Trapped Under The Venal Temptation

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?

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.

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.

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 ?.

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

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.

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 ?.

Lobi dan Suap

Dalam struktur bahasa manapun, kata 'lobi' dan 'suap' sama sekali tidak ada kaitannya. Dua kata itu masing-masing memiliki makna dan pengertiannya sendiri-sendiri. Namun dalam kenyataan kehidupan sehari-hari, terutama dalam dunia politik, ke dua kata itu hampir selalu saling berasosiasi.
Ketika kita mendengar orang mengatakan 'sedang melobi si polan' maka bisa dipastikan dalam benak kita yang terbayang adalah ada pembicaraan dibawah meja yang diwarnai dengan uang pelicin. Atau ketika kita mendengar ada anggota dewan yang sedang bertemu dengan seorang pengusaha di sebuah hotel, maka kitapun akan dengan serta merta membayangkan sedang terjadi suap-menyuap untuk suatu transaksi kebijakan terkait dengan sebuah proyek. Atau, yang saat ini sedang ramai dibicarakan, ketika kita mendengar ada pertemuan antara beberapa anggota dewan dengan seorang kandidat pejabat publik di sebuah hotel, maka yang terbayangkan, sang kandidat sedang melobi anggota dewan untuk mendapat dukungan politik dengan berbagai macam embel-embelnya yang tentu saja akan dibumbui dengan aroma yang tidak sedap.
Bila demikian halnya, maka tidak terlalu salah apabila orang sering mencibir kata-kata lobi. Dari pengalaman kita sehari-hari, terutama dalam dunia politik yang penuh dengan gonjang-ganjing tarik ulur kepentingan  itulah akhirnya sadar atau tidak sadar kita menempatkan kata-kata lobi sebagai salah satu kata yang berkonotasi negatif. Seakan-akan lobi identik dengan suap.
Tapi, benarkah lobi-melobi itu harus selalu diasosiasikan dengan adanya penyuapan atau korupsi sehingga kegiatan lobi-melobi harus diartikan sebagai hal yang negatif ?.
Rasanya bukan pekerjaan yang mudah untuk 'membersihkan' kata-kata 'lobi' dari kesan negatif yang sudah terlanjur melekat cukup dalam. Apalagi belum ada instrumen yang cukup memadai untuk menempatkan kata lobi maupun kegiatan lobi-melobi dalam perspektif yang lebih netral.
GS

Masa Saya Bohong ?

"Pertemuan itu memang ada. Masa saya bohong", jawab Agus Condro dalam penjelasannya di gedung KPK Selasa siang (28/08/2008). Penjelasan tersebut disampaikan oleh Agus Condro menanggapi pertanyaan tentang adanya pertemuan antara Miranda S Goeltom dengan beberapa anggota Komisi IX dari Fraksi PDI Perjuangan beberapa hari sebelum terpilihnya Miranda S Goeltom sebagai Deputi Gubernur Senior Bank Indonesia pada tahun 2004.
Meskipun tidak secara tegas Agus Condro menjelaskan siapa inisiator pertemuan yang digelar di Hotel Dharmawangsa tersebut, namun hasil pertemuan itu sendiri secara tegas menyiratkan akan kesiapan Fraksi PDI Perjuangan di Komisi IX untuk memilih Miranda sebagai orang nomer dua di Bank Indonesia. Dengan berbekal kekuatan lobi yang dilakukan oleh Miranda S Goeltom itulah akhirnya dia terpilih menjadi Deputi Gubernur Senior Bank Indonesia pada tahun 2004 lalu.
Persaingan dalam memperebutkan posisi orang nomer dua di Bank Indonesia tersebut memang cukup keras. Saat itu, terjadi persaingan yang cukup ketat dalam bursa pencalonan Deputi Gubernur Senior Bank Indonesia. Tiga kandidat berhasil masuk bursa pencalonan, masing-masing Miranda S Goeltom, eks Deputi Gubernur Bank Indonesia, S. Budi Rochadi, Kepala Kantor Perwakilan Bank Indonesia di Tokyo dan Hartadi Sarwono, Deputi Gubernur Bank Sentral. Namun akhirnya hanya Miranda S Goeltom dan Budi Rochadi yang diunggulkan. Kedua kandidat yang diunggulkan tersebut cukup intens melakukan lobi-lobi ke fraksi-fraksi di parlemen untuk mendapatkan dukungan suara. Sejauh ini, kita belum tahu persis bagaimana lobi-lobi itu dilakukan oleh para kandidat yang bersaing, tapi,seperti kita tahu, akhirnya Miranda Goeltom-lah yang berhasil terpilih menjadi Deputi Gubernur Senior Bank Indonesia menggantikan posisi Anwar Nasution setelah berhasil memperoleh dukungan yang cukup kuat dari parlemen.
Namun sayang, kekuatan lobi Miranda S Goeltom tersebut diwarnai aroma yang tak sedap setelah Agus Condro, salah seorang mantan anggota Komisi IX DPR periode 1999-2004 mengungkap adanya praktek permainan uang dalam proses pemilihan tersebut.
Rasanya, lepas dari persoalan benar tidaknya apa yang diungkapkan oleh Agus Condro, tapi setidaknya apa yang diungkapkan tersebut bisa jadi sebuah indikator dan tentu kita akan sangat prihatin bila dalam setiap pemilihan pejabat publik harus selalu diwarnai dengan lobi-lobi yang hanya mengandalkan kekuatan uang.

