Best to Keep Onside With Indonesia - Aust Government
Australians must understand it is in Australians best interests
to maintain good relations with Indonesia, says Immigration
Minister Amanda Vanstone. This was especially so, she said
on Sunday (13/8), at a time when a group of Papua asylum-seekers
clearly used their arrival as an opportunity to fan independence
claims in their homeland. “The group that came clearly
did want to use Australia as a protest point to fan independence
claims in Indonesian West Papua,” she told Channel 10.
“That is not in Australia’s interest. If we have
a situation where there’s civil unrest on our northern
border - I mean dramatic civil unrest - Australians will be
saying to the government ‘why did you do nothing and
allow this to continue?’.” She said Indonesia
was an integral part of Australia’s border protection
policies. “They are extremely helpful to us in border
protection, in trying to stop boats coming, in working with
the broader South-East Asian community, on the Bali process,
so that we can all work together as a region,” Senator
Vanstone said. “The plain facts of life are, we have
to work together. “One of the government’s responsibilities
is to keep good relations with its neighbours and, in particular,
to keep good relations with those who are so helpful to us
in border protection. (August 13th 2006, AEST)
Two beach Side Cafes Burn on Double Six Beach
Two beach side cafes on the double six beach strip went up
in flames in the early hours of Saturday morning (12/8). The
fire apparently started in the kitchen area of the Zanzibar
and quickly engulfed the neighbouring Lanai Beach Bar &
Grill. Bystanders originally feared that the fire may have
been a result of an act of terrorism; however authorities
on the scene quickly made it clear that the fire did not seem
to be suspicious in any way. The local fire brigade managed
to contain the fire before it spread any further, and managed
to ascertain that the cause of the fire had probably been
an electrical short circuit in the Zanzibar kitchen area.
No one was injured in the blaze. (August 13th 2006, Denpost)
Bintang Bar in Sanur Burns to the Ground
The Bintang Bar Timur on Jln Danau Poso in Sanur burned to
the ground on Saturday morning (12/8). The owner of the bar
Johannes Lao claimed that the damage had been estimated at
300 million rupiah. Neighbours had noticed thick black smoke
coming from the building in the early hours of the morning
and raised the alarm. Local residents tried to quell the flames
with water, but could not access the building as the doors
were locked. The fire quickly engulfed the mostly
wooden structure, and by the time the fire brigade could put
out the flames the building had all but burned to the ground.
The cause of the fire was thought to be a sparking cable,
although there was some speculation that a lighted stick of
incense could have started the blaze. (August 13th 2006, Denpost)
Australian Migration Defeat ‘May Upset Indonesians’
Australia has been warned to expect a backlash within the
Indonesian community over the government’s decision
to abandon its tough immigration laws. Foreign Minister Alexander
Downer conceded it could prompt Indonesia to open the floodgates
for people wanting to seek asylum in Australia. Mr. Downer
has spoken to his Indonesian
counterpart, Hassan Wirajuda, to explain the government’s
decision to abandon its legislation rather than face an
embarrassing defeat in the Senate. The dumped legislation
was drafted following Indonesian anger over Australia’s
decision to grant asylum to 43 people from Indonesia’s
contested Papua province earlier this year. Jakarta says it
deeply regrets the failure of the legislation and, in reference
to Papua, expects Australia to continue to respect Indonesia’s
territorial integrity. An Indonesian foreign ministry spokesman
told ABC radio Australia’s failure to endorse the legislation
could be interpreted as Australia opening the door to asylum
seekers. These could include illegal immigrants who have been
in Indonesia for many years and may seek asylum in Australia,
he said. While his discussion with Dr Wirajuda was friendly,
Mr. Downer was warned that the reception within the community
may be different. Mr. Downer admitted the comments from the
foreign ministry spokesman could mean a relaxation in Indonesia
on the policies keeping a lid on unauthorised boat arrivals
in Australia. (August 17th 2006, AEST)
Eight Jailed over Bali Bombings up for Remission
Eight Indonesians jailed over the 2002 Bali nightclub bombings
that killed 202 people could have their sentences cut to mark
Indonesia’s Independence Day, a prison official said
on Tuesday (15/8). Indonesia traditionally has a prisoner
remission programme to mark Independence Day on August 17,
but cutting the punishment of anyone involved in the Bali
bombings will likely anger countries whose nationals died
in the blasts. Many of those who died were foreign tourists,
among them 88 Australians. The prisoners being considered
for remission are serving sentences of between five to 16
years and were convicted on charges related to the 2002 bombings,
such as robbery tied to helping fund the plot or hiding key
figures. The official said that two other prisoners
at the jail in Bali had not been put forward for remission
since they were serving life sentences over the bombings.
“The remission will be read by Bali governor, Dewa Made
Bratha, at the 61st Indonesian Independence Day ceremony at
Kerobokan jail,” said the prison official. Australia
protested against the release in June of Abu Bakar Bashir,
a Muslim cleric who served 26 months of a 30-month sentence
for conspiracy in the 2002 Bali blasts. The radical cleric’s
sentence was cut for last year’s Independence Day. (August
14th 2006, Reuters)
Drought Hits Various Parts of Indonesia
Some 150 villages in Indonesia’s Central Java province
are being affected by drought while the local government is
only able to supply 30 of them with clean water, the Antara
news agency reported on Saturday (19/8) The dry weather has
been dominating the climate in Indonesia since July and is
expected to last for three more months, experts predicted.
