Jakarta. Although the regional elections are still months away, an election watchdog says it has already discovered violations in two provinces.

The discovery came just days after the registration period for the 269 elections closed.

Nasrullah, a member of the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu), said some candidates have already promised posts to civil servants in exchange for their loyalty and assistance in the upcoming elections, staged simultaneously across the country on Dec. 9.

The Bawaslu member said this had happened in North Sumatra and North Maluku.

“We have clarified this with supervisory committees [in the respective provincial offices] and there are photographs,” he said. “These are strong pieces of evidence. We will announce it soon.”

The government has instructed civil servants to remain neutral, but Nasrullah said the Bawaslu believes that similar violations will be rampant, as has been the cases in previous elections.

By law, the Bawaslu can only impose administrative sanctions on violators, but Nasrullah said his office was pushing police to pursue criminal cases against those it suspects of electoral fraud.

Nasrullah urged President Joko Widodo to issue a regulation in-lieu of law (Perppu) to override existing laws and give the oversight agency more powers.

The current law has many loopholes, Nasrullah said. “We are toothless in fighting such political promises being made to civil servants.”

The post Bawaslu: Election Violations Already Taking Place Ahead of Dec. 9 Polls appeared first on The Jakarta Globe.

Jakarta. Senior journalists and editors from 10 countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) and Asia’s three giants — China, India and Japan — have gathered in Jakarta to work out solutions to growing geopolitical problems in the Asia Pacific.

The new forum is called the Japan-Asean Media Forum and was established to gather media people from around the region.

“The forum was established for media brainstorming, to seek solutions for problems that are happening in Asia at large,” said Endy Bayuni, senior editor at the Jakarta Post.

“This is also a response from media companies to significant changes caused by the rivalry of the world’s two largest economies, the United States and China, in their effort to influence the region,” Endy added.

“We can already see the significant changes in the region as China becomes stronger and the United States grows less competitive,” Endy said. “This is a way for media in Southeast Asia to push for a more peaceful and conducive Asia.”

Two issues that the forum discussed included developments in the South China Sea and the Asean Economic Community.

Columnist Hiroyuki Akita, of the Nihon Keizai Shimbun, focused on the growing suspicion among countries like China, Japan and the United States amid the disputes in the East China Sea.

Meanwhile, India Today bureau chief Ananth Krishnan pointed out the opportunities China’s rapid economic development can provide to countries all over Asia.

Isami Takeda, coordinator of the Japanese-Asean Media Forum, said the forum aims to strengthen relations between media in Japan and Southeast Asia but also plans to cover global issues in the coming years.

Takeda added the Japan-Asean Media Forum also hopes to generate public awareness of online and offline information.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla welcomed the chief editors from the forum in his office on Monday.

The panel of editors included Primus Dorimulu, editor-in-chief of Investor Daily, Suara Pembaruan and Beritasatu.com, and Bambang Harymurti, chief executive officer of Tempo Inti Media.

The next meeting will be held in Bangkok, next year.

The post New Media Forum to Discuss Pressing Problems in Asia appeared first on The Jakarta Globe.

Jakarta. The government expects to see a tax revenue shortfall of Rp 120 trillion ($9 billion) this year due to a weakening economy, threatening a larger budget deficit than initially projected.

The government targeted Rp 1,480 trillion in revenue from taxes, excises, fees and royalties in the 2015 state budget, but has only managed to collect 37 percent of that figure in the first half of the year, according to Finance Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro.

“Indeed, since the beginning of this year, we knew slowing economic growth would affect our taxation revenue; it will be be short of the target that we set in 2014,” Vice President Jusuf Kalla said on Wednesday.

Bank Indonesia projects second-quarter economic growth of less than 5 percent as exports and government spending remain weak, following expansion of 4.7 percent in the first quarter, the country’s slowest pace of growth in five years.

Kalla said the government would refrain from increasing taxes or implementing new ones – other than those already announced earlier this year – to avoid putting any more pressure on the economy.

“We just cannot do that,” Kalla said, “If we cannot achieve our target, we shouldn’t force it to avoid a big contraction in people’s [spending power].”

