JAKRTA, Indonesia (AFP) — Indonesian President Joko Widodo sacked his energy minister late Monday just weeks after filling the key cabinet post, following revelations his new appointee improperly held Indonesian and United States passports. Arcandra Tahar, a former oil and gas executive who lived in the US for 20 years, was dismissed as a cabinet minister following days of controversy surrounding his dual citizenship. Indonesian law does not allow for dual nationality. An Indonesian must […]
Tag: Indonesia
ASEAN celebrates its community during 49th anniversary
THE Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), for the first time as an ASEAN Community, observed its 49th anniversary on 8 August 2016. A celebration was held on Aug. 15 at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia. In his welcome remarks, the Secretary-General of ASEAN, H.E. Le Luong Minh highlighted the progress that ASEAN has achieved in the last 49 years, which enabled ASEAN to play a central role in the evolving regional architecture in […]
Indonesia orders probe into alleged police role in drugs
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — Indonesian President Joko Widodo has ordered an official investigation into allegations top police and military officers were involved in trafficking illegal drugs. Claims that senior police and military brass took kickbacks from a drug kingpin have stoked huge controversy in Indonesia, where the government is waging a war on narcotics and last month executed four convicted traffickers. Freddy Budiman — who was among the four shot by firing squad — allegedly […]
Activists slam ASEAN roadmap to stop smog
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AFP) – Southeast Asian nations agreed to a roadmap on Thursday to combat acrid haze from Indonesian fires that cloaks vast swathes of the region every year, but the move was greeted by activists with scepticism. Further doubts were raised about the agreement with the Indonesian environment minister skipping the one-day meeting in Kuala Lumpur attended by environment ministers from the the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a 10-member regional bloc. Malaysia’s […]
Illegal bird trade threatens Indonesian species: report
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — Tens of thousands of endangered Indonesian birds are being sold illegally at markets across the country, a wildlife trade watchdog warned Thursday, flouting laws aimed at protecting these species from extinction. Wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC recorded nearly 23,000 birds for sale at five markets in three major cities on the main island of Java. More than two dozen species identified in the survey were fully protected under Indonesian law, meaning […]
Indonesian crocodile catchers to snap up prizes
KUPANG, Indonesia (AFP) — An Indonesian city has hit on an original idea to rid its popular beaches of crocodiles — it will offer cash prizes to people who catch the man-eating reptiles, an official said Friday. The population of dangerous saltwater crocodiles around two beaches near Kupang in eastern Indonesia has been increasing in recent years and there have been reports of tourists being attacked. Authorities now plan to launch a competition offering cash […]
Volcanic eruptions in Indonesia hit air travel
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — Volcanic eruptions in Indonesia in recent days have forced the closure of two airports and disrupted some flights to the holiday island of Bali, officials said Wednesday. Mount Gamalama on the eastern island of Ternate erupted early Wednesday after a moderate earthquake in the area, sending ash up to 600 meters (1,900 feet) into the air and closing the island’s airport, said the national disaster agency. “People are advised to stay […]
Indonesia to sink scores of boats in fishing fight
JAKARTA, Indonesia (AFP) — Indonesia will sink up to 71 impounded foreign boats this month on its Independence Day, a minister said Monday, ramping up a campaign to deter illegal fishing in its vast waters. The world’s biggest archipelago nation has been seeking to stop foreign vessels fishing without permission in its territory, with President Joko Widodo claiming it costs the economy billions of dollars annually. So far 176 foreign boats captured fishing illegally have […]
Indonesia executes one local, 3 foreign drug convicts
by Muhammad Azka CILACAP, Indonesia (AFP) — Indonesia executed four drug convicts Friday but 10 others due to face the firing squad were given an apparent reprieve in a confused process one lawyer condemned as a “complete mess”. The executions on a remote prison island went ahead despite strong protests from international rights groups, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the European Union who had urged Indonesia not to proceed. Four inmates — three Nigerians […]
Indonesia rejects international pleas to halt executions
CILACAP, Indonesia (AFP) – by Muhammad Azka Indonesia on Thursday rejected mounting international pressure and desperate pleas from relatives to halt the execution of 14 drug convicts who are expected to imminently face the firing squad. The group, including foreigners from Nigeria, Pakistan, India and Zimbabwe as well as Indonesians, have been placed in isolation on a prison island where Jakarta carries out executions. Authorities stepped up preparations, with ambulances seen transporting coffins over to the […]
New executions looming in Indonesia
CILACAP, Indonesia (AFP) — More foreign drug convicts could imminently face the firing squad in Indonesia after authorities said Monday they were ready to carry out a new round of executions following a hiatus. Nationals from Pakistan, Nigeria and Zimbabwe are expected to be put to death alongside Indonesians soon, but officials say no Europeans or Australians will face the firing squad in the third round of executions under President Joko Widodo. Indonesia sparked international […]
Eight dead, 20 missing in Malaysia boat accident
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AFP) — Malaysia’s coast guard said Monday they had retrieved eight bodies after a boat capsized off the southern state of Johor at the weekend with another 20 people believed to be missing. Local media reported that the boat carrying 62 people — all Indonesians and thought to be illegal immigrants — capsized due to strong waves late on Saturday night. So far, 34 passengers have been rescued and a search was […]
