07-06T23:18:00.000+07:00

Padangekspres.net-Five more days, the new school year begins in 2011. New students entered the school. But teachers and principals in junior 29 South Solok, anxious. Because the room to learn (-ed class) for new students does not exist.

Currently, new students who have enrolled in schools located in Sungaiaro, Nagari Lubuk East Tower, Sangir it, amounted to 65 people. While the locally available to new students only a local one. But these existing local, can not be used because there is no mobiler. In fact, to accommodate 65 students needed two local. The school was forced to struggle to find a way out, so that students can learn properly.

Head Junior High School 29, Mudafni revealed, the only alternative is to impose a two-shift schedule of learning. However, that choice has consequences that are quite heavy. The school must bear the salaries of teachers who will teach. Therefore, teachers are civil servants in the junior 29 only eight people, including principals. The rest, is the honorary teachers. Salaries of teachers honorarium funds supplied from the School Operational Assistance (BOS).

"That is our difficulty. Serba difficult it becomes. New students want to come in, but none locally," said Mudafni when met at his office, (6 / 7).

He added that the experience of last year, a class VII student forced to study in the literature. Because there is no local. The condition is, of course, is not comfortable to learn. Against it, claiming 29 junior high school Principals have been repeatedly put forward a proposal but, until now he has been no response.

"The kids here if you want to enter junior high, so only the nearest junior high 29. There are five elementary schools in junior high rayonnya 29. Although this state school, but what could I do. Keep us we also accommodate new students," he said.

In addition to lack of classrooms, other facilities are also completely minimal. Bad roads, emergency school fence, labor does not exist, and textbooks were lacking. The school is hoping junior 29 attention. In order for students who go there to learn more convenient.

Zainuddin MZ interred

2011-07-06T22:41:00.001+07:00

Padangekspres.net-Corpse (late) KH Zainuddin MZ finally interred in the backyard Fajrul Islam Mosque, Jalan H. AOM, Kramat Pela, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta, Tuesday (07/05/2011).

After Asr prayer call to prayer rang out, the coffin the corpse "Dai million faithful" that was carried down the stairs leading to the Mosque of Islamic Fajrul backyard. Takbir, tahmid, and taslim Zainuddin accompany the mourners come to the final resting place is located not so far from his residence.

Zainuddin MZ, who died at the age of 59 years previously had rushed to the Pertamina Hospital, Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta due to a heart attack. However, on the way to the hospital did not have time Zainuddin lives were saved.

Anis: Ceramah Zainuddin Brighten

2011-07-06T22:40:00.000+07:00

Padangekspres.netp-Vice Chairman of the House of Representatives Anis Matta said bemoan the death of KH Zainuddin MZ which is known as "Dai Million People 'today, Tuesday (05/07/2011). According to him, Zainuddin was one of the cleric who is also quite memorable in his life.

"During this time he was known as a cleric who enlighten the people of Indonesia. I baseball never met in person, but often listen to his lectures," he said at the House of Parliament on Tuesday afternoon. PKS is directly Politicians say "wa inna inna lillahi ilaihi raji'un" so listen to the news berpulangnya Zainuddin who often preached on radio and television.

Zainuddin MZ died at Pertamina Hospital, Tuesday noon. The bodies buried in the funeral home, I Gandaria Road Gg H AOM No101, South Jakarta. Zainuddin had become an actor in several films like "The tone and Propagation" (1992). He also has a political career since the sitting members of the Regional Representatives Assembly (1997-1998). In the reform era, Zainuddin had served the Chief DPP United Development Party (PPP) (1999-2002), later became Chairman of the Reform Star Party (PBR) the Congress I (2005-2010).

Flood mourners Funeral Home Zainuddin MZ

2011-07-06T22:38:00.001+07:00

Padangekspres.net-Thousands of mourners flooded the funeral home (late) KH Zainuddin MZ who dies after a heart attack on Tuesday (07/05/2011). From the observation Kompas.com, not a few of them come with koko dressed, shirt and jacket assemblies of dhikr. Many of the mourners came in groups.

Meanwhile, condolences wreath was displayed from the lips Road H. AOM RT001/RW08 Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta.

Until now, the bodies of "Dai million faithful" was the middle of the mosque Fajrul dishalatkan Islam which is about 100 meters from the residence Zainuddin. However, because quite a lot of mourners, the prayer remains were carried up to two times to facilitate the mourners who wanted menshalatkan Zainuddin.

"I really want to thank the congregation. On behalf of my oldest son in the association apologizes if my father's day to day there are acts that are not pleased, if there are rights that must be resolved please contact us. May the deeds of the deceased received," said the child Zainuddin oldest, Fikri Haikal.

Grief president SBY to Zainuddin MZ

2011-07-06T22:36:00.001+07:00

Padangekspres.net-President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono bemoan the death of KH Zainuddin MZ, Tuesday (07/05/2011). It also conveyed condolences to the families Zainuddin, known as the "Dai million faithful" it.

"President mourn, especially to families," said presidential spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha told reporters at the Presidential Office, Jakarta, Tuesday.

The President is scheduled to wake to Zainuddin's residence at the funeral home in Jalan Gandaria I Gg H AOM No. 101, South Jakarta.

H Komarudin, one of the parties who claim to know near KH Zainuddin MZ, ensure that "Dai million faithful" died after suffering a heart attack.

"It's been confirmed he died. I got the news he had a heart attack," said Kompas.com Komarudin when contacted here Tuesday.

Similar reports came from the Chairman of the Indonesian Council of Ulama KH A Cholil. "Yeah, I heard the news from radio Elshinta. On the radio it was reported that a person's identity Zainuddin MZ ICU was rushed to Pertamina Hospital in a state of lifeless," said Cholil.

"I really have not heard from her family, but I would contact his family," said Cholil.

Cholil not expected if the kiai is well known by it will cover age, a heart attack. "Shocked yes because he had no complaints hurt anything," said Cholil.

Suryadharma Ali Doubt Can mourn

2011-07-06T22:34:00.001+07:00

Padangekspres.net-Chairman of the Central Executive Board of the United Development Party Suryadharma Ali expressed his grief and the whole party cadres against the death of one of the characters ever to strengthen the PPP, Zainuddin MZ. It's just possible that he could not mourn.

"I hesitate to wake to the funeral home because the trip commute could take up to six hours," said Suryadharma, Tuesday (05/07/2011). At a press conference on the sidelines of the VII Congress of the United Development Party, Suryadharma Zainuddin MZ revealed that his death is a great loss for the PPP or Indonesia in general. He expects the emergence of a new generation of preachers and preachers are persistent in spreading the religion of Islam from city to remote villages.

Mentioned about the form of appreciation for services rendered late PPP, Suryadharma claimed not to think about the nature of matter. He said that relevant now is the prayer of the cadres and people of Indonesia.

In between plenary session, the show was stopped for a moment to pray Zainuddin MZ. Tuesday night, the agenda will enter the discussion of the order of election of the chairman of the PPP and continue on the selection event in the evening. In Congress, will compete with Akhmad Suryadharma Muqowam and Ahmad Yani.

Zainuddin MZ Heart pain

2011-07-06T22:31:00.000+07:00

Padangekspres.net-H Komarudin, one of the parties who claim to know near KH Zainuddin MZ, ensure that "Dai million faithful" died after suffering a heart attack. "It's been confirmed he died. I got the news he had a heart attack," he said when contacted Kompas.com Komarudin in Jakarta, Tuesday (07/05/2011).

