President: RI`s Poverty Rate Down from 42.2 pct to 16.5 pct
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said the country’s poverty rate this year had dramatically dropped to 16.5 percent from 24.2 percent in early 1998 when the country was hit by economic crisis. The head of state made the statement in his address at the observance of the 79th Mother’s Day at the Sasono Langen Budoyo Hall in the Beautiful Indonesia in Miniature (TMII) Park on Tuesday (18/12). Yudhoyono apparently made the remark to refute an advertisement placed by a certain political party in electronic media saying that the poverty rate in the country had remained high at around 49.5 percent. The president said 49.5 percent was the poverty rate figure according to the World Bank which differed from the government’s figure that had been computed by the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS). On the occasion the president commended the fact that the theme of the commemoration of Mother’s Day emphasized the poverty issue and women’s lagging position. (December 18th 2007, Antara News)
Indonesian Islands Cannot be Sold to Foreigners
Indonesian islands cannot be sold to foreigners but they can be managed jointly with foreigners in accordance with certain regulations, a senior Home Affairs Ministry official Mr. Situmorang said here on Monday (17/12). Regarding the islands of Meriam Besar and Panjang Isles in West Nusatenggara (NTB) which were recently reported to have been sold to foreigners, Situmorang said the isles were sold to an Indonesian national who had already obtained an ownership certificate on the isle. Panjang and Meriam Isles were recently put up for sale in an advertisement appearing in the website www.karangasemproperty.com. The home affairs ministry was currently in the process of settling the problematic sale of five other islands, namely Bawah, Cangkul, Merba, Elang and Lidi, all located in Riau Islands province, he said. Meanwhile, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Deputy Governor Thamrin Rayes recently said the provincial administration had no intention of selling 33-ha-wide Panjang Isle and 5-ha-wide Meriam Isle which had white sandy beaches and whose coastal waters were rich in coral reefs. (December 18th 2007, Antara News)
Thousands of Dead Fish, Baby Turtles Washed up on Kuta Beach Again
Thousands of dead fish were washed up on Kuta Beach once again on Tuesday (18/12). According to a beach patrol officer, large quantities of garbage started to wash up late on Monday evening followed by the deluge of dead fish and several young turtles. Kuta beach experienced its last episode of the dead fish phenomena only two weeks ago and also nine months ago in February 2007. (December 19th 2007, Bali Post)
Bali Arts Team Perform in Madrid, Spain
A 22-member Bali arts mission recently performed in Madrid, Spain. For more than 250 people including local officials, diplomats, tour operators, business people and mass media managers, as well as a relative of the King of Spain Juan Carlos, Don Leandre de Bourbon. Among the dances performed were Sekar Jagat, Barong and the Legong Calonarang. Indonesian Ambassador to Spain Slamet Mustafa said before the performance that bilateral relations between Indonesia and Spain remained relatively good. In a meeting between the Bali governor and the local business people, the Bali Governor Mr. Beratha said Bali was very conducive for business and invited local business people to come to Bali to invest there. (December 20th 2007, Antara News)
Central Java Ready to be Venue of Amrozi`s Execution
The Central Java Police is now waiting for an order from the Indonesian Police Headquarters to confirm the planned execution of the Bali bombers of 2002, namely Amrozi, Ali Ghufron and Imam Samudra. Central Java Police Chief Inspector General Dody Sumantyawan said here on Sunday (23/12) the Central Java Police would be ready for the venue for the execution if the Indonesian Police Headquarters asked it so. The three are now being granted a one-month of time to file a clemency to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono after their request for a legal review on their sentence was refuted by the Supreme Court. Head of the Denpasar Prosecuting Office Made Suratmaja said recently after receiving the notification for the refusal that there were three alternate venues for the execution, including the one in the Nusakambangan Island. Kompas daily said a junior attorney for general crimes Abdul Hakim Ritonga said the notification would be informed to the three and their families on December 27. (December 24th 2007, Antara News)
Indonesia Eyes $6.4 Billion from Tourism in 2008
