INFID, April 21, 2004
INFID's Short News Overview No. VI/13: April 15-21, 2005
General News
Munir Case
The State Intelligence Agency (BIN) is hindering the investigation into the murder of
rights activist Munir, and the President and the National Police need to help, the
government fact-finding team says.
Member Asmara Nababan said the team, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and
the National Police and BIN leadership needed a face-to-face meeting to resolve the
problem.
The BIN chief deputy assigned to help the team investigate BIN officials allegedly
involved in the murder, faced too many protocols, Asmara said.
Improving BIN's cooperation was key to speeding the team's work, which was
supposed to be completed in June, he said.
BIN Continues to Hinder Munir Probe: http://www.infid.be/munir_hinder.htm.
Ex-BIN Official Again Stymies Munir Probe: http://www.infid.be/munir_exbin.htm.
Munir A Fighter Never To Be Forgotten: http://www.infid.be/munir_fighter.htm.
Source: JP 20/04
Special Agency for Aceh, Nias
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has formally inaugurated the much-awaited
special agency tasked with coordinating the rebuilding of tsunami-stricken Nanggroe
Aceh Darussalam and the Nias islands.
The agency will manage some Rp 46.1 trillion (US$4.81 million) in reconstruction
funds over the next five years, as well as award tenders to the private sector for
reconstruction work. State Secretary Yusril Ihza Mahendra said during a press
conference on April 18 that the government regulation in lieu of a law on the
establishment of the agency had been signed by the President on Saturday, and the
agency was expected to start its work this week.
"The regulation stipulates that the agency will have wide powers to manage the
reconstruction efforts in Aceh and Nias, including dealing directly with the private
sector, and donor countries and agencies," he said.
The agency -- officially to be called the Executive Agency for the Rehabilitation and
Reconstruction of Aceh and Nias -- will take over the functions of the provincial
administrations as regards reconstruction in the tsunami-affected areas.
Govt unveils special agency for Aceh, Nias: http://www.infid.be/tsunami_agency.htm.
Source: JP 19/04
ADB to lend US$519 million to Indonesia
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said on April 20 it plans to lend up to US$519
million to Indonesia in 2005 to provide support in critical areas.
The ADB said it had already approved $64.7 million in loans and $16.5 million in
grants this year for projects to help some 1,500 communities in rural Indonesia that
were affected by the devastating Dec. 26 quake and tsunami. Five more ADB projects
amounting to about $454 million are proposed for the rest of the year, the bank said in
a statement. These projects include road rehabilitation, aquaculture development,
local government financing and governance, microfinance, and private sector financing
of urban infrastructure, the ADB added.
Earlier this month, the ADB approves a 300-million-dollar emergency assistance grant
-- its biggest ever single grant -- to hellp the country's tsunami rehabilitation and
reconstruction efforts. The ADB will further reallocate about $65 million in surplus
funds from ongoing projects to tsunami-related assistance and will expand the scope
of projects already being processed to cover tsunami-affected areas.
Source: AFP 20/04
Muhaimin Iskandar elected as leader of PKB
The House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Muhaimin Iskandar was elected on
April 19 as the leader of the National Awakening (PKB) in the party's congress in
Semarang, Central Java, replacing Alwi Shihab. In a vote, Muhaimin defeated three
other candidates: two members of the House, Ali Maskur Musa and Mahfud MD and
the party's former secretary Syaifullah Yusuf who is also current Minister for State
Minister for the Development of DisadvantagedRegions.
The election of Muhaimin Iskandar as the new PKB is not likely to end the internal rift
within the party, as his rivals vowed to press ahead with legal action to be reinstated
as party executives.
Alwi Shihab and Saifullah Yusuf, who were suspended as PKB chairman and
secretary-general respectively last year, demanded a "status quo" for the
conflict-ridden party until after the court settles the case.
Alwi, the current coordinating minister for people's welfare, is suing the PKB central
board for his suspension which came into effect after he and Saifullah joined President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Cabinet. A similar lawsuit was also planned by
Saifullah, the state minister for the development of disadvantaged regions. Many
viewed these efforts as the government's attempt to gain influence in political party.
Alwi claimed earlier that the congress was illegal and planned to hold another
congress.
On April 18, the country's former president Abdurrahman Wahid was reelected as the
party's legislative body's chairman.
PKB secured the third largest amount of the popular vote, but only has fifth most
number of seats in the House after last year's general elections.
Muhaimin Iskandar Elected PKB Leader: http://www.infid.be/pkb_muhaimin.htm.
Sources: JP 19/04 20/04
Regional News
Aceh
The Indonesian Government and Aceh's separatist rebels appear to be inching
towards a peace agreement for the tsunami-devastated province that has been torn by
conflict for almost 30 years.
A third round of peace talks wound up in Helsinki on the weekend with both sides
agreeing to further talks late next month.
Chief mediator and former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari said the talks had been
held in "a positive and constructive atmosphere", with Jakarta and the Free Aceh
Movement (GAM) agreeing to continue working towards "a permanent and
comprehensive solution with dignity for all".
Given impetus by the tsunami, the peace talks had reached the point of discussing
external monitoring and security arrangements.
But GAM was insisting on "self-government" and Jakarta was talking about "special
autonomy". President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono made it clear on April 15 that
Aceh would never be given even limited independence.
Indonesian Military (TNI) commander in Aceh Maj.Gen. Endang Suwarya said the
military welcomed the results of the peace talks but added that would go on fighting
until a ceasefire or peace deal was negotiated. He said reports of an informal
ceasefire while a huge international relief operation following the Asian tsunami was
under way, were wishful thinking.
From Aceh to Helsinki A Message for Jakarta: http://www.infid.be/aceh_helsinki.htm.
Sources: TA 18/04, Reuters 18/04
Abbreviations
AFP Agence France-Presse
AP Associated Press
JP The Jakarta Post
TA The Australian
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