Similar reports came from the Chairman of the Indonesian Council of Ulama KH A Cholil. "Yeah I've heard the news from radio Elshinta. On the radio it was reported that a person's identity Zainuddin MZ ICU was rushed to Pertamina Hospital in a state of lifeless," said Cholil.

"I really have not heard from her family, but I would contact his family," said Cholil.

Cholil not expected if the kiai is well known by it will cover age, a heart attack. "Shocked yes because he had no complaints hurt anything," said Cholil.

Until now, no exact information when and where the bodies would be buried Zainuddin.

"Dai million faithful "Zainuddin MZ die

2011-07-06T22:29:00.001+07:00

Padangekspres.net-KH Zainuddin MZ which is known as "Dai million faithful" died here on Tuesday (05/07/2011). Similarly, information received Kompas.com. The news received from the Sys NS states, Zainuddin MZ died at Pertamina Hospital. Currently no further information when and where the bodies would be buried. The bodies buried in the funeral home, I Gandaria Road Gg H AOM No101, South Jakarta.

As per data Litbang Kompas, Zainuddin Zainuddin MZ has a full name Hamidy Turmudzy, born in Jakarta, March 2, 1952. He has a background education in the Department of Comparative Religion Faculty of IAIN Ushuluddin Sharif Hidayatullah.

Zainuddin was known since many recitals on the radio and fill in the various mosques and mushala since 1975 in various regions in the country. In addition, he also became an actor in several films like "The tone and Propagation" (1992).

He also has a political career since the sitting members of the Regional Representatives Assembly (1997-1998). In the reform era, Zainuddin had served the Chief DPP United Development Party (PPP) (1999-2002), later became Chairman of the Reform Star Party (PBR) the Congress I (2005-2010).

Tracing the History Tours In Batusangkar

2011-07-03T01:32:00.000+07:00

Padangekspres.net-Fort Van der Capellen, a familiar word to most people of West Sumatra. A former Dutch defense fort in Batusangkar, Tanah Datar.

Historically, the fort was established during the Padri War which was built between 1822 and 1826, and named after Governor General of Dutch East Indies GAGPh. Van Der Capellen. In 1949, the fort area is transformed into Batusangkar its colonial name.

Until now, Van Der Capellen former Police Headquarters Tanah Datar is still standing strong and already included in the list one of the objects of cultural heritage in Tanah Datar. The existence of this fortress in the heart of this Batusangkar can not be separated from the events of the war between indigenous people and the religion which is estimated to occur in 1821. In 2008, the Government has conducted Tanah Datar Fort Van der Capellen rehabilitation intended to restore the value of this ancient banguan become objects of cultural building high value for tourism LUHAK Nan Tuo.

"For these ancient buildings can be maintained let alone keep a long history, the government will keep doing rehabilitation is expected to maintain as original and interesting places to visit," said Head of Tourism Culture Youth and Sports Alfian Jamrah.

When visitors enter the Fort Van der Capellen, there are two ancient cannons Dutch peningalan located on either side of the fort buildings. Returns an early form of castle building currently occupied by the Office of Tourism Culture Youth and Sports Tanah Datar was still maintained.

Flashes History

After the Dutch left the Batusangkar, Fort Van der Capellen then used by PTPG which is the forerunner IKIP Padang (now State University of Padang) for teaching and learning which was inaugurated though Prof. M. Yamin, SH. Use of building a fort to PTPG lasted until 1955 and that year moved to the Mount PTPG forelock.

Fortress Van Der Capellen then serve as the headquarters of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Indonesia.

At erupted PRRI 1957, Fort Van der Capellen controlled Diponegoro 439 Battalion which was then handed over to police on May 25, 1960. The police later determined as Mapolres Tanah Datar and continuing through 2000.

Since 2001, Fort Van der Capellen vacated because Mapolres Tanah Datar had moved to new buildings that are in Pagaruyung.

In 1984 the addition of room for Serse Bhayangkari kindergarten and is built well. The trench is still there on the right and left of the fort buildings backfilled and leveled in 1986. In addition, the room holding cell that originally consisted of four rooms, one which will leave dismantled into 3 rooms. Changes in the building last time that happened in 1988, namely the addition of the canteen building and building for warehouse

Marlon and Sutarman Examined next Monday

2011-07-03T01:30:00.000+07:00

Padangekspres.net-The team investigating the High Court (High Attorney) Sumbar back to schedule an examination of the former regent and former Sekdakab Dharmasraya Marlon Suarman Solok. Both former officials who have been named as a suspect in the different cases of alleged corruption will be checked on Monday (4 / 7).

Originally, Marlon and Suarman examined along with the former Regent of Solok Gusmal and five suspected transfer of land rights in the former Solok regency in 2008, Lukman, Emildolia Khaira, Husni, Musril Muis and Anwar, who was arrested on Tuesday (28 / 6).

But when it Suarman not present in sick. While the examination of Marlon defined as suspect cases of suspected cases of mark-up price of land development Regional General Hospital (Hospital) Dareh River, Dharmasraya District in 2009 was deliberately delayed.

Head of the High Court (High Attorney) Fachmi West Sumatra, on Friday (1 / 7), said the letter calls for a second suspect in the previous inspection schedules are equally unable to attend due to illness it has shipped. While the two suspects about the reasons for his illness, does not preclude later examination, Fachmi said, not so mempersoalkannya. "We'll see," he said.

When asked about the possibility of the two arrested, Fachmi not comment much. "We'll see," he said again.

If the High Attorney Sumatra hold, it will add to the long list of names of former officials who was thrown into prison by the High Attorney Muaro Padang in West Sumatra. Earlier, on Tuesday (28 / 6), West Sumatra High Attorney has detained a former Regent of Solok Gusmal with the former head of BPN, and former Head of Solok Lukman Tapem in Solok Emildolia Assistant I Setkab Khaira.

Together with the Chairman of the Audit Land A / Head of BPN Registration Rights and Husni Solok regency, and Musril Muis, a resident of New Market Jorong Koto Solok Regency Tower bottom scrapings that become an intermediary in the transfer of land rights erfpacht verponding former 172 which is located in Bukit Berkicut Jorong Sukarami. On Wednesday (8 / 6), former Mayor of Bukittinggi Djufri allegedly involved cases of alleged corruption Pemko mark up the purchase of land in Koto Selayan Mandiangin District, City of Bukittinggi was also detained. Next, followed by former Secretary of Bukittinggi Djufri Khairul who was arrested and taken to the LP Muaro Padang on Wednesday (22 / 6).

Previously, High Attorney Sumatra has also arrested a former Head of Mining Solok regency, in case of corruption in the management (receipts and deposits) Revenue contained in the Department of Mines and Energy in 2009 and 2010 in the District of Solok.

Suarman set sebegai suspect, allegedly involved in the transfer of land rights in the former erfpacht verponding 172 which is located in Bukit Berkicut Jorong Sukarami, Koto Kenagarian Lubuk geeks, District of Mount Talang, Solok regency in 2008.

While Marlon Martua named as a suspect, for suspected cases of alleged mark-up price of land development Regional General Hospital (Hospital) Sungaidareh, Dharmasraya District in 2009. Marlon has twice did not attend the examination twice, the first being in Merauke and final examination on schedule, on Wednesday (22 / 6) and then, Marlon can not meet the call, because of illness after returning from Merauke, Papua.