The Indonesian government has targeted 6.4 billion U.S. dollars in foreign exchange from an estimated 7 million foreign tourists expected next year. “We haven’t reached our target yet for the year 2007, but the number of foreign visitors arriving in the first 10 months of this year was up, compared to last year’s figures,” Thamrin Bhiwana Bachri, director general for marketing at the Culture and Tourism Ministry, was quoted Saturday by local newspaper The Jakarta Post as saying. “Arrivals were increasing at around 14.4 percent from January to October this year, compared to the same period in 2006.” Thamrin said ASEAN countries, especially Malaysia and Singapore, have been the focus for Indonesia’s tourism sector over the last 10 to 15 years. Bali remains a favorite tourist destination, with foreign arrivals up 40 percent this year. “We have many other interesting places and cultures other than Bali,” he said. “But those places don’t have good infrastructure or facilities able to accommodate tourist needs, like convenient hotels and resorts, clean public toilets, well-managed airports or easy access to tourist attractions.” (December 20th 2007, Xinhua)
27 Indonesians Receive Australian Post-Graduate Scholarships
Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Bill Farmer congratulated 27 outstanding Indonesians who have received post-graduate scholarships to study in Australia under the annual Australian Leadership Awards (ALA) program, an Australian Embassy media release said here on Tuesday (18/12). Speaking at a reception for the ALA recipients at his residence on Tuesday, the Australian envoy expressed hope that the scholarships would provide a better future for Indonesia by helping its young leaders achieve their potentials. ALA is a prestigious scholarship program that provides opportunities to existing and emerging leaders from the Asia Pacific region, including Indonesia, to further develop their professional expertise and leadership. The scholarships allow them to pursue postgraduate study and a leadership development program in Australia. For 2008, the Australian Government has awarded ALA scholarships to 172 people from 24 Asia-Pacific countries. (December 18th 2007, Antara News)
Bali to Hold Traditional Food Festival
Denpasar Food Heritage Festival will be held in Denpasar, the capital of Bali Province, from December 29 to 30, 2007. Balinese traditional food such as jajan uli, begina, daluman, sate kakul, pelecing kangkung, betutu, and lawar would be presented in the festival, Erwin Suryadarma, a spokesman of Denpasar city administration, said here on Monday (24/12). Coinciding with the festival, Denpasar Mayor Anak Agung Puspayoga will launch a new tourism program called ‘Sightseeing Denpasar 2008’. (December 20th 2007, Antara News)
UNFCCC`S Success Expected to Boost Tourists Arrivals in Bali
Tourism agents have expressed optimism that the number of foreign tourists visiting the resort island of Bali in the coming years will increase following the success of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Nusa Dua. “We are absolutely optimistic that the number of foreign tourists visiting Bali will rise in the years to come,” Bali tourism agent Made Supatra Karang said here on Friday. He said the optimism would become a reality following Bali’s success in hosting the United Nations conference on climate change in Nusa Dua tourist resort over the weekend. He said a rise in the hotel occupancy rate to 80-90 percent ahead of Christmas and the New Year was a sign that the tourism sector in Bali would recover soon. Meanwhile, Bali Hotel Melia public relations officer Nova Terita said the occupancy rate of the hotel whose guests were mostly from Russia had risen to 90 percent as Christmas and the New Year were approaching. Besides Made Supatra and Nova Terita, Dewi Indah Banowati of Hard Rock Hotel with 418 rooms in Kuta said her hotel’s occupancy rate had also reached 90 percent. (December 20th 2007, Antara News)
Japan to Accept 1,000 nurses, Care Workers from Indonesia
Japan will accept 1,000 nurses and health care workers from Indonesia from as early as next year under a free trade pact to help ease the country’s shortage of such staff, a report said Saturday (23/12). The move will mark the first time Japan has brought in foreign nurses and care workers on a full-time basis. For two years from April, Japan will annually accept 200 licensed nurses and 300 certified care workers, the newspaper said.If the program is well received, the figures may be increased for the third year, the Nikkei said. Nurses will be limited to staying for three years and care workers for four years on their Indonesian certificates and licenses. But they can extend their stay by passing Japanese nursing exams or receiving Japanese caregiver’s certificates. The workers will work as assistants at hospitals and nursing care facilities after receiving language training. The Japanese health ministry estimates the nation needs 40,000 more nurses, while the shortage is estimated to reach 450,000 to 550,000 by 2014, the Nikkei said. (December 23rd 2007, AFP)
