We might never dream up how costly is the politics and democracy in Indonesia. As consequences all political parties has to buckle down to fund their activities – from collecting members contribution dues, looking for donation, and even – if needed – extorting money from private or state owned companies.
Unfortunately funding over member contribution dues (members levy) seems not efficient enough – so at the end they have to rely on private donations or taxpayer’s money to support their activities. Oftentimes they make use of their members that has ‘power connection’. Either in bureaucratic or in parliament to raise the fund, be it legally or illegally.
What happened behind the latest scandal obviously demonstrated on how Indonesia political parties trying hard to used every opportunities to gain the advantage and tend to neglect the fact that gratification that has been received by their members in parliament possibly will lessen the meaning of democracy itself.
The question is, what makes those politicians easily mixed up with bribery scandals? One of the reasons is the election system. The mixed nature of an election system between partly proportional and partly district give the highest authority to the party in deciding the position of candidate’s nomination – this will confirm that supporting from political party toward a candidate is necessary. Of course, political party does not give their political support to the candidate for free. In most cases, the candidate should be able to provide their funding to get all those supporting political party - and this, nobody knows the actual ammount of those contribution. At short all dealing done under gloominess.
One can say that collecting the fund from candidates prior to the election and earnings deduction over some portion for party’s members elected as parliament member is common. It was practically a common system for most party to fund their activity. However, it can burden some for the financial capacity of a candidate who might come from among the economically average citizens. How ever, this aggravating circumstance for candidates with limited fund. How they can get additional fund while they have to support the campaign activities both for themselves as well as to the political parties then? It preposterous isn’t it.
As a consequence, this condition leads the candidate to gather additional funds over various ways. Even pawning their own, looking for loans or from other sources looking for the sources such as private companies as their sponsor that often bound down with something that could be smell a rat.
Beyond out of doubt, payback for candidate who elected as a parliament member was a piece of cake.. By exploit their position, looking for new source of funding to raise their other income was so easy to do. At one go, some goes to their pocket to payback their liability, and some goes to the parties. Believe it or not, those sources include kickbacks from lobbyists seeking favors and from state agencies as well as Bank Indonesia that grease palms to get legislation approved.
For what it’s worth, democratization in Indonesia has made the election and the efforts to become a politician were lavishly. But, for a wonder, like a bull in a china shop, people came in throngs to be a politician. Might otherwise most of them will ambush into unbearable financial burdens. One thing is sure temptation to make money by illegas means can become inevitable.
But, whatsoever, it was inconsistent if their enthusiasm not to bear out for the democratization it self, moreover if it just for the sake of finding an alternate jobs to look for bread and butter.
Since money becomes a decisive variable in the victory or the defeat of the candidacy, then, how comes for the politicians to say they're going to clean up politics while they have to fork out huge amounts of money to the political party?. It take for a ride isn’t it?
9/15/2008
Anti-porno Bill as Ramadan Gift ?.
Anti-pornography bill could be passed within the next few weeks. Under the pretex on the widespread of moral decadence in Indonesia, this bill, which devised to shield the young from pornographic material and lewd acts was needed to apply soon in Indonesia.
According to Article 1 of the bill, pornography is any man-made work that includes sexual materials in the form of drawings, sketches, illustrations, photographs, text sound, moving pictures, animation, cartoons, poetry, conversations or any other form of comjmunicative message. For shortness sake, the bill contains provision that could jail people for kissing in public and criminalize many forms of art or traditional culture that express the sensuality.
Meanwhile, some opponent groups bends over backward to beg off the bill. They still move on to lobbying the House to thwart to endorse the bill. Observers said aside could threat to citizen’s privacy and the country’s pluralism, the bill could pave the way for vigilante groups to take the law into their own hands under a pretext to keep from moral decadence.
Even though some secular and nationalist party in the House had been rejected the bill and caused debating it, but the finalization on a draft of the bill continues. Nevertheless, step to ratification of the bill seemed unavoidable. The House working committee deliberating the bill is set to table the final draft to the House plenary session in the next few weeks.
In the other side, an Indonesian Islamic party and other Muslim organization hoping that the bill could be passing within a few weeks as Ramadhan present for Muslim.
Any way, it is interesting, that the discussion about the bill have been made without drawn public attention. In any event, it was a brainwave to debating the draft over the Ramadhan momentum. Thus the opponent had no chance to go to the street. All movement just confined to lobbying and debating only.