The case of Mark Up Road IKK burst

2011-07-03T01:25:00.000+07:00

Padangekspres.net-Aida, legislators from the Democratic Faction Fifty City revealed the presence of the alleged mark-up on the mega projects the Capital District (IKK). Allegations, presented the City Treasurer DPC Fifty PD in the general view of the Democratic Party faction in the local parliament plenary session yesterday.

Aida request, the authorities need to follow up on indications of the alleged mark-up funds amounting to Rp399, 9 million on road construction projects are still being neglected CCI. "We hope, authorities officials, duagaan can follow up on cases that had been precipitated. Including one of them, alleged that CCI pembnangunan road, "said Aida.

The same opinion was also expressed member of the Golkar faction, Syamsul Mikar, the general view. He requested that law enforcement agencies to investigate alleged mark-up that occurred in the implementation of the land compensation IKK. "We hope the prosecution in order to address the cases that arise," please Syamsul Mikar.

Previously, to reporters, the head of the local Public Works Department, denied the allegations Yusdianto Yuswar mark up ever presented council members. Recognized Yusdianto work items that have been done, been through a mechanism that is already checked and the State Development Finance. (BPKP). "From the results of the BPKP, not true mark up on the CCI project," said Yusdianto

Mengapungnya suspected cases of mark-up on CCI projects, mainly in road construction work at the office complex of Regents and the City DPRD Fifty done by KSO PT. Nindya work with PT Lubuk Minturun with a contract value of the parent Rp22.907.567.000 .- Initially be addressed seriously by the District Attorney Payakumbuh.

"The existence of the alleged mark up on the CCI project, already in the form of a special team of 8 people assigned to conduct the investigation. Including collecting data on the CCI project. "I Tri Karyono.

To the members of the Journalists Hall Limopuluah Badger, Tri Karyono, never claimed to be down to the project site to collect data sekaitan with the CCI project. "Throughout the alleged mark up these facts supported the law, we will prosecute to the bitter end." He said.

Siti Nurbaya Festival a success

2011-07-03T01:21:00.000+07:00

Padangekspres.net-Siti Nurbaya Festival which was officially opened by Minister of Culture and Tourism of Indonesia, represented by Director General of Cultural Values and Film Arts, Drs. Mumun Muslims, MM lively with the appearance of various arts and cultural attractions of West Sumatra. For example, the art of dance that appeals to all the guests who attended the Festival Siti Nurbaya.

Siti Nurbaya festival was held starting on July 2 to 9 2011 in Taman Budaya Padang and Padang Coastal Ocean along the road.

In each race will be awarded prizes for the winner of Rp.3.000.000, Rp.2.000.000 to champion II, and III Rp.1.000.000 to champion. While the overall winner prize siti Nurbaya festival is a cow worth 10.000.000 and
additional prize of a chairman of the DPRD Padang goats.

For this type of race that will be implemented in the festival is Siti Nurbaya, basiba kuruang shirt contest, race maelo pukek, singing competitions Minang, tarompa tampuruang race, race manggiliang Lado, kukua karambia, race nut juice, whereas
race which is a characteristic of Minangkabau is malambang race.

Also in the opening and also the implementation of the prime, which opened today, Mumun Muslims responded positively to the event, he stated that this activity is an activity needs to be developed, because they are an icon of art to West Sumatra.

"It needs to be preserved, for it's cooperation with the central government should still be done. With this festival
expected to foster future generations of young love in the development of arts and culture in West Sumatra, "he said.

Meanwhile the Mayor of Padang Padang represented wawako Mahyeldi Ansyarulah states, with the implementation of Siti Nurbaya festival is expected to provide advances to the development of artistic values and culture in West Sumatra. Not only that, but can introduce tourism in West Sumatra.

The same thing also stated the Head of Tourism Department of Padang city, Dr.Edi Hasyimi, M. Si, the purpose of implementing this Nurbaya Siti festival is an effort to preserve art and culture in the city of Padang, because the city of Padang yet
arts and cultural events has remained, as well as an effort to appeal to people visiting the city of Padang

Jobless rate fell to 4.5% in May

2011-07-02T14:51:00.001+07:00

Padangekspres.net-The unemployment rate stood at 4.5 percent in May, down 0.2 point from April for the first improvement in three months and showing signs of gradual recovery from the March disaster, the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry said Friday.

Separate data issued by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry showed that job availability in May was unchanged from the previous month, with the ratio of job offers to job seekers staying at 0.61. The figure means 61 jobs were available for every 100 people looking for work.

The unemployment figure, however, hid the seriousness of the nation's labor conditions as data from the three prefectures hit hardest by the March disaster — Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima — were excluded.

Releasing the first data from the severely affected regions, the internal affairs ministry, using samples taken from areas other than coastal regions devastated by the disaster, estimated the jobless rate at 6.5 percent in Iwate and 7.0 percent in Miyagi.

The ministry said it expects to start releasing data from Fukushima Prefecture in its August survey.

The seasonally adjusted job-to-applicant ratio showed an improvement in the three disaster-hit prefectures, standing at 0.45, up 0.04 point from the previous month, in Iwate, at 0.46, up 0.02 point, in Miyagi, and at 0.50, up 0.01 point, in Fukushima.

On the hiring side, manufacturers' further restoration of production since the disaster and rebuilding of devastated areas led to increased employment opportunities.

The internal affairs ministry said fewer people lost jobs in May, helping push the jobless rate down.

"The number of people looking for jobs remained at a high level and it will need careful monitoring," a ministry official said.

The jobless rate for men fell to 4.8 percent from 5.0 percent, while that for women rose to 4.3 percent from 4.2 percent.

The number of jobless people stood at 2.93 million, down about 380,000 from a year earlier.

School choice: Do parents really choose schools?

2011-07-02T14:44:00.000+07:00

By: Zulfa Sakhiyya

I still remember when my parents sent me to a secondary school almost two decades ago. It was a nearby school. My neighbors would also do the same. Even if parents sent their children to different schools, it was because most schools would set a minimum exam score to filter candidates.

In this decade, however, things have changed. Compared to my nostalgic past, now parents have to “choose” schools for their children. My senior high school teacher told me that my former school had declined in quality since it was transformed into an International Standard School (SBI).

The school set a relatively high tuition and other fees. Some friends of mine told me that they needed to prepare between Rp 5 million (US$580) and Rp 20 million to enter the desired school. This is undoubtedly unaffordable for families with low income.

Other changes in schooling in this era are the emergence of the National Standard School (SSN) and school clustering (cluster 1, 2, etc.). While it is good to see such a development, sadly schools are now labeled and clustered.

School labeling works by attaching a label to a school (international/national label) and clustering them based on the label.

Let us take a look at the case in Bandung. There are three high school levels — first, second and third. The first cluster comprises international standard schools; the second cluster contains national standard schools; while the third cluster is for those schools without any label (rural and disadvantaged schools). Believe it or not, the labeling portrays the current schooling in many cities in Indonesia.

Those labels affect school access. The middle and upper-middle class parents can exercise their choice to send their children to their desired school and ultimately the university they want.

I agree it is a parents’ duty to choose the best education for their children. My concern is far too often schools, parents and policy makers act as if the exercise of choice is neutral. In plain English, it means as if all parents, families and individuals have the same level of access to the available choices.

So far as I imagine, choosing schools is just like buying gadgets. Do you choose an iPad or a PC? A cell phone or a BlackBerry? It is up to you, or more substantially, your money.