Crime and Corruption

Crime and Corruption- A part of daily society news by Livemint Expert

 Crime and Corruption is becoming a society accepted norm if it is left unchecked. The general people need to be on a high alert now, if they want to gift a safe future to the coming generation. We need to alter society’s view towards corruption and have to work hard to instill these principles in back of their minds. Together, all of us have to do something constructive about putting a stop to all these criminal activities.
Corruption is the misuse of power or the authority given to a person. Corruption has become a part of official activities now-a-days and is being practiced at its seedbeds in public, private and institutional sectors to undertake financial gains. Corruption with all its several branches such as bribery, embezzlement, theft, extortion and intimidation are being practiced openly in India’s several urban and rural areas.
Funds and monetary resources are reversed back from poor and needy into the hands of powerful and dominant individuals in the society. All this is visible to the Indian population there but then need simply falls out of equation and greed loom over. Crime and corruption is a hindrance to the economic and social development of India’s economy and affects adversely on poor.
The question here arises, what is the importance of human rights, best law facilities and finest enforcements available in the country minus the support and development of community. We can relive the country from all the plague of corruption and crime only with the consistent support of Indian population. Concluding all this, it is to be informed that crime is real and is a part of industrially sophisticated economy.
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Mommas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Lobbyists

Mommas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Lobbyists
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Stephanie_Vance]Stephanie Vance

For many years now, I have been the proud holder of jobs that my parents found very difficult to explain to their friends.  Now, when a well-meaning acquaintance asks “what does your daughter do?” they try to explain that I help people understand how to communicate with elected officials.  Invariably the response is “What?  She teaches people how to lobby?  Good heavens, she’s not a lobbyist herself, is she?”  Apparently, being a lobbyist is right up there with being a convict, especially these days.

But is lobbying really that terrible?  Before you utter a resounding “yes”, let’s look at what a lobbyist does.  According to that wonderful resource www.dictionary.com, a lobbyist is someone who tries to influence public officials to take one position over another on a particular issue.  That doesn’t sound so bad, does it?  I’m sure some of you are thinking “well, no, but that doesn’t adequately describe all the terrible things that those lobbyists do in Washington, DC.”

Before we start casting stones, however, consider for a minute that the vast majority of these lobbyists are working on issues that you might actually care about!  For example, are you a member of AARP?  Do you contribute to the Sierra Club?  Do you own a car and have an AAA membership?  All of these organizations use funds from their members to hire “lobbyists” in Washington, DC.  In fact, you, yes you, might actually be acting as a lobbyist in your daily life.  Have you ever called up a city agency to express the need for a stop sign in your neighborhood?  Have you signed on to a petition or letter from a professional organization that was then sent to elected officials at the state or federal level?  That’s lobbying, my friend, pure and simple.

