Newsbriefs

Back to bannings?

The government and legislators have agreed to revise the 1985 law on societal organisations to allow the disbanding of hard-line organisations deemed to have disrupted security and public order. In its present form, the law does not allow the government to disband mass groups or non-governmental organisations involved in violence. Vice President Jusuf Kalla reiterated the government’s pledge to get tough on hard-line groups: ‘These groups can think radically, which is their right. We are not going to prevent that. We will act when they are violating the law or trying to hurt others.’

Suharto clan rides World Cup wave

Soccer fans glued to televisions, anxiously awaiting the opening match between Germany and Costa Rica received an unexpected shock when former president Suharto’s daughter Titiek appeared as the show’s host. The public could be forgiven for thinking the appearance of Titiek was part of a public relations campaign launched by the family to mend its tarnished image. Ade Armando of the Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) said the move was politically charged and could be seen as part of a campaign to win back the hearts of the public. However, Titiek has done it in a very inelegant way, he said: ‘Technically speaking, she is not someone who knows a lot about soccer. Politically, she is not known as clean figure and physically she is not very attractive to lure viewers.’ Titiek is the commissioner of PT Abhitama Mediatama, a subsidiary of telecommunications and IT company Elang Mahkota Teknologi. Abhitama took a controlling share in SCTV and she became one of the station’s commissioners.

30 percent of world piracy

According to the International Maritime Bureau, about 30 percent of boat piracy occurs in Indonesian waters. The Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Security, Widodo AS explained to a meeting that Indonesia’s seas are the most dangerous in the world in terms of maritime security. Another problem Indonesia confronts is illegal fishing. It is estimated that Indonesia loses 1 to 1.5 million tons of fish per year, at a cost to the state of US$1 trillion.

Local regulations not Islamic law

Vice President Jusuf Kalla said that local government regulations are not allowed to contradict higher laws. He also stressed, however, that many local regulations that have caused public concern recently were not attempts to implement Islamic law. For instance, a local regulation against prostitution in Tangerang ‘is not syariat (Islamic law), but general law. The same goes for regulations about alcoholic beverages. Those are just regulations saying that such drinks are not legal and are disallowed in various places.’ He added that in Aceh there are local regulations that allow for whipping, but that ‘in Singapore there are also provisions for whipping, which made the Americans angry. If we say whipping is part of Islamic law, does this mean that Singapore is an Islamic state?’ According to Kalla, Indonesia has long had laws that are influenced by Islam: ‘It’s just like in the Philippines or Europe where there are laws that are influenced by Catholicism.’

Kompas, 17 June 2006

In the face of strong criticism from legislators, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Bagir Manan is sticking to his decision that it is permitted to give gifts to judges. However, judges cannot receive gifts from persons associated with any case they might be hearing. Any gifts must also be small in value. Parliamentarian Nursyahbani Katjasungkana criticised the Chief Justice, saying his permissive attitude would strengthen the culture of corruption among judges, especially in the absence of effective monitoring.

Kompas 6 July 2006

Once the national legislature passes its planned law on the special status of Aceh, a new agenda will be to draft a law on the Special Territory of Yogyakarta. Such is the view of several members of the legislature. Among the matters that need to be regulated are the roles of the Sultanate and the Paku Alam royal house, and whether or not the governor and deputy governors of the region should continue to be from these houses, in recognition of their historical role supporting the Indonesian revolution.

Kompas 7 July 2006