There is a strong connection between a school’s capacities to provide education to children and the economic ability of parents to purchase that educational provision. Consequently, this privileges the wealthy minority and excludes the poor majority.

Not only in Indonesia, school choice has become a popular buzzword throughout the world. In the developed countries, such as the US and the UK, schools are displayed on a league table. The table evaluates each school’s performance and displays the results online. This is aimed to assist parents with decision-making. The implication is that schools are in tight competition to attract parents and they are located in circuits. Circuit A for middle-class parents, circuit B for the labor class.

Choice works if there is a level playing field in the onset. Ideally, parents should have the capacity to make and exercise that choice. But, how about families that cannot afford a particular school uniform and book fees?

If this situation continues, the gap between the rich and the poor widens. And I hardly dare to imagine how would Indonesia’s education would be in the future.

Our education pioneer, Ki Hajar Dewantara, has cogently cautioned us that “it is quite understandable why we have been so mistaken in our choice. In the first place, much has to be chosen, and there has been so little to choose from”.

So, do we really choose schools?

This is, of course, the system which governs our attitude in choosing schools. It is good to hear that the National Education Ministry has restricted the establishment of the SBI.

As parents, we do not have any vehicle to provide our input on educational policies and practices. At least, we need to do something.

First and foremost, we need to change our mind-set — do not believe in school clustering. Let us send our children to the school that places academic achievement as the passing criteria, let’s not base our decisions on labels and clusters.

Second, I believe that good parenting at home is also a form of education and character building. Therefore, we do not need to worry so much on choosing the “best” school for our children.

The writer is a postgraduate student at the Faculty of Education, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.

Does parenting matter?

2011-07-02T14:43:00.002+07:00

by: Tirta Susilo, Hanover

Much ink has been spilled on Amy Chua’s extreme parenting style, as told in her memoir Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother. But almost no one asked the simplest yet most fundamental question in parenthood: Does parenting actually shape children?

The fact that musical parents beget musical children, for example, is usually taken as proof that musical parenting works. But it could also be the case that musical parents passed on genes that predispose their children to music, parenting notwithstanding.

In typical families, the two factors are impossible to tease apart: Parents give both genes and upbringing to their children. To circumvent this problem, scientists have resorted to studying a special population, namely twins.

The trick is to compare identical twins, who share all their genes, and fraternal twins, who share only half. Assuming equal treatment by parents, any excess of similarity between identical twins relative to fraternal twins must be attributed to genes.

It turns out that for a variety of important traits and outcomes such as health, intelligence, educational attainment, family income and personality, identical twins are much more similar than fraternal twins.

This finding, demonstrating substantial effects of genes and not parenting, has been consistently replicated for thousands of twins in Australia, Denmark, Sweden and the US.

Evidence also comes from observations of identical twins reared apart, where one twin was adopted early on and raised in a different family.

Parenting effects should cause identical twins reared apart to be more different than identical twins reared together.

But they’re not. Identical twins raised by different parents are just as similar as identical twins raised by same parents, arguing against parenting effects.

The same story goes for comparisons of biological and adopted children in the same family. Parenting effects predict siblings that are equally similar to their parents. Yet biological children are much more similar to their parents than adopted children are.

Taken together, the bulk of the evidence shows that while parents do shape children (via genetic influences), parenting doesn’t.

Now it is not the case that parenting is never effective. First of all, some studies have found parenting effects on religious and political affiliations, smoking and drinking behavior, and choice of occupation.

Parenting also has clear short-term effects. Telling your children not to scream in the library, for instance, will surely keep the patrons calm.

And finally, all of the above studies pertain to ordinary middle-to-upper class families in first-world countries. As noted by economist Bryan Caplan in Selfish Reasons to Have More Kids, the findings do not apply to children who are raised by wolves or abandoned in Haiti.

But for most families, parenting has no observable effects in determining how well the children do later in life. What Chua and her critics have been debating in the last six months are mostly empty points.

Now you may think I am saying it does not matter how we treat our children. But consider the following question by psychologist Judith Rich Harris in The Nurture Assumption: Does it matter how I treat my spouse?

Parenting matters not because it determines what kind of people our children are going to be. It matters because of the shared experience we enjoy and relish with them.

Good parenting is not about molding children to be our perceived ideals. It is about providing a loving home where our children grow up in joy and happiness.

As is often the case with deep and profound truths, a great sage had it figured out.

In the opening of his poem On Children, Kahlil Gibran says, “Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself.”

The writer is a researcher in cognitive neuroscience with a background in psychology.

PGN to build LNG terminal in Sunda Strait

2011-07-02T14:43:00.001+07:00

Padangekspres.net-State gas distributor PT PGN has revealed a plan to build a new LNG receiving terminal in Sunda Strait to supply gas to state-owned steel producer PT Krakatau Steel (KS).

PGN president director Hendi Priyo Santoso said the planned floating storage and re-gasification unit (FSRU) would have a total capacity of around 3 million tons per year, or equal to 400 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd), similar to the West Java receiving terminal currently under construction.

“The new receiving terminal is designed to meet KS’ gas demand in the future and supply gas to industries in South Sumatra, Lampung and West Java,” he said at the signing of an MoU among five state companies – PT PGN, PT KS, fertilizer maker PT Pupuk Sriwijaya Palembang, coal producer PT Bukit Asam and PT Pertamina Gas – on Friday in Jakarta.

PGN corporate secretary Wahid Sutopo told reporters that his company would construct the receiving terminal using its internal budget.

The preparation process is to commence this year, but PGN should first talk with KS on when the steel maker would need the gas supply, he added.

BPS reports 1 million drop in poor population

2011-07-02T14:42:00.001+07:00

Padangekspres.net-The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reported Friday a 1 million drop year-on-year in the number of poor people in Indonesia, from 31.02 million people in March last year to 30.02 million people as of March 2011.

BPS head Rusman Heriawan said the figure meant Indonesia had reduced the number of its poor by 0.84 percent between March 2010 and March 2011.

While in March last year the poor constituted 13.33 percent of the total Indonesian population, in March this year the percentage had slid to 12.9 percent, Rusman told a press conference at his office in Jakarta.

The drop in the number of the poor was attributable mostly to the drop of the poor population in rural areas, from 19.93 million people to 18.97 million people, or by 950,000 people.

The urban poor population, meanwhile, only dropped by 50,000 people, from 11.1 million to 11.05 million, tempointeraktif.com reported.

Sijunjung Survey Oil and Gas

2011-07-01T22:49:00.001+07:00

Padangekspres.net-Sijunjung it has the potential of many of mining other than gold mines. The proof, metal mines, manganese, and coal have been able to contribute in the form of income tax to local income Sijunjung district so far.

Not only that, gas and oil that was mentioned will also be produced in the district Sijunjung, seems to be realized. Because the government is now reviewing and conducted a survey of this gas and petroleum. Until now, the process has reached the stage of two-dimensional survey.

"We are targeting the year 2011 this survey has been continued to the three-dimensional stage. Actually if the dimension 2 has been established, could be held to the stage of drilling, to determine the gas and oil deposits which produced the earth, and no longer need to do three-dimensional survey. But, in order results of the survey is more conical, it seems necessary also conducted a survey of 3-dimensional, "said Head of Mining and Energy Sijujung District, Poltak Panjaitan.

Areas that have the potential gas and oil under review is contained in region IV Nagari, Koto VII, Kupitan, and Palangki area. If for example, survey results indicate the four regions that have the potential oil and gas are nice, of course Sijunjung area will be oil and gas producing regions such as Riau, and contribute to regional income.