According to Article 1 of the bill, pornography is any man-made work that includes sexual materials in the form of drawings, sketches, illustrations, photographs, text sound, moving pictures, animation, cartoons, poetry, conversations or any other form of comjmunicative message. For shortness sake, the bill contains provision that could jail people for kissing in public and criminalize many forms of art or traditional culture that express the sensuality.
Meanwhile, some opponent groups bends over backward to beg off the bill. They still move on to lobbying the House to thwart to endorse the bill. Observers said aside could threat to citizen’s privacy and the country’s pluralism, the bill could pave the way for vigilante groups to take the law into their own hands under a pretext to keep from moral decadence.
Even though some secular and nationalist party in the House had been rejected the bill and caused debating it, but the finalization on a draft of the bill continues. Nevertheless, step to ratification of the bill seemed unavoidable. The House working committee deliberating the bill is set to table the final draft to the House plenary session in the next few weeks.
In the other side, an Indonesian Islamic party and other Muslim organization hoping that the bill could be passing within a few weeks as Ramadhan present for Muslim.
Any way, it is interesting, that the discussion about the bill have been made without drawn public attention. In any event, it was a brainwave to debating the draft over the Ramadhan momentum. Thus the opponent had no chance to go to the street. All movement just confined to lobbying and debating only.
9/12/2008
The Fate of Lapindo Mudflow Victims: 'Still Up In the Air'
Almost two years, settlement of compensation payment for the victims of Lapindo mudflow still up in the air. Its look like that the government was brushing aside the Lapindo mudflow victims.
Therefore, some 25 representatives of the victims met with the coalition at the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) headquarters in Jakarta to seek the NGO's to prop up their insistence to push for a clear response over compensation payments.
Responds to their demanding, as many as 24 Jakarta-based NGOs, grouped under the Coalition of Justice for Lapindo Mudflow Victims, threw their support behind mudflow victims from Sidoarjo, East Java, by either lobbying or urging the government to compensate them before the post-Ramadhan holiday of Idul Fitri at the latest. Base on that meeting, the Coalition of Justice for Lapindo Mudflow Victims, will press upon to the government to clear up compentation payment process as soon as possible..
In their statement, the Coalition of Justice for Lapindo Mudflow Victims slammed the government for "neglecting" the fate of those displaced by the sludge that has devastated the area since May 2006. So they will prompt the President to take strong measure to resolve the fate of Sidoarjo mudflow victims.
Whatever the detailed points of criticsm may be, the long and the short of it is prompting President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to declare an official statement that Lapindo mudflow is the worst industrial disasters in Indonesia. Therefore PT Lapindo Brantas Inc. have to take the responsibility for their procedural errors in the oil and natural gas drilling as caused damaging environmental and suffering the human community . And as consequences he has to repeal the Presidential Regulation 14/2007 which inexorably this regulation just favors corporate interests over the interest of the people. However, this regulation potentialy can dissolves the responsibility of PT Lapindo Brantas Inc. No matter what, without adequate pressure to government, the settlement of payment compensation may remain uncertain.
In the meantime, without continuous pressure toward government to solve the problem as quick as they can, we afraid that this case will only be a political commodities. Even the House has summoned some ministers and other officials tied to clean up efforts surrounding the impact of Lapindo mudflow – but we have to be very cautious here so the summon will not become a formality only to gain political advantage for the election.
Indeed resolving Lapindo case is not an “easy things to do” for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono -as the owner of PT Lapindo Brantas Inc. is in the government’s circle of power. Aburizal Bakrie, who heads the Social Welfare ministry also known as one of the biggest donators in Golkar the strongest party in Indonesia, but President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono must imposed in all the way to the owners (and shareholders) of Lapindo Brantas Inc to shoulder all costs concerning compensation, containment and rehabilitation.
Although the situation is really difficult for him, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has no choice but to show his political will by resolving this case before 2009 election as this will potentially become his obstruction to win the election. If he take wrong moves then it will be recorded by Indonesian history as one of the greatest failure of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Administration in handling this extraordinary humanitarian disaster.
Therefore, some 25 representatives of the victims met with the coalition at the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (Kontras) headquarters in Jakarta to seek the NGO's to prop up their insistence to push for a clear response over compensation payments.
Responds to their demanding, as many as 24 Jakarta-based NGOs, grouped under the Coalition of Justice for Lapindo Mudflow Victims, threw their support behind mudflow victims from Sidoarjo, East Java, by either lobbying or urging the government to compensate them before the post-Ramadhan holiday of Idul Fitri at the latest. Base on that meeting, the Coalition of Justice for Lapindo Mudflow Victims, will press upon to the government to clear up compentation payment process as soon as possible..