Yes, I know.  That’s different.  You’re expressing your views on public policy because you really care about an issue.  Those evil lobbyists, however, are paid to express opinions that they don’t necessarily believe.  They use all kinds of bribery to get officials on their side.  The truth is, some people are paid for this work.  Some, like citizen advocates, aren’t.  Some employ a number of tools, such as fancy dinners, fundraisers and, as we’ve heard in the news lately, fully-paid trips to exotic locales as part of their lobbying efforts.  Some don’t.  Some professional lobbyists actually are really terrible people that peddle their influence in as sleazy a manner as possible and are an embarrassment to the profession.  The vast majority, however, are people who truly believe in a cause and have found a way to marry their personal interests with their professional life.  They are hired to lobby on causes they really care about, from access to health care to city planning to protection of animals.

I’m often asked “what’s the difference between lobbying and advocacy?”  To me, it’s a simple matter of the audience.  People who are supporters of a particular cause or position are “advocates”.  When those people start seeking to influence public officials to take one position over another on those issues, they are “lobbying.”  It doesn’t matter whether they are paid or unpaid, whether they are in DC or “outside the beltway”, or even whether they are sleazy or not: when one person seeks to influence another, that’s lobbying.  We can condemn the tactics and strategies they use, but let’s not condemn the entire practice.

Really, if you think about it, there’s no escaping lobbying.  In fact, it could probably be considered the world’s oldest profession.  I know that some people honor another profession with that title, but if you adhere to the whole “Adam-and-Eve-in-the-garden-with-the-snake” perspective on the world, what was the snake but a very highly successful lobbyist?  I’m sure he made all kinds of claims to Eve about the wholesomeness of apples and the general benefits that could be expected from apple eating.  Perhaps he was evil – or perhaps he was just trying to get a little peace and quiet in the garden.

And in answer to the question that my parents always wrestle with – no, I am not a professional lobbyist, although I do occasionally “lobby” on a personal level.  But I wouldn’t be ashamed to admit that I was.

Stephanie Vance, an ex-lobbyist and ex-chief of staff, believes that government isn't broken; you just need to work the system to beat the odds.  She currenlty travels the country presenting entertaining and informative workshops to help advocates navigate the legislative system and make an impact with their elected officials.  Learn more and sign up for her free Advocacy Tipsheet at http://www.advocacyguru.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephanie_Vance http://EzineArticles.com/?Mommas,-Dont-Let-Your-Babies-Grow-Up-to-Be-Lobbyists&id=38310

MAU JADI PELOBI ?

Meskipun dunia lobi-melobi (lobbying) selama ini selalu dikonotasikan dengan dunia politik, karenanya lebih sering dilakukan oleh para poltikus di gedung parlemen, namun itu tidak berarti dunia lobi-melobi hanya milik politikus atau orang-orang yang terlibat dalam pemerintahan. Kegiatan lobi-melobi juga ada dalam dunia bisnis. Karena itu tidak sedikit perusahaan-perusahaan besar yang secara khusus memiliki atau menyewa pelobi untuk kepentingan bisnisnya.