"We are still trying to conduct the review through a survey. Of course we hope this Sijunjung region could be producing regions such as oil and natural gas in the area of Riau," said Poltak added.

Meanwhile, metal mines, manganese, and coal, have been regarded as eligible to be mined and to contribute to the local income tax.

However, current conditions, manganese has now stalled. Because of the resulting deposit is not too much. So buyers prefer to buy from outside the coal mines owned by the people. And until now, only two companies who manage the coal in Sijujung.

"Companies of coal in this district is now a bit congested. This is the result of mining have little deposit, so its quality is less good. And buyers now tend to buy more coal mines ilik people. Until now, there is a new coal company in Kenagarian Bukitbual course, which is managed by PT Karbindo and three LUHAK aspect, "said Poltak.

Hundreds of truck driver strike, Road Solok, Padang Loss

2011-07-01T22:47:00.000+07:00

Padangekspres.net-Fear of entering the officer blocked the Bridge Auto Scales (JTO) in Lubuk Basil, tens or even hundreds of truck drivers held a mass strike on Friday (1 / 7).

As the impingement of disappointment towards the government, they also jointly parked vehicles on the roads across the Sumatran (Jalinsum) Lubuk region Basil, great jams along the 5 km inevitable.

It is thought to be triggered by the enactment of restrictions terhdap freight tonnage by the Government of West Sumatra Province, as of July 1 all types of vehicles especially trucks that cross Jalinsum only allowed a maximum of 20 tons. Violators are required to reduce the charge according to the standard limit before entering the JTO. Regulating the conduct is not only the responsibility of the Provincial Transport Department, District / City-West Sumatra, but also involves personnel combined.

But instead of these rules be obeyed, even tens or even hundreds of truckers suddenly cranky. To vent their disappointment, they necessarily simultaneously held a mass strike, and parked vehicles on the roads.

As in the causeway area of Solok, Padang Lubuk Basil, trucks bertonese high until last night still desperate ngetem the roadside from the direction of Solok, because the drivers are reluctant to reduce the volume of cargo entering the JTO Lubuk Basil. As a result of a two-way traffic (Solok, Padang) along the 5 km inevitable, Solok district police personnel participated Satlantas deployed to minimize the situation.

Suhendri, 35, CPO tanker truck driver claimed to know a new and very disappointed by the enactment of regulations by the provincial government, the rule impartially considers the driver. He said the charge limit according to the standard is impossible to be realized, because as long as this would overload the drivers that are relied on for money spending by the drivers, as well as himself.

"If the charge is reduced, could-be child-wife at home could starve to death would it be," he says.

To vent their disappointment, she co-laden vehicle parked 27 tons of palm oil on the roadside Lubuk Basil with other vehicles.

Suhendri claiming undue load goods from Timpeh Dharmasraya it should be up in the Gulf port Bayur bayur lunch at 12.00 pm, but due to circumstances ended up hanging in Lubuk basil since morning. He does not know what to do, but resigned to wait until the new policy.

UPTD head JTO Lubuk Basil, Yusril said the policy limiting the tonnage merupakani West Sumatra provincial government policy, while peugas JTO just implementing it. "This provincial policies, we only carry out their duties," he said.

PSB Online, Students Choose the School Than Warnet

2011-07-01T21:19:00.000+07:00

Padang ekspres.net-Although you have prepared the cafe for the registration of new students (PSB), but prospective student high school, vocational school, and Junior High School is still likely to apply through the school rather than in the cafe. This is seen as membludaknya number of students enrolled at SMK 3 Padang at the center of PSB online, while 18 are appointed cafe Padang Education Office is still empty.

In fact, enrollment in the cafe and at school, same thing. Disdik also been set up in every cafe operators to be appointed.

This condition is recognized Kasi Data Collection and Information Technology Disdik Padang, Syuhadi. "We have trained personnel carriers, but still prefer prospective students to SMK 3," he said when the Commission IV DPRD Padang while reviewing the implementation of the PSB online, last Friday (1 / 7).

Though enrollment in Warnet much easier, because in addition to existing operators who will help students make enrollment, at some cafe, also has a greater capacity than at school. This means that to access the PSB online will be faster. "Prospective students need not linger in line waiting their turn," he explained.

Questioned on socialization, he confessed to socialization into the school, district, and even attached a poster announcement of the PSB online in public places, including 18 cafes where to register. Syuhadi hope the cafe is also to socialize the prospective students in its place.

Meanwhile, related to their own capacity, Head of Programs, Quality Improvement Disdik Padang Magdalene mentions a total capacity of public schools in the Padang as many as 16,361 students consisting of as many as 4070 high school students, vocational school of 3764 students and 8527 junior high students.

"It is estimated that elementary and junior high school graduates who will enroll as many as 25 thousand. This means that there will be about 9000 candidates for junior and senior high school students who will not be accommodated in public schools. As for out of town, will only be accommodated as much as 3 percent," says Magdalena.

Associated with the PSB itself, for the first phase will last until July 4 and will be announced later on July 5. For the fulfillment of seats, registration will reopen on July 6, specifically for those who have registered in the first stage but did not pass.

"For the phase II was reserved only for those who have registered in Phase I, and even then only one option only.'s Different if the first phase of the three options. And Phase II will be announced on July 7," he said

Pemko officials "throwing the ball"

2011-07-01T09:37:00.001+07:00

Padangekspres.net-Traders protest the demolition of kios at Jalan Pasar Baru emergency because their status was unclear at the Market Inpres I which has been inaugurated. They went to City Hall and Padang Parliament on Thursday (30 / 6) requires dismissal of an emergency demolition of kiosks.

Problem demolition, permits are out of the Minutes of Grants on behalf Mahyeldi no.01/BAH/DPKA/2011 as Vice Mayor of Padang told Elina Yanti, Chairman of the Association of Small Merchants Kaki Lima (IPKKL). BAH was made on Friday (24 / 6).

One point, the second party (Chairman IPKKL) were given a deadline for the demolition of the items donated for 12 calendar days, or no later than 5 July 2011. Problem letter to "grip" to dismantle the kiosk emergency, explained Chief DPKA Padang Syahrul, made the suggestion of the Office Market. "We just make the letter, but the proposal from the Office Market," he said.

In testimony in the DPRD Padang, Asnel mentioned the demolition is the authority of independent teams. For that, Asnel claims will coordinate with an independent team in order to stop the demolition of kiosks emergency until the decision is clear where they trade places.

"Actually, Office of Market have no right about this demolition, because the team decided to be dismantled is independent while the mayor just legalize it," he said call, the current market problems are left entirely to the independent teams, including the Mayor of Padang harganya.Wakil issue Mahyeldi Ansyarullah traders responded to the request by issuing a letter of termination while Kiosk Emergency Demolition I. The point, asking to stop the demolition of kiosks IPKKL emergency.

A trader at the Presidential Masrul Marajis I mentioned, the kiosk was demolished during the night from Tuesday (28 / 6). "More than 100 stalls have been dismantled by force, without notice," he said. According Masrul, it is detrimental to the merchant because the stalls are dismantled, making the traders could no longer manggaleh.

Masrul mention, due to demolition, traders suffered losses. "While the market Inpres I have no certainty, our stall was demolished," he said.

Team Secretary Settlement Market Syahrial Budi said the traders should be involved in any decision relating to the merchant. "If traders agree, whatever the decision, yes please," he said.