In their statement, the Coalition of Justice for Lapindo Mudflow Victims slammed the government for "neglecting" the fate of those displaced by the sludge that has devastated the area since May 2006. So they will prompt the President to take strong measure to resolve the fate of Sidoarjo mudflow victims.
Whatever the detailed points of criticsm may be, the long and the short of it is prompting President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to declare an official statement that Lapindo mudflow is the worst industrial disasters in Indonesia. Therefore PT Lapindo Brantas Inc. have to take the responsibility for their procedural errors in the oil and natural gas drilling as caused damaging environmental and suffering the human community . And as consequences he has to repeal the Presidential Regulation 14/2007 which inexorably this regulation just favors corporate interests over the interest of the people. However, this regulation potentialy can dissolves the responsibility of PT Lapindo Brantas Inc. No matter what, without adequate pressure to government, the settlement of payment compensation may remain uncertain.
In the meantime, without continuous pressure toward government to solve the problem as quick as they can, we afraid that this case will only be a political commodities. Even the House has summoned some ministers and other officials tied to clean up efforts surrounding the impact of Lapindo mudflow – but we have to be very cautious here so the summon will not become a formality only to gain political advantage for the election.
Indeed resolving Lapindo case is not an “easy things to do” for President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono -as the owner of PT Lapindo Brantas Inc. is in the government’s circle of power. Aburizal Bakrie, who heads the Social Welfare ministry also known as one of the biggest donators in Golkar the strongest party in Indonesia, but President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono must imposed in all the way to the owners (and shareholders) of Lapindo Brantas Inc to shoulder all costs concerning compensation, containment and rehabilitation.
Although the situation is really difficult for him, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has no choice but to show his political will by resolving this case before 2009 election as this will potentially become his obstruction to win the election. If he take wrong moves then it will be recorded by Indonesian history as one of the greatest failure of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono Administration in handling this extraordinary humanitarian disaster.
9/08/2008
Agus Condro’s removal, the price that has to pay for a 'lobby'
Finally, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) remove Agus 'whistle-blower' Condro from the House of Representatives.
Recently Agus Condro confessed to the Corruption Eradication Commission that he has received Rp 500 million (US$54,500) soon after the election of Miranda Gultom as Bank Indonesia senior deputy governor. In his confession, he said that few days before vote, there was a meetings of several politicians from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) in Dharmawangsa Hotel. Agus who was a member of the party said that the meeting held by Panda Nababan was also attended by Miranda Goeltom, who is now BI senior deputy governor.
Agus had said in his confession that he was not the only legislators who has receive money for voting for Miranda. He mention that his fellow from House Commission IX, which oversees financial affairs, and some PDI-P members also received the money. But, names mentioned by Agus all denied the allegation.
He said they were accept the same amount by PDI-P member Dudhie Makmun Murod at the office of Commission IX chief Emir Moeis, also of the PDI-P members. Caused of his confession evoked suspicion that in the election process to appoint of Miranda Goeltom may contained bribery.
However, his confession enraged party elites and others senior legislators of PDI-P. At last, Agus Condro was removed from the House of Representatives by his party. Not enough, PDI-P has also removed Agus Condro from its list of candidates for next year’s legislative election.
Apparently the dismissal that only apply to Agus Condro was untactful decision to PDI-P. It was done without preceding detailed internal investigation and it also not put into account the possibility to suspend the other legislator that has mentioned by Agus Condro on his confession. The reason that stated by PDI-P Secretary General Pramono Anung -he claimed that the decision was made because Agus has disgrace the party's image by his behaviour- sounds very ridiculous. This case has proven that PDI-P is very pathetic and has no serious commitment in cleaning up the seemingly pervasive corruption in all level rank in the party.
Surely, by this case, PDI-P was in the doghouse. It could limit the chance of Megawati Soekarnoputri to the next presidential race.
So, who has a finger in the pie then ?.
Recently Agus Condro confessed to the Corruption Eradication Commission that he has received Rp 500 million (US$54,500) soon after the election of Miranda Gultom as Bank Indonesia senior deputy governor. In his confession, he said that few days before vote, there was a meetings of several politicians from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) in Dharmawangsa Hotel. Agus who was a member of the party said that the meeting held by Panda Nababan was also attended by Miranda Goeltom, who is now BI senior deputy governor.
Agus had said in his confession that he was not the only legislators who has receive money for voting for Miranda. He mention that his fellow from House Commission IX, which oversees financial affairs, and some PDI-P members also received the money. But, names mentioned by Agus all denied the allegation.