Seorang pelobi, apakah itu dalam dunia politik atau dunia bisnis, sasaran maupun strategi yang digunakan adalah sama, bagaimana mempengaruhi pengambilan kebijakan. Karena itu, lobi-melobi identik dengan ‘art of persuasion’, seni membujuk dengan tahu persis kepada siapa dia harus bicara pada saat dan tempat yang tepat. Jadi, seorang pelobi yang mewakili kepentingan seseorang atau kelompok masyarakat atau bahkan kelompok bisnis yang memiliki kepentingan terhadap suatu kebijakan publik, maka target utamanya adalah bagaimana mempengaruhi pengambil kebijakan, katakanlah yang berkaitan dengan legislasi atau regulasi tentang sesuatu hal, agar pengambil kebijakan, dalam hal ini parlemen, mau membuat kebijakan yang bisa memenuhi kepentingan pihak yang diwakilinya. Ambil contoh misalkan sebuah perusahaan yang bergerak dalam bidang pengelolaan hutan. maka tentu perusahaan tersebut akan sangat berkepentingan terhadap setiap regulasi atau peraturan yang dibuat oleh pemerintah atau parlemen bila regulasi atau peraturan tersebut berkaitan dengan soal pengelolaan hutan.

Apakah sah bila seorang pelobi yang menjalankan kegiatannya mendapatkan kompensasi atau honor atas pekerjaan yang dia lakukan ?. Tentu hal itu sah-sah saja sepanjang kompensasi tersebut diperoleh dengan tidak melakukan pelanggaran hukum, misalkan dengan melakukan penyuapan dan sebagainya.

Siapa dan bagaimana bisa menjadi seorang pelobi ?. 

Di Indonesia, rasanya tidak ada kualifikasi khusus atau bahkan sertifikasi khusus untuk menjadi seorang pelobi. Pengetahuan dan pengalaman yang memadai serta didukung dengan kemampuan untuk menjalin interaksi dengan banyak pihak, rasanya sudah cukup untuk menjadi seorang pelobi. Meskipun demikian, seorang pelobi sedikitnya harus memiliki kapasitas intelektual yang cukup memadai. Pada umumnya, seorang yang memiliki latar belakang kesarjanaan dalam bidang ilmu politik, hukum, ekonomi, komunikasi, kehumasan atau ilmu-ilmu sosial lainnya akan lebih mudah untuk menjadi seorang pelobi.  Dengan kata lain, kita tidak perlu menjadi politikus atau pengacara untuk menjadi seorang pelobi yang profesional. Menarik bukan ?

Lobby, A Mantra Of Success For Corporate Houses

Lobby, A Mantra Of Success For Corporate Houses
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Bharat_Kumar]Bharat Kumar

The word lobby is being frequently used in today’s business circle. So, experts and senior executives in the field of different segments have widespread domain knowledge and champion specific matters. They regularly interact with senior bureaucrats or lobby through industry links.

It is undeniable that lobby is on the rampage in the corporate sector. Lobbying comes in different shapes and sizes. List of some of the famous lobbyists are given below.

From Ratan Tata to Mukesh Ambani to N.R. Narayana Murthy to Azim Premji to Sunil Mittal, everyone is indulged in the game of lobby for, variously, superior policies in telecom, oil & gas, education and retail.

Their method is to make regular contacts to policy makers personally, encourage popular support via media. That is why their success rate is very high, since they bring a lot of personal reliability and the heft of their business empires to consider on the issues they champion.

Typically, retired bureaucrats like Pradip Baijal, former TRAI Chairman, and C.M. Vasudev former Expenditure Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and men of such stature are very much active in the game of lobby. They work the old boys’ network, have better right of entry than employee-lobbyists, and identify the lay of the land better than others. So they are very effective in the game of lobby, since they know how the system functions and which levers to pull.

Liquor tycoon turned aviation czar Vijay Mallya of Kingfisher lately got Air Deccan, a low price air carrier, is well on his way to toppling a policy wall that forbids airlines that are not in any case five years old from flying abroad. Why? Kingfisher Airlines is just three years in this business, and Mallya is eager to fly overseas routes. The Union Cabinet is at present thinking to allow kingfisher to fly their airlines in overseas routes. All such things are possible due to lobby.

Dr. Shanker Adawal, who was associated with Nortel previously, is the key lobbyist for Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) in Delhi and NCR. During the important SEZ deal between RIL and Haryana government, Dr. Adawal tackled the situation admirably.