To Parliament

In DPRD Padang, merchants who take shelter under the flag of Emergency Kiosk Merchants Association (PPKD) asked council members to stop the demolition of kiosks, is a clear emergency until we trade in the market place Inpres I. Chairman of this organization, called the kiosk instead Majib Zaidal dismantled without any coordination or notification to merchant

In addition, emergency kiosk in front of Imam Bonjol and the Sun is currently not intended for individuals who are eligible but exploited by thugs. To that end, governments are required to eradicate the thugs who seek advantage in the marketplace.

Chairman of Commission II DPRD Padang Surya Djufri Bitel said, would submit a letter to the leadership of Parliament to follow up to the government to stall the emergency demolition was postponed until the problems of traders in stalls emergency is over. "And, we DPRD II of the Commission will continue to start until the issue is resolved, "he said.

PNS anxiously awaiting salary 13

2011-07-01T09:33:00.001+07:00

Padangekspres.net-Civil Servants (PNS) in the West Sumatra provincial government a little upset, because until Friday (30 / 6) yesterday, the salary of the 13 has not been received. Not usually payment of salaries to the late 13th to late June.

For payment of salaries which no deduction was intended to ease the burden on civil servants entering the new school year. And last year, mid June, the salary of the 13 had paid the provincial government of West Sumatra.

Some civil servants in the Office of the Governor of West Sumatra, among others, such as Yar, Fit and Nursal and one of his teachers Esi, to bow Friday (30 / 6), in Padang say they also expect salaries of the 13 were immediately paid the government.

Salaries of the 13 actually becomes their savior in financing their children's schooling. For those who have children are still small, or in elementary school, maybe not too late to receive a salary issue when the 13. But for their children who are already in high school would even enter college, of course, very much hope can be helped with the salary of the 13.

"We are waiting for correct payment of salaries to the 13's. Currently our children will enroll in private universities, because he did not pass SNMPTN. Hopefully before the payment of tuition, salaries of the 13 have accepted, "said Nursal.

Meanwhile, the Head of Financial Management (DPKD) in West Sumatra, Evi Drs.Zul Astar contacted separately to say, the civil servant salaries 13 is not paid. This issue not only in Sumatra but throughout Indonesia.

Because, until now the Presidential Decree on Payment of Wages of the 13 had not yet signed by President SBY. In the end, the Ministry of Finance (PMK) about the same is yet to come out which is the basis for payment.

"It's the end of June this is the promise of the Minister of Finance to pay salaries to the 13th. We also was waiting. But until now his decree signed by President belim, "said Zul Evi.

It is said, the decree had been president over the kitchen. Hopefully soon that the President can sign the decree. Therefore, it has been prepared with all documents for the payment of salaries to the 13th. So, when decree went out and followed with FMD, payable immediately.

"Presidential Decree was in the President's desk. We hope that today it has signed, so the salaries of the 13 we can pay, "he said

BI Not Likely to Lower Cap for Short Term Foreign Liability

2011-07-01T08:20:00.000+07:00

Padangekspres.net-Indonesia's central bank is not likely to lower the ceiling for commercial banks' short term liability anytime soon as part of its efforts to mitigate fund reversal risks, officials said Thursday.

Like many emerging countries, Indonesia has seen massive fund inflows seeking higher gains amid low interest rate policies in the developed nations, leading to a monetary dilemma as raising its rates would attract further potentially destabilizing funds.

Bank Indonesia, since the middle of last year, has introduced a slew of measures to curb hot money flows, such as increasing reserve requirements for commercial lenders, slapped a minimum holding period for its SBI notes, and reinstated a cap on short-term foreign borrowings at 30% of commercial banks' capital.

Bank Indonesia Deputy Governor Hartadi Sarwono told Dow Jones Newswires via a text message: “no changes yet“ for the short term foreign borrowings ruling, rebuffing market chatter that the central bank could soon lower the ceiling for such liability to 10% of lenders' capital.

Separately, Difi Johansyah, a spokesman at the central bank, told Dow Jones Newswires that such short-term liabilities have declined to $4.9 billion in April from $7.2 billion at the end of 2010.

“There was a market chatter that the cap could be lowered to 10% of capital, but there hasn't been any decision on that. We're always studying possible measures to ensure financial stability, including mitigating potential fund reversals,“ Johansyah said.

Johansyah also said the study over short term foreign borrowing was still “in early phase.“ People familiar with the matter said that the study was “one of many“ to prepare policy makers for “various alternatives and game plan“ in the wake of potential fund reversals. The people didn't detail other studies which being conducted by the central bank.

In a bid to safeguard against possible fund reversals, Bank Indonesia has been increasing its foreign exchange reserves as its first line of defense and leaning more towards currency appreciation to combat inflation than raising interest rates.

Its forex reserves have continuously breached record highs in recent months--$118.1 billion at the end of May--while the stronger Indonesian rupiah has provided elbow room to delay tightening monetary policy. The bank has raised its policy rate by 25 basis points only once in that time, in February. That was the first rate increase since August 2009.

“Within Asia, Indonesia saw the sharpest improvement in FX reserve ratios since pre-Lehman 2007 levels after Taiwan and the Philippines,“ Citigroup said in a research paper on Thursday, adding “official FX reserves in the last year grew about 20% faster than the rise in external debt.“

“FX reserve accumulation in the last year has been healthier than in the previous 14-months period post-Lehman recovery, when almost two-thirds of FX reserve increase can be accounted for by portfolio fixed income inflows. If we assume an external shock...a sharp drop in foreign holdings of bonds and equities similar to what happened post-Lehman, Indonesia's FX reserve coverage is still comfortable at almost 1.3 times, a significant improvement from a year ago when the ratio was below 1 time,“ Citigroup added.

Indonesia's Customs Directorate Gains Rp60.34 Trillion

2011-07-01T08:14:00.000+07:00

Padangekspres.net-Directorate General of Customs and Excise until June 23, 2011 has collected state revenues amounting to Rp60.34 trillion, or 70.35 percent of its target valued at Rp85.77 trillion, an official said.

"All kinds of revenues in the Directorate General of Customs and Excise have been in surplus," Director for Information Affairs of the Directorate General of Customs and Excise, Susiwijono said here on Thursday.

He said the realization of export tax receipts had reached Rp15.59 trillion, or 305.26 percent of the target set at Rp5.11 trillion in the 2011 state budget. The realization of customs’ revenues reached Rp33.33 trillion, or 53.10 percent of the target in the 2011 state budget at Rp62.76 trillion.

In the meantime, the import duty receipts reached Rp11.42 trillion or 63.80 percent of the target at the 2011 state budget worth Rp17.09 trillion. Total revenues collected by the Directorate General of Customs and Excise of the three types of receipts reached Rp60.34 trillion, or 70.35 percent of the target set for the 2011 state budget.

Susiwijono said that the realization of exit and import tax revenues showed an increasing trend in Indonesia’s export and import activities. He pointed out that based on data at Tanjung Priok port in Jakarta, the value of exports in May 2010 reached 2.79 billion U.S. dollars.

In May 2011 it increased to 3.14 billion U.S. dollars. As for imports, the amount of foreign exchange released in May 2010 reached 750.20 million U.S. dollars. In May 2011 it increased to 755.57 million U.S. dollars.

West Sumatra Target 1000 Ton Tuna

2011-06-30T09:44:00.000+07:00

Padang ekspres.net-Department of Marine and Fisheries (DKP) Sumbar target export 1,000 tonnes of tuna this year. Last year, West Sumatra are only able to send 700 tons.