He said they were accept the same amount by PDI-P member Dudhie Makmun Murod at the office of Commission IX chief Emir Moeis, also of the PDI-P members. Caused of his confession evoked suspicion that in the election process to appoint of Miranda Goeltom may contained bribery.
However, his confession enraged party elites and others senior legislators of PDI-P. At last, Agus Condro was removed from the House of Representatives by his party. Not enough, PDI-P has also removed Agus Condro from its list of candidates for next year’s legislative election.
Apparently the dismissal that only apply to Agus Condro was untactful decision to PDI-P. It was done without preceding detailed internal investigation and it also not put into account the possibility to suspend the other legislator that has mentioned by Agus Condro on his confession. The reason that stated by PDI-P Secretary General Pramono Anung -he claimed that the decision was made because Agus has disgrace the party's image by his behaviour- sounds very ridiculous. This case has proven that PDI-P is very pathetic and has no serious commitment in cleaning up the seemingly pervasive corruption in all level rank in the party.
Surely, by this case, PDI-P was in the doghouse. It could limit the chance of Megawati Soekarnoputri to the next presidential race.
So, who has a finger in the pie then ?.
9/03/2008
Tangguh LNG Contract: It' s seem like the thin end of the wedge ?
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has denied that he and Vice President Jusuf Kalla had taken a part in the process to set the inordinately low price of the LNG Tangguh contract.
"Don't spread this report about SBY (Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono) and JK (Jusuf Kalla) having taken a part in setting the natural gas export price. It might confuses the people," said the President at plenary cabinet meeting at the presidential office Thursday as reported by Antara
Earlier, former president Megawati Soekarnoputri was reported has stated that SBY and JK were also involved in the decision process to determine the price of Tangguh LNG exports to China.
It' s seem like the thin end of the wedge ?. We'll wait and see whats the end of this quarrel about
"Don't spread this report about SBY (Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono) and JK (Jusuf Kalla) having taken a part in setting the natural gas export price. It might confuses the people," said the President at plenary cabinet meeting at the presidential office Thursday as reported by Antara
Earlier, former president Megawati Soekarnoputri was reported has stated that SBY and JK were also involved in the decision process to determine the price of Tangguh LNG exports to China.
It' s seem like the thin end of the wedge ?. We'll wait and see whats the end of this quarrel about
Tangguh LNG Contract: 'Who has a finger in the Pie' ?
After lobbying Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping, Vice President Jusuf Kalla said that Xi had agreed to renegotiate a 2002 contract to suplly liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Indonesia's Tangguh Field to Fujian, China."In principle they have understood and received our proposal for renegotiate. The two countries will set up team to further discuss the issue," said Jusuf Kalla after meeting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping as reported by Antara.
The administration of Megawati signed contract to supply LNG from Tangguh to Fujian province with the price pegged at US$2.40 per million Britishthermal unit (mmbtu) regardless of any increase in crude oil price. "if we compare the LNG Tangguh contract signed in 2002 with today's prices, the contract price is far lower then. Thats why we want to review the contract", said Jusuf Kalla. At present the international LNG price is around US$20 per mmbtu."So, the House has to investigate the Tangguh LNG contract. This is the most devastating contract ever made, this contract is the worst so far," said Jusuf Kalla as quoted by Antara weeks ago.
Meanwhile, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said that the case has played a major role in the hot debates over a 2002 contract calling for gas export from the massive Tangguh field in Papua, was more politics, rather than substance.
"I saw nothing wrong with the contract. I have checked all the procedures and finally reached the conclusion that there is nothing in the Tangguh contract except politics. I hope our oil and gas sector will not be affected by political posturing," said Purnomo Yusgiantoro during his speech at business discussion few days ago. Purnomo Yusgiantoro held the same post when serving under Megawati administration.
In response, Megawati said that since Kalla once served as a a minister in her cabinet, then he should share the blame for every finger pointed at her and her ministers.
This debates seem like a war between Golkar, the nation's largets party which Jusuf Kalla as a chairman and Megawati, heads of the second large party, the Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).
After a while sit on the fence, finally, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was setting up a team to be led by the coordinating Minister for the Economy Sri Mulyani Indrawati to renegotiate the selling price which directly supervised by Vice Presdident Jusuf Kalla.
Currently this hottest issue -aside of Pansus BBM- increasing the tense in the Indonesian's politics. Easing of tensions, TK (Taufik Kiemas, Megawati husband) lobbying the Golkar. But, will TK's lobbying by offering the coalition will sooth the war between Jusuf Kalla and Megawati ?. Will this issue affecting Megawati's popularity? And will this also has political implication on 2009 election?. We'll wait and see.