To handle such situation is a common for man like Dr. Adawal. Almost four years before the same situation occurred when Reliance Infocomm (as it was known that time) faced detachment over infringement of licence conditions as a permanent line operator, once again it was Adawal who showed his class and presence of mind to save Infocomms Rs 15,000 crore investment in telephony.

At present lobby is really a mantra for the success of corporate houses. With the help of lobby any one could be approached. Noted lobbyists always want to work within companies either as board members or advisors.

Author is free lancer Journalist. Specialist is Corporate News

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bharat_Kumar http://EzineArticles.com/?Lobby,-A-Mantra-Of-Success-For-Corporate-Houses&id=661585

SBY: Menunggu Proses Hukum

Akhirnya Presiden SBY menyatakan tidak akan memberhentikan kedua menterinya sebelum proses hukumnya dilaksanakan. Demikian dinyatakan Presiden sesaat setelah memanggil ke dua menterinya tersebut siang tadi.
Paskah Suzeta dan MS Kaban, yang kini menjabat sebagai menteri dalam kabinet SBY, disebut-sebut menerima aliran dana dari Bank Indonesia terkait dengan pembahasan amandemen undang undang Bank Indonesia. Keduanya, yang pada saat pembahasan amandemen undang undang Bank Indonesia duduk sebagai anggota Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat periode 1999 - 2004 disebut sebut oleh Hamka Yamdu, salah satu terdakwa yang kini tengah diperiksa di Pengadilan Tipikor, termasuk pihak yang menerima aliran dana dari Bank Indonesia. Dalam pengakuannya, Hamka menyatakan bahwa dia sendiri yang menyerahkan dana tersebut kepada yang bersangkutan. Hamka Yamdu yang juga mantan anggota Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat bersama mantan petinggi Bank Indonesia saat ini tengah diperiksa di Pengadilan Tipikor Jakarta.

Kasus Aliran Dana Bank Indonesia, Contoh Kasus Yang Patut Dijadikan Pelajaran

Beberapa tahun terakhir ini, dunia peradilan kita disibukkan dengan proses pengadilan kasus-kasus korupsi dan suap yang melibatkan tidak hanya pejabat-pejabat di lingkungan pemerintahan, tapi juga beberapa anggota dan mantan anggota Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat dan bahkan juga beberapa warga sipil.

Salah satu kasus yang saat ini proses pengadilannya sedang berjalan yaitu menyangkut kasus dugaan suap yang dilakukan oleh pejabat-pejabat di lingkungan Bank Indonesia kepada beberapa anggota dan mantan anggota Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat. Kasus yang dikenal dengan kasus aliran dana Bank Indonesia tersebut diduga terkait dengan upaya dari pejabat-pejabat Bank Indonesia dalam rangka untuk memperlancar proses pembahasan rancangan undang-undang tentang Bank Indonesia di Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat.

Dalam perspektif 'lobbyist', kasus yang cukup menghebohkan tersebut barangkali hanya salah satu contoh kasus yang cukup menarik untuk ditelaah berdasarkan sudut pandang dunia lobi- melobi yang lebih sehat dan profesional. Tentu saja dengan harapan agar telaah tersebut nantinya bisa memberikan kontribusi yang positif dalam membangun budaya lobi-melobi yang lebih sehat, terutama dalam setiap proses pengambilan kebijakan publik.

Peran Pelobi

Bermula ketika Presiden Amerika Ullyses Grant sedang berada di Lobby Willards Hotel Washington dengan mengisap cerutu sambil minum brandy, dan ngobrol ngobrol yang akhirnya menghasilkan keputusan yang memuaskan semua pihak.

Sejak itu mulai dikenal istilah ‘lobby’, dimana keputusan keputusan penting yang sulit di ambil diruang kerja menjadi lebih mudah diputuskan. Namun, pada saat itu, kegiatan lobby lebih banyak berhubungan dengan Parlemen dan Eksekutif, belum sampai merambah ke banyak bidang yang tidak selalu berhubungan dengan Parlemen dan Eksekutif seperti sekarang ini.