To support the increased production, the DKP add ship unit to arrest and empower former school student cruise.

"With the addition of the ship, we can empower sailing school alumni who currently work outside their expertise. If calculated, this year alone recorded 150 students cruise the work does not fit their expertise, "said Chief DKP Yosmeri Sumatra to Padang Ekspres, yesterday (29 / 6).

Empowerment alumni cruise, said Yosmeri, to help them absorb technology from foreign investors so that their competence increases.

Moreover, currently needed experts who could catch the tuna, especially native son, so that later they can help the government achieve those targets.

In addition, continued Yosmeri, not only former students who will engage successful fishery enhancement tuna exports. Later, West Sumatra DKP will also cooperate with local fishermen. "They will become the crew that will be given the central government. The plan, West Sumatra manerima assistance will ship as many as 10 units next year, "he explained.

West Sumatra region that has a source of tuna fish in the Mentawai Strait. During this time, exported to Japan and America. Due to increasing demand, resulting in some investors from Japan are planning to invest in West Sumatra, by providing fishing vessels catching tuna.

According Yosmeri, obstacles faced today is the difficulty of milkfish cultivation which is the bait for tuna. Bait needs each month to reach one million chickens per month.

What can the West Sumatra government sought new 50 thousand heads. "To get around that, Mr. Vice has ordered the cultivation of milkfish in self-sufficiency, and need not depend on Java. Later in some places, the cultivation of an appeal is imminent, "he explained.

Constrained fuel
To achieve the target, Yosmeri recognized, there are still some obstacles. Among other things, fuel oil (BBM) type diesel. Supposedly, fuel depots for fishermen there should be two units in the area of the Gulf Bungus mourning. Now, only one unit of fuel depots for fishermen.

"Regarding the issue, we have coordination with Pertamina center, but they have not done the construction for the depot that will be allocated to fishermen.

The plan, the matter will be discussed again with Pertamina Padang, because there has been a command center firm Pertamina to build refueling stations fishermen (SPBN) that, "explained Yosmeri.

So that the target could be achieved, said Yosmeri, several aspects need special attention, namely the issue of security, fuel, and transportation. "Most major obstacle today is the fuel problems," he said.

Project Realization Low

2011-06-30T09:33:00.000+07:00

Padangekspres.net-Realization of project procurement in the region of six units of activity (SKPD) in the environment Pemko Padang is still low. Supposedly, the procurement target at each SKPD first half of this 40 percent, but is still below 25 percent.

The low supply project in six SKPD dilengkapinya was caused not by the planning documents and related SKPD auction. Sixth SKPD it is the Office of Communication and Information (Diskomimfo), District Lubukbegalung, District Bungus, Fisheries and Maritime Affairs, Section of Land and Public Works Department (PU).

This was revealed by the Head of Procurement Services Unit (ULP) Padang Afrizal BR, Tuesday (28 / 6) in his study. "Currently there are 28 SKPD within Pemko Padang who submitted tenders to the ULP in the outer districts. The total value of tenders of 28 SKPD amounted to Rp65, 3 billion with the number as many as 115 packets, "he said.

He mentioned, of the total value of the proposed tender, a total of 40 packages have been realized with a total value of tender Rp26, 8 billion, while the package bidding in the tender process 28 packages with a value of Rp21, 8 billion.

While that would be a tender process with a total of 37 packets Rp17, 3 billion. "There are three stages of the tender process is due to differences in the process of submitting planning SKPD, tender documents and tender specifications," he explained.

Of the projects submitted tenders to the ULP SKPD, a total of 5 packages failed tender. Five packages failed to tender details 2 packages because there is no demand, and 3 participants did not meet the requirements of the package.

Two packages that no demand is the submission of tenders from the economy of the study of mineral potential of PT Semen Padang and C Tera Birthday proposed procurement Disperindagtamben. Three tender submissions is less demand is tender project proposed by the department of Communication and Information (Diskomimfo) about the master plan tower together, the procurement of goods overland conveyances box and fence Environmental Impact Control Agency (Bapedalda)

"Three conditions must be met while following the tender, namely administrative requirements, technical and price quote. Throughout those requirements are met, ULP will process the submission of the proposed government tenders, "he said.

So far, there are six SKPD who occupy the highest rating in the project proposal of the proposed tender in SKPD concerned. Six SKPD it is Department of Industry, Trade, Mining and Energy (Disperindagtamben) Padang, Welfare Section, District Kototangah, Section Organization, District Padangbarat, and Environmental Impact Control Agency (Bapedalda) as much.

"The low bid in six SKPD realization of the project due to unprocessed and planning documents that have not been resolved SKPD. During the process of electronic bidding by the government has made savings of 4.5 billion. A total of Rp3, 5 billion from DAK funds and Rp 1 billion from the budget, "he explained.

Member of Commission III DPRD Padang Erison deplored the slow realization of the tender process conducted SKPD. In fact, with the tender process conducted SKPD can open employment opportunities and drive the economy. In this sixth month, the realization of the proposed tender should Pemko as much as 50 percent, instead of still below 25 percent.

"Just stay five months longer time to implement the proposed government tender projects. Whether in the time allowed to carry out program activities. We ask SKPD realization process of the tender at under 25 percent, have to work hard. Thus, budget allocations that have been plotted to SKPD its not redundant, "he said.

Democratic Party's cadre realization of tender regret in the Public Works Department (PU) which is still in the range of 13.34 percent. In fact, the PU is SKPD motor drive development. "We are very regrettable that this kind of performance PU.

In Padang are still many roads and bridges damaged holes have not been repaired after the earthquake. Why not work jor PU-rod to promptly carry out a physical project that is under their tupoksi. Obviously with the slow pace of this tender process, changes to the face of the city of Padang infrastructure will also not clean. This means that development is only running in place, "he said.

Erison mention, poor realization of tender submission process is done SKPD was a benchmark performance of SKPD concerned. He said, soon, Pemko and parliament will soon conduct discussions on the budget changes. Should, during the discussion of the budget can already known to the general picture of financial capability that can be used to finance other activities.

"We have allocated certain amount of money for each SKPD. If unable to implement the program, do not ask a lot of activities. Finally, the budget allocations that have been plotted so vain. In fact, the money could be used for other needs. This will be an evaluation of our current discussion for SKPD APBDP-SKPD have low performance in terms of the procurement process, "he said

Report: Asia's wealthy population overtakes Europe

2011-06-23T21:14:00.002+07:00

Padangekspres.net-Booming Asia had more millionaires than Europe for the first time last year and is fast closing in on North America for the top spot, a report released Thursday said.

The Asia-Pacific region was home to 3.3 million people in 2010 worth US$1 million or more, excluding their homes, an increase of roughly 10 percent from the year before, according to the 15th annual World Wealth Report by Merrill Lynch's wealth management division and consultancy Capgemini.

Asia's growth outpaced Europe, where so-called high net worth individuals increased 6 percent to 3.1 million, and puts it within reach of North America, where the number of wealthy rose 8.6 percent to 3.4 million.

The report's findings illustrate how Asia's economies are growing much more quickly than developed countries and, in the process, minting scores of new millionaires and billionaires. Asia's growth has been powered by China and India, whose economies grew 9-10 percent last year while European and North American growth was in the low single digits.

"It is entirely conceivable that Asia would overtake North America in the near future," said Wilson So, a managing director at Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management. "I would be surprised if that does not happen very soon."