The administration of Megawati signed contract to supply LNG from Tangguh to Fujian province with the price pegged at US$2.40 per million Britishthermal unit (mmbtu) regardless of any increase in crude oil price. "if we compare the LNG Tangguh contract signed in 2002 with today's prices, the contract price is far lower then. Thats why we want to review the contract", said Jusuf Kalla. At present the international LNG price is around US$20 per mmbtu."So, the House has to investigate the Tangguh LNG contract. This is the most devastating contract ever made, this contract is the worst so far," said Jusuf Kalla as quoted by Antara weeks ago.
Meanwhile, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said that the case has played a major role in the hot debates over a 2002 contract calling for gas export from the massive Tangguh field in Papua, was more politics, rather than substance.
"I saw nothing wrong with the contract. I have checked all the procedures and finally reached the conclusion that there is nothing in the Tangguh contract except politics. I hope our oil and gas sector will not be affected by political posturing," said Purnomo Yusgiantoro during his speech at business discussion few days ago. Purnomo Yusgiantoro held the same post when serving under Megawati administration.
In response, Megawati said that since Kalla once served as a a minister in her cabinet, then he should share the blame for every finger pointed at her and her ministers.
This debates seem like a war between Golkar, the nation's largets party which Jusuf Kalla as a chairman and Megawati, heads of the second large party, the Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).
After a while sit on the fence, finally, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was setting up a team to be led by the coordinating Minister for the Economy Sri Mulyani Indrawati to renegotiate the selling price which directly supervised by Vice Presdident Jusuf Kalla.
Currently this hottest issue -aside of Pansus BBM- increasing the tense in the Indonesian's politics. Easing of tensions, TK (Taufik Kiemas, Megawati husband) lobbying the Golkar. But, will TK's lobbying by offering the coalition will sooth the war between Jusuf Kalla and Megawati ?. Will this issue affecting Megawati's popularity? And will this also has political implication on 2009 election?. We'll wait and see.
9/02/2008
Kontrak LNG Tangguh, Bola Panas yang Digelindingkan oleh JK
Setelah melakukan lobi-lobi yang cukup intensif disela-sela kunjungannya ke China untuk menghadiri penutupan Olimpiade 2009 beberapa waktu lalu, Wakil Presiden M Jusuf Kalla mengatakan pemerintah RRC bersedia untuk melakukan pembicaraan ulang terhadap isi kontrak penjualan LNG Tangguh yang telah ditanda tangani pada tahun 2002. Dalam penjelasannya, Wapres antara lain mengatakan bahwa kontrak LNG Tangguh untuk propinsi Fujian, China tersebut merupakan kebijakan pemerintah Megawati pada waktu itu. Namun kebijakan yang dilakukan pemerintahan Megawati pada tahun 2002 tersebut jika dilihat dari perkembangan saat ini harganya sangat rendah dan sangat merugikan pemerintah Indonesia. Ditambahkannya, kontrak LNG Tangguh tahun 2002 tersebut menyebutkan nilainya sebesar US$ 3,3/mmbtu. Sedangkan harga LNG di pasar Internasional saat ini berkisar US$ 20/mmbtu. Dengan harga jual yang hanya US$ 3,3/mmbtu tersebut diperkirakan akan merugikan negara sebesar US$ 3 miliar per tahun.
Itulah bola panas yang saat ini menggelinding ditengah ramainya pembahasan Pansus BBM, membuat suasana poltik di Indonesia bertambah hangat. Lalu, benarkah lobi-lobi tersebut semata-mata lobi politik dengan menggunakan issue kontrak LNG Tangguh sebagai 'sasaran antara' saja ?. Akankah issue tentang kontrak LNG Tangguh tersebut mampu menjatuhkan popularitas Megawati ?. Bagaimana implikasi politisnya menjelang pemilu 2009 yang mulai menghangat ?.
Itulah bola panas yang saat ini menggelinding ditengah ramainya pembahasan Pansus BBM, membuat suasana poltik di Indonesia bertambah hangat. Lalu, benarkah lobi-lobi tersebut semata-mata lobi politik dengan menggunakan issue kontrak LNG Tangguh sebagai 'sasaran antara' saja ?. Akankah issue tentang kontrak LNG Tangguh tersebut mampu menjatuhkan popularitas Megawati ?. Bagaimana implikasi politisnya menjelang pemilu 2009 yang mulai menghangat ?.
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