Though many see lobbying as a potential corruption to the system, others

disagree. Bill Clinton defended his wife's reception of lobbyist money for

her campaign by saying:

" Lobbyists are registered, they register with the federal government

and can give the same amount of money, $2300, anybody else can. That's not

going to influence you. What gives the lobbyists influence is the people who

hire them for work for them. It's all the people they represent. So all

these people who don't take money from lobbyists, they take money from the

lobbyists' spouses, their children, their brothers, their sisters, from all

the people they represent. It's a distinction without a difference, I think.

There's no significant financial gain, because there's not that many

lobbyists. If we're going to take money from the guys who pay the lobbyists,

why treat them [the lobbyists] as less than full citizens ?”

Di Amerika Serikat, diperlukan waktu yang sangat panjang sampai akhirnya Lobby sebagai sebuah profesi diakui eksistensinya. Demikian juga dengan Lobbyist di negara Europa lainnya, eksistensinya diakui dan syah menurut Undang Undang Negara.

Berbeda dengan Indonesia. Selama ini istilah Lobbyist bisa dibilang hanya milik partai politik atau anggota parlemen. Praktis, kegiatan lobi kebanyakan dilakukan antar Fraksi yang di parlemen, atau antara Departement dengan Parlemen. Karenanya istilah lobby menjadi kurang menyebar baik bidang maupun ruang lingkupnya.

Princentown refference malah menulis :

A Day in the life of a Lobbyist

Whether lobbyists work for a large organization, a private individual, or

the general public, their goals and strategies are the same.

Dan.

Paying Your Dues

Lobbying is a profession full of people who have changed careers, since

relevant knowledge and experience are all you really need to become a

lobbyist. There are no licensing or certification requirements, but

lobbyists are required to register with the state and federal governments.

Most lobbyists have college degrees. A major in political science,

journalism, law, communications, public relations, or economics should stand

future lobbyists in good stead. While you're still in college you can check

out the terrain through various government-related internships-as a

congressional aide, in a government agency, or with a lobbying firm, for

example. Any of these positions will give you a look at the role of lobbying

in the political system. After college the same holds-working in a

government or political office, especially as a congressional aide, takes

you to the front lines, but it may also be useful to start out in a law or

public relations firm. Many lobbyists also come from careers as legislators,

as former politicians often capitalize on their years of government service

and their connections to old pals still in office. This is the "revolving

door" that recent legislation has begun to regulate (see "Past and Future").

Indeed, networking is the name of the game in lobbying, where people are

hired as much for who they know as what they know. Someone who can schmooze

at high levels will start his lobbying career from an accordingly high

perch, while others face a long hard climb upwards. While there is no

hierarchy of seniority as in corporations, this also means that there is no

ceiling for those who do well”.

Dari sedikit ilustrasi diatas, bisa di tarik kesimpulan, bagaimana pentingnya sosok lobbyist yang apabila bisa berperan secara profesional dan diakui keberadaannya akan membuat banyak perubahan di dalam sistim ketatanegaraan dari sebuah negara.

Sebagai tambahan ilustrasi, berikut sebuah kutipan dari sebuah bulletin board tentang kiprah lobbyist di kota Brussels:

“There are currently around 15,000 lobbyists in Brussels (consultants,

lawyers, associations, corporations, NGOs etc.) seeking to influence the EU's

legislative process. Some 2,600 special interest groups have a permanent

office in Brussels. Their distribution is roughly as follows: European trade

federations (32%), consultants (20%), companies (13%), NGOs (11%), national

associations (10%), regional representations (6%), international

organizations (5%) and think tanks (1%), (Lehmann, 2003, pp iii)”.

Bagaimana dengan Indonesia ?. Bisa dibilang di Indonesia sampai saat ini belum mengenal istilah lobbyist atau pelobi sebagaimana pengertian lobbyist atau pelobi yang sudah eksis di negara-negara maju. Bahkan sampai saat ini, pengertian lobbyist atau pelobi masih tetap cenderung identik dengan politikus-politikus yang menjadi anggota fraksi-fraksi yang ada di parlemen. Seakan tak ada ruang tumbuh bagi lahirnya pelobi-pelobi profesional yang semestinya tidak harus identik dengan seorang politikus.