The US, Japan and Germany still account for just over half the world's 10.9 million wealthy, while China is in fourth place with 535,000, about 58,000 more than in 2009. Australia has moved up one notch to ninth place, edging out Italy, while India cracked the top 12 for the first time. It replaced Spain, which fell to 14th.

While 2010 was the first time that Asia has overtaken Europe in absolute numbers of wealthy people, it is the second year that Asia's combined wealth was bigger than Europe's.

The world's wealthy were worth a total of $42.7 trillion in 2010. Asia's share of that wealth amounted to $10.8 trillion, putting it in second place for the second year in a row, just behind North America's $11.6 trillion.

Six of the 10 economies with the fastest growing millionaire populations were in Asia, led by Hong Kong and Vietnam, which each saw annual growth of 33 percent. Others included Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Singapore and India.

Asia also had a bigger proportion of young millionaires, with 3 percent aged 30 or under. All other regions had 2 percent or less.

Globally, women are increasingly in the ranks of millionaires. The report found that 27 percent of the world's wealthy last year were women, up from 24 percent in 2009.

While the majority of wealth is held by Americans, Japanese and Germans, the authors of the report expect the distribution to become more diverse over time as developing countries continue to grow faster than developed ones.

The superrich, defined as people worth more than $30 million, also fared well. Their numbers grew 10 percent to 103,000 last year.

Indonesian royalty to gather in Bandung this weekend

2011-06-23T21:14:00.001+07:00

Padangekspres.net-Royalty from across the nation will gather in Bandung this weekend to attend the second national gathering of kings and sultans across the archipelago.

“The kings and sultans will not engage in political talks,” the head of the gathering’s working committee, Sultan Sepuh IV PRA Arief Natadiningrat from the royal house of Cirebon, said Thursday in Bandung.

Arief said some of the royals had arrived in Bandung to attend a dinner hosted by West Java Governor Ahmad Heryawan scheduled for Friday at Bandung's Gedung Sate.

Hundreds of kings, sultans, crown princes and princesses from local kingdoms across Indonesia are expected to attend the gathering dressed in traditional royal attire.

The gathering first took place in August 2009 and was opened by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta.

This second gathering is scheduled to be opened by Vice President Boediono, news portal tempointeraktif.com reported.

Aero Sport Show Minang Sumatra Eat Victim

2011-06-23T21:10:00.000+07:00

Padangekspres.net-An aero plane minang sports participants boast (MASS) 2011 that is doing the attractions fell around 17:30 last Thursday (23 / 6). The plane that crashed was the plane kind of dragonfly eagle krestein N 21 H.

Captain unknown aircraft that crashed was Zakaria Saleh who is a Malaysian citizenship.

Fortunately, despite falls around residential communities at Jalan Padang Black Galaxi stumps, the plane did not hit home residents, so there are no citizens who become victims.

But in this incident resulted in severe injury Aircraft Captain and the right hand end, the Malaysian captain was immediately rushed to Government General Hospital (Dr) M Djamil Padang.

Meanwhile, aware of this incident Padang Mayor Fauzi Bahar directly survey the location.

This incident is the second day of attractions MASS 2011 which, once opened directly by the Governor of West Sumatra Irwan Prayitno yesterday Wednesday (22 / 6).

From Monitoring www.padang-today.com this incident could become a spectacle of citizens, because the crash is accompanied by a loud enough noise.

Citizens Emergency School Build

2011-06-23T21:08:00.000+07:00

Padangekspres.net-The new school year has arrived. Children in Jorong Pekoninainduk, Nagari Nature Pauh Duo, Duo Pauh Subdistrict South Solok district who will enter elementary school (SD) should be prepared to learn in the classroom emergency. Because the nearest primary school there no longer able to accommodate students.

The only option, namely to build temporary schools. Through local government organizations, prime development has started since last Friday. Bloknol precisely in the region. The people there started cleaning and doing the leveling locations.

Head Jorong Pekoninainduk, Rudi when confirmed Padang Express revealed that the SD will be built just as much as one class. Tonggaknya made of bamboo and the roof of tarpaulin.

"Tomorrow, residents will goro again. We speed up the completion. Because kids want to go to school. Enough with bamboo pillars and roof sheeting only. It is an emergency condition. But what could I do, than children not in school," he explained on Thursday (23 / 6) .

Teachers who will teach at the school emergency, will come from 03 elementary school teachers Pekonina. Therefore, there has been agreement with the SD. Thus, the new enrollment season, the kids in Pekoninainduk not worry can not attend school.

"We also plan to report to the education office about the situation here. The kids pretty much will go to elementary school. But it is not accommodated in the existing elementary school," he said

Pasaman Hell for drug dealers

2011-06-23T21:07:00.000+07:00

Padangekspres.net-The sap of Panyabungan Penderes Madina district of North Sumatra bring marijuana to get the fare back kerantau. Border, Sat Drugs Marijuana Police Pasaman abort pasokkan to Bukit Tinggi.

Some time last Pasaman like hell for drug dealers. Only a matter of days, dozens of types of marijuana plus Kilograms Drugs Sabu - Sabu (SS) and a number of suspects arrested Police Drug Pasaman Sat, various locations.

Kapores Pasaman AKBP Gatot Santoso through Invisible Drugs PPA Jasril in this newspaper in Lubuk Sikaping Sunday (29 / 5) explains, following the arrest of four persons of students caught carrying cannabis as many as 15 packages of Dried Madina district of North Sumatra on Tuesday (24 / 5), on Saturday (28 / 5) at 01. 30. Pm, Sat Drugs Police re-arrested the Riand Pasaman Hidayat (22) suspected marijuana dealer 10 Pack Dry origin Pagaran Sigatar District Panyabungan Madina District of North Sumatra.

Thin-bodied men who daily work as penderes sap it, arrested over car Public Transport PO Son 7993 SW Simas nopol AP Police Station in front of Cubadak Nagari Padang Muara District Metinggi North Rao Pasaman, not far from the border of West Sumatra - Sumatra.

Riand bemula arrest of suspicion against the PO officers who ignored the Son Simas officers who tried to stop the bus. Found suspicious signs, the officers immediately gave chase. Not far from the original location, the bus is biased followed and stopped next to be brought back to the Police Station is to be examined.

Officer instinct was not wrong. Apparently there is something wrong on the bus. When searched, officers found a black duffel bags containing 10 packets of dried hemp rope tied black rapia. Investigate a calibaration, obtained information from the helper on the bus that the bag belonged to one of the passengers who sit dibangku Riand the back. When asked a question, he - he did not deny it.

According to the officer who examined the suspect in the police station Pasaman Sat Drugs, Marijuana obtained from the Mount Sapar Panyabungan Old Madina district of North Sumatra for subsequent transfer to Hendra in Bukit Tinggi to pay two million rupiah. From the description of the suspect, the information obtained in the unlawful transactions occurred thanks to the services of liaison Tobsan one prisoner at Bukit Tinggi.

Information that was scraped from the suspects was traced by a member to Bukit Tinggi. But unfortunately, Hendra called - called lawyer-order items not found, clearly Jasril.

To this newspaper on Sat Drugs Police Pasaman, Riand tell, as agreed with Sapar, if marijuana is up to the Hendra hand, then Riand will be rewarded for Two Million. "If not caught, the plan will be referred to the money I make back the cost to migrate to Bogor, obviously Riand who previously had to work in a restaurant in the City of Rain