The government raised in May its super luxury tax to include many more houses and vehicles, in order to boost tax revenue from the rich. On the other hand, it also removed a luxury taxes on common electronic devices, furniture and appliances, in order to spur spending by the middle class.

Finance Minister Bambang said the government had prepared some measures to cope with the revenue shortfall, in order to limit widening the budget deficit, but did not elaborate on what those measures were.

The Finance Ministry had previously projected that the budget deficit would amount to 2.2 percent of gross domestic product this year – higher than the official target in the 2015 state budget of 1.9 percent of GDP – due to the lower tax revenue.

The government has spent Rp 773.9 trillion, or 39 percent, of its budget in the first six months of this year, Bambang said.

The post Government, Expecting Revenue Shortfall of Rp 120t, Says It Won’t Hike Taxes appeared first on The Jakarta Globe.

Jakarta. Almost 200 people, including several active police generals, have met the requirements to pass the first phase of selection for the new leadership of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), those in charge of the process announced on Saturday.

From the 611 people who registered, only 194 were deemed fit to continue to the next phase. In the first phase, the selection committee looked at candidates’ educational profiles, their work experience and other qualifications.

Destry Damayanti, who heads the all-female selection committee, said over 80 percent of the remaining candidates  — 171 people — were men.

In terms of education track records, Destry said 46 percent of the candidates hold a master’s degree, 25 percent has a PhD and the remainder has a bachelor’s degree as their highest educational achievement.

The names of those who passed the first hurdle can be found on the selection committee’s website. On the site, people are invited to leave positive and negative feedback about the candidates and they can also upload documents to support their claims.

During the second phase of selection, the committee will take a closer look at candidates’ competencies and personal profiles, Destry said, especially focusing on knowledge of how to tackle corruption.

Those who passed the first phase will have to write a paper about their own perceived role in the KPK, which will be posted on the committee’s website, she added.

The paper will have to be submitted to the selection committee on Wednesday, when the next selection meeting is scheduled in South Jakarta. The results of the second selection phase will be announced on July 15, Destry said.

Among those who are still in the running are Insp. Gen. Yotje Mende, the chief of Papua Police, Hendardji Supandji, a retired Army general, Johan Budi, a former KPK spokesman and currently an interim leader of the organization, and Jimly Asshidiquie, a former chief justice of the Constitutional Court.

Brig. Gen. Basaria Panjaitan, another active police general, and Insp. Gen. Syahrul Mamma, the head of the National Police’s legal division, also made it to the next round. However, Benny Mamoto, the former director of the police’s National Narcotics Agency (BNN), who is now retired, is not mentioned in the list of the successful candidates.

The police, widely perceived as the most corrupt institution in Indonesia, and the KPK have been at loggerheads since the latter was established in 2003. But tensions between the two law-enforcement agencies have plumbed new depths since January, when President Joko Widodo nominated Budi Gunawan, a general long suspected of amassing illegal funds in his personal bank accounts, as chief of the National Police.

The KPK charged Budi with bribery and money-laundering within days of his nomination, prompting the police to launch a series of retaliatory investigations against KPK officials based on trumped-up charges dating back up to a decade.

Those targeted so far in the dubious cases are Abraham Samad, the KPK chairman, and Bambang Widjojanto, a deputy chairman, both of whom have since been suspended; and Novel Baswedan, a veteran investigator whom the police previously tried to bring up on baseless charges, to no avail.

The post Police Generals Among 194 Still in Running for KPK Leadership appeared first on The Jakarta Globe.

Jakarta. National Police Chief Gen. Badrodin Haiti has requested a work-allowance hike for his officers of up to 60 percent, similar to the allowance made available to the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI).

“The work allowance for the TNI was increased by 54 to 60 percent. We propose the same thing [for police officers],” Badrodin told reporters at the office of Vice President Jusuf Kalla in Jakarta on Thursday.

The police chief said the work allowance hike for police officers currently stands at just 36 percent.

Badrodin has said that salary and other remuneration hikes for all officers were necessary to strengthen solidarity within the force.