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PELOBI

Secara umum, lobi (lobby) diartikan sebagai suatu kegiatan, yang kebanyakan di lakukan di dunia politik, untuk mempengaruhi lembaga-lembaga politik maupun lembaga-lembaga pemerintahan lainnya, dengan tujuan untuk mempengaruhi agar pandangan atau kepentingan pribadi atau organisasi yang bersangkutan terwakili di dalam pemerintahan. Pelobi atau lobbyist adalah orang yang melakukan kegiatan untuk mempengaruhi proses pembuatan legislasi maupun keputusan-keputusan lembaga-lembaga politik yang terkait dengan kebijakan publik atau pendapat umum. Biasanya para pelobi tersebut memperoleh kompensasi dalam melakukan pekerjaannya tersebut. Dalam pengertian yang lebih luas, seorang pelobi umumnya adalah orang yang terlibat dalam kegiatan hubungan masyarakat atau orang yang kegiatannya menjalin hubungan dengan pemerintah (goverment relation).

Kebanyakan perusahaan besar yang memiliki kepentingan investasi atau proyek (swasta atau milik pemerintah) maupun kelompok kepentingan politik secara khusus merekrut profesional dengan tugas sebagai pelobi. Bahkan tidak jarang yang menyewa pelobi profesional untuk menyuarakan kepentingan-kepentingan mereka. Namun ada juga perusahaan atau kelompok kepentingan politik yang membentuk kantor-kantor khusus atau divisi-divisi khusus dalam organisasinya untuk menjalankan kegiatan hubungan masyarakat termasuk menjalin hubungan dengan lembaga-lembaga pemerintah.

Di Indonesia, kegiatan lobi umumnya hanya dilakukan antar kekuatan partai-partai politik, atau antara partai politik yang diwakili oleh fraksi-fraksi di parlemen dengan lembaga-lembaga pemerintah. Tidak jarang, kegiatan lobi juga dilakukan oleh organisasi perusahaan yang juga memberikan sumbangan kampanye ke partai politik yang memiliki perwakilan di parlemen dengan maksud agar kepentingan-kepentingan perusahaan tersebut terakomodasi. Itu sebabnya, kegiatan lobi, terutama yang dilakukan oleh organisasi perusahaan, cenderung menyebabkan timbulnya kecurigaan atas dugaan adanya korupsi atau suap (ingat kasus aliran dana Bank Indonesia ke beberapa anggota Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat dalam kasus pembahasan undang-undang tentang Bank Indonesia ?).

Dalam beberapa kasus, tidak jarang kita jumpai politikus yang melakukan posisi tawar-menawar karena mereka membutuhkan sokongan dana dari pihak yang melobi. Alhasil, banyak pengkritik yang akhirnya menganggap bahwa kebanyakan politikus bertindak atas dasar hanya pada kepentingan pihak-pihak yang memberikan sumbangan untuk mereka. Inilah yang kemudian menimbulkan persepsi publik yang negatif terhadap politikus dan seorang pelobi yang seringkali dicurigai dengan adanya dugaan korupsi atau suap.

Di luar negeri, terutama di AS dan negara-negara Eropa, eksistensi seorang pelobi atau lobbyist cukup diakui keberadaanya layaknya sebuah profesi. Bahkan dalam dunia politik, bisa dikatakan keberadaan para pelobi profesional tersebut cukup strategis, baik dalam masa kampanye maupun dalam proses pengambilan kebijakan publik yang dilakukan baik oleh parlemen maupun lembaga-lembaga pemerintah.

Bagaimana di negara kita ?. Adakah peluang untuk lahirnya pelobi-pelobi yang betul-betul menekuni dan menjalankan kegiatannya secara profesional seperti layaknya sebuah profesi yang eksistensinya mestinya juga harus diakui secara sah ?.