Most of the country’s 7.1 million hectares of irrigated
rice fields are susceptible to unfavourable weather as only
10 percent of them are served by reservoirs. According official
sources, in West Java alone, the drought has affected about
34,000 hectares of paddy fields in the districts of Cirebon,
Bandung and Garut. About 200 villages of the 295 villages
in 16 sub-districts of Blora district are now facing water
scarcities. A number of wells and rivers which have so far
provided water for villagers in this district have dried up.
The dry spell also created health problems, such as diarrhoea
and respiratory infections, fires and power supply disruptions
as hydro-power plants are low on water supply. In Yogyakarta
which was hit by an earthquake last May, at least one diarrhoea
victim has died. (August 19th 2006, Kerala News)
Quake Rocks Banda Aceh
A moderate 5.5-magnitude earthquake on Sunday (13/8) jolted
the Indonesian province of Aceh but caused no damage or casualties,
the meteorology agency here said. The quake, centred 20 kilometres
under the ocean floor & 73 kilometres northwest of Aceh
capital Banda Aceh, struck at 03:46pm (0846 GMT), said Fauzi
from the agency’s headquarters. The quake was moderately
felt in Banda Aceh, he said. A resident told ElShinta radio
that the quake was unusual as she heard loud thumping sounds,
but it caused little panic among other residents. (August
13th 2006, AFP)
Dead Infant Found in Sanur River
A dead baby was found floating in a stream which runs alongside
Jl. Kutat Lestari, in Sanur on Sunday (13/8). The infant was
found by Oka Astuti, a local resident who was fishing by the
stream. Astuti reported the find to the police who are still
investigating the case. The infant’s body was taken
to Sanglah General Hospital in Denpasar for forensic examination.
Over nine dead newborn babies have been found dumped in the
Southern suburbs of Bali since the beginning of the year.
Abortion is illegal in Indonesia, and women who are in a desperate
situation will often try to abort the child by traditional
methods in their homes or dump the babies shortly after birth.
(August 14th 2006, Bali Post)
Australian Found Dead in Surabaya
The body of an Australian man has been found in a hotel in
the Indonesian city of Surabaya. Donald Hancock, aged in his
50’s, was a director of studies at the Surabaya branch
of the AusAID-backed Indonesia Australia Language Foundation.
His body was discovered on Monday (14/8) when a cleaner could
not open the door of his hotel room. He was found with a plastic
bag secured over his head and a quantity of pills nearby.
(August 17th 2006, AEST)
Corby & Lawrence have Sentences Cut
Convicted drug smuggler Schapelle Corby and Bali Nine member
Renae Lawrence have both been granted short reductions on
their prison sentences to mark Indonesia’s Independence
Day. Corby, who has lodged a final appeal against her conviction
and 20-year sentence for smuggling marijuana, will receive
only a two-month remission, the governor of Bali’s Kerobokan
Prison said. Meanwhile, her friend Renae Lawrence will have
just one month cut from a 20-year sentence for her role in
a plan to smuggle 8.3kg of heroin to Australia. At least nine
Indonesian convicts jailed for relatively minor roles in the
2002 Bali bombings, which killed 202 people including 88 Australians,
will have four months cut from their jail terms, it was announced.
(August 17th 2006, AEST)
Indonesia Counting on “Bio-Fuel”
Indonesia is seeking more investment in industries producing
energy from palm oil, sugar cane and jatropha to help create
five million new jobs and cut government fuel subsidies, President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said Wednesday (16/8). The government
will set aside 1 trillion rupiah, or $110 million, to help
farmers pay interest on loans they take to plant more crops
that can be used to produce biofuels, Yudhoyono said. Villagers
will be encouraged to grow jatropha, a plant that thrives
in poor soil whose seed can be crushed to yield oil for biofuel.
Indonesia is one of the leading producers of palm oil. Since
coming to power in 2004 as Indonesia’s first directly
elected president, Yudhoyono has struggled to meet his pledge
to cut poverty by half, keep prices in check and create more
jobs. Rising interest in biofuels, prompted by high prices
for oil and gasoline, gives Indonesia an opportunity to develop
the industry and bolster employment. (August 16th 2006, Reuters)
Philippine and Indonesian Terror Groups Amalgamate
The Philippine government’s Anti-Terrorism Task Force
says it has evidence terrorist groups from the Philippines
and Indonesia are planning to join forces and train hundreds
of recruits in the Philippines. Shirley Esclante reports an
uncovered document has revealed plans by terror groups in
the Philippines and Indonesia to stage bomb attacks and kidnap
government officials. ndersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor of
the Philippine government’s Anti-Terrorism Task Force
says the document could have been drafted in 2005. The groups
mentioned in the document which plan a merger include the
Jemaah Islamiyah, Tanzim Qaidat al Jihad, Negara Islam International
and Darul Islam Terror Group which are based in Indonesia.
The Abu Sayyaf, Rajah Sulayman Movement and a faction of the
Moro Islamic Liberation Front which are based in the Philippines.
Mr. Blancaflor says the merging of local groups with terrorists
in Indonesia has already started. He cites the simultaneous
bombings in key spots in the Philippines in 2005, which was
blamed on the Jemaah Islamiyah, Abu Sayyaf and the Rajah Sulayman
Movement. (August 19th 2006, Radio Australia)