The post National Police Chief Wants 60% Allowance Hike for Officers appeared first on The Jakarta Globe.

Jakarta. Several commercial flights arriving and departing from Halim Perdanakusumah airport in the capital have been diverted to naval airbase in Pondok Cabe, South Jakarta, due to the Asian African conference.

“We have to divert the commercial flights,” Vice President Jusif Kalla said on Saturday. Affected airlines include Citilink, Batik Air and Lion Air.

Several private jets parked at Halim Perdakusumah will also be moved to Pondok Cabe.

The government previously announced the international airport in Bandung will be closed for two days to accommodate the arrival of the conference delegates.

The post Flights From Halim Airport Diverted for Asian African Conference appeared first on The Jakarta Globe.

Jakarta. Indonesia will place itself in the role of mediator for conflicts in the Middle East during the Asian-African Conference to be held in Jakarta and Bandung from April 19 to 24.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla on Wednesday said conflicts in the Middle East region  would be on the agenda for the 60th anniversary commemoration of the landmark 1955 summit.

“We want heads of state from member countries of the Organization of the Islamic Conference to hold a meeting [during the AAC commemorations],” Kalla said.

He was speaking after a meeting with 30 ambassadors from OIC member states at the State Palace in Jakarta, hosted by President Joko Widodo.

He added that the ambassadors supported Indonesia’s intention to mediate.

Kalla said Joko had spoken with several heads of state by phone, including Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and  President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, during which they agreed that peaceful resolutions to various conflicts should be sought during the conference.

Presidential chief of staff Luhut Panjaitan said on Wednesday that preparations ahead of the anniversary commemorations were nearly complete.

“Overall, they are 95 percent complete. The president is planning to go to Bandung tomorrow to check the preparations,” he said.

The Foreign Ministry said that as of Wednesday 30 heads of state had confirmed they would attend the Jakarta and Bandung events.

A total of 70 foreign delegations have confirmed their attendance, out of more than 100 invitations dispatched.

Meanwhile, the Transportation Ministry says it is preparing four airports in Jakarta, Palembang and Lampung for coordinated use during the conference.

Aircraft carrying delegates will arrive at one of the four airports, including Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport in Jakarta.

Delegates headed for Bandung will travel there from Jakarta.

“We’re getting Soekarno-Hatta, Halim, Lampung and Palembang airports ready. Husein Sastranegara International Airport [in Bandung] won’t have enough space if every airplane parks there,” Transportation Minister Ignasius Jonan told state-run news agency Antara on Wednesday.

The minister said efforts had been made to ensure normal service of the airports would not be disrupted.

The post Indonesia to Play the Role of Peacemaker at Conference appeared first on The Jakarta Globe.

Jakarta. Indonesia will place itself in the role of mediator for conflicts in the Middle East during the Asian-African Conference to be held in Jakarta and Bandung from April 19 to 24.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla on Wednesday said conflicts in the Middle East region  would be on the agenda for the 60th anniversary commemoration of the landmark 1955 summit.

“We want heads of state from member countries of the Organization of the Islamic Conference to hold a meeting [during the AAC commemorations],” Kalla said.

He was speaking after a meeting with 30 ambassadors from OIC member states at the State Palace in Jakarta, hosted by President Joko Widodo.

He added that the ambassadors supported Indonesia’s intention to mediate.

Kalla said Joko had spoken with several heads of state by phone, including Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and  President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, during which they agreed that peaceful resolutions to various conflicts should be sought during the conference.

Presidential chief of staff Luhut Panjaitan said on Wednesday that preparations ahead of the anniversary commemorations were nearly complete.

“Overall, they are 95 percent complete. The president is planning to go to Bandung tomorrow to check the preparations,” he said.

The Foreign Ministry said that as of Wednesday 30 heads of state had confirmed they would attend the Jakarta and Bandung events.

A total of 70 foreign delegations have confirmed their attendance, out of more than 100 invitations dispatched.

Meanwhile, the Transportation Ministry says it is preparing four airports in Jakarta, Palembang and Lampung for coordinated use during the conference.

Aircraft carrying delegates will arrive at one of the four airports, including Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport in Jakarta.

Delegates headed for Bandung will travel there from Jakarta.

“We’re getting Soekarno-Hatta, Halim, Lampung and Palembang airports ready. Husein Sastranegara International Airport [in Bandung] won’t have enough space if every airplane parks there,” Transportation Minister Ignasius Jonan told state-run news agency Antara on Wednesday.

The minister said efforts had been made to ensure normal service of the airports would not be disrupted.

The post Indonesia to Play the Role of Peacemaker at Conference appeared first on The Jakarta Globe.

Jakarta. Vice President Jusuf Kalla has said senior government figures could meet with the House of Representatives in a matter of days to explain why President Joko Widodo withdrew Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan as his candidate for National Police chief.

“It could be next week,” Kalla said on Thursday.

Lawmakers have called on Joko to explain his reasons for dropping Budi as his sole nominee for police chief after the House had endorsed him in a fit-and-proper test and voted for his appointment.

Budi was named a corruption suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission, or KPK, just three days after Joko announced his nomination in January.

The move spurred protests and public condemnation of the president, whom many suggested made the nomination out of deference to the chairwoman of his political party, Megawati Soekarnoputri, who is close to Budi.

The government is yet to receive an official request but it is understood Kalla has appointed chief security minister Tedjo Edhy Purdijatno and Justice Minister Yasonna Laoly to meet with the legislators to explain the decision to drop Budi.

Joko is abroad for state visits in Japan and China and it is unclear if he will meet with legislators. The House returned from a one-month recess on Monday to reject a fit-and-proper test for new police chief nominee Comr. Gen. Badrodin Haiti.

The post Ministers to Face House Questioning on Budi Gunawan Candidacy appeared first on The Jakarta Globe.

Jakarta. Indonesia’s anti-money laundering agency announced on Tuesday that it had detected funds believed to support terrorist activities flowing from Australia into the country.

“We have discovered funding activities from Australia to [terrorist] networks in Indonesia,” said Agus Santoso, deputy chief of the Financial Transactions Report and Analysis Center (PPATK).

He declined to elaborate, saying only that the matter is still under investigation and the agency is cooperating with its Australian counterpart.

“I can’t reveal the exact figure, but it’s not in the millions [of dollars]. We can only confirm that the funds came from Australia to support known radical organizations in the country,” Agus said.

He declined to name the group or any specific incidents the funds may be related to. He also declined to comment on whether the case is connected to the recent wave of Indonesians seeking to join the radical group Islamic State (IS) in Iraq and Syria.

“We plan to reach out to agencies [PPATK counterparts] abroad with efforts to cut terror-related funding across the region, including those connected to IS,” Agus said. “We will work with agencies from the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Australia.”

The government has previously expressed concerns over the hundreds of Indonesians fleeing the country to join IS’s cause, including 16 citizens arrested by Turkish authorities earlier this month for trying to cross the border to Syria, reportedly to support the militant group. They are scheduled to be deported back to Indonesia this week.

Police arrested five suspects over the weekend in Kebayoran Baru (South Jakarta), Bogor (West Java), Tangerang (Banten) and Bekasi (West Java). The suspects are accused of recruiting and financing Indonesian fighters for IS.

Among the five still in custody is a man identified as Amin Mude, a resident of the Legenda Wisata housing estate in Cileungsi, Bogor, who was previously arrested in December for a similar case but was released a day later.

Amin had been accused of aiding and abetting 12 Indonesians trying to reach Syria via Turkey and is now believed to be the main financier for the 16 scheduled to be deported by Turkish authorities.

The five were found with firearms, passports, plane tickets and a combined $6,000 in cash at the time of their arrests, according to Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Unggung Cahyono.

At least Rp 7 billion ($ 540,189) is believed to have aided Indonesian IS fighters to travel to Iraq, or Syria, the PPATK said.

“The network is expanding exponentially. The funds raised reached at least Rp 7 billion. They are using all sorts of methods to raise cash, from selling herbal medicine, books and even chemicals,” Agus said.

The post Indonesian Terror Cells Get Help From Down Under: PPATK appeared first on The Jakarta Globe.