June 28, p. 6
In the Global Competitiveness Report recently released by the World Economic Forum, Indonesian competitiveness has made a significant improvement.
According to the report, Indonesia ranks 44th among 139 countries, leaping by 10 places since 2005, the strongest progress among G20 member countries. The report states that “Indonesia now compares favorably with the BRICS, with the notable exception of China (27th). Indonesia precedes India (51st), South Africa (54th), Brazil (59th) and Russia (63rd)”.
A common indicator among the BRICS is their large population, and the report cites that among other indicators of social and economic improvement, Indonesia’s huge population and its growing middle class have helped improve its competitiveness. (By Stefan S. Handoyo, Jakarta)
Your comments:
Indonesians need to get over the fact that their children aren’t their retirement plan!
Ten babies = 10 retirement payments.
Kevin
The US
A typical economist: can’t see past the numbers to the people who make up the numbers.
Comparing Indonesia to America is ludicrous; maybe the populations are similar, and the GDP you like to reference so much is also near the same, but that is where the similarities end.
Look deeper than the numbers next time. You’ll be surprised by what you find.
Markus
Jakarta
You could do with a wider view of the world, my friend, and see the sun shines not from the fundamental sphincter of any nation.
Wayan
Bali
| Tue, 07/05/2011 7:00 AM
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Frenchwoman nabbed at Bali airport with cocaine
A 52-year-old Frenchwoman was arrested at Ngurah Rai International Airport on Saturday for transporting 3.17 grams of cocaine in her mouth.
Keita Ep Toureh, identified as an employee of the Embassy of France in Thailand, was arrested soon after her arrival in Bali on Air Asia flight FD367 from Bangkok.
I Made Wijaya, head of the airport’s Customs and Excise Office monitoring department, told reporters on Monday that Toureh triggered an alarm as she passed through an X-ray body scanner.
“She used a new mode of trafficking by putting the cocaine in her mouth. The cocaine was wrapped in tissue paper,” Wijaya said.
An officer then took Toureh into an examination room for interrogation. “She spoke with a weird accent and finally we found four small transparent plastic bags wrapped in tissue paper,” Wijaya said.
The plastic bags tested positive for cocaine, which has a street value of Rp 2 million (US$234) per gram in Indonesia, according to Wijaya.
If Toureh is convicted under the narcotics law, she might be sentenced to a minimum of five years’ imprisonment and a maximum penalty of death or sentenced to pay a fine of between Rp 1 billion and Rp 10 billion.
Separately, airport customs officials arrested Yao Noriyoshi, a Japanese citizen, on June 28 for allegedly possessing 4 grams of marijuana and 3 grams of hashish.
Yao, the owner of a car dealership, attempted to hide the drugs under a chair in the interrogation room, Wijaya said, as reported by kompas.com.
If convicted, the 44-year-old could face the death penalty.
Ni Komang Erviani, The Jakarta Post, Badung | Tue, 07/05/2011 7:00 AM
Keita Ep Toureh, identified as an employee of the Embassy of France in Thailand, was arrested soon after her arrival in Bali on Air Asia flight FD367 from Bangkok.
I Made Wijaya, head of the airport’s Customs and Excise Office monitoring department, told reporters on Monday that Toureh triggered an alarm as she passed through an X-ray body scanner.
“She used a new mode of trafficking by putting the cocaine in her mouth. The cocaine was wrapped in tissue paper,” Wijaya said.
An officer then took Toureh into an examination room for interrogation. “She spoke with a weird accent and finally we found four small transparent plastic bags wrapped in tissue paper,” Wijaya said.
The plastic bags tested positive for cocaine, which has a street value of Rp 2 million (US$234) per gram in Indonesia, according to Wijaya.
If Toureh is convicted under the narcotics law, she might be sentenced to a minimum of five years’ imprisonment and a maximum penalty of death or sentenced to pay a fine of between Rp 1 billion and Rp 10 billion.
Separately, airport customs officials arrested Yao Noriyoshi, a Japanese citizen, on June 28 for allegedly possessing 4 grams of marijuana and 3 grams of hashish.
Yao, the owner of a car dealership, attempted to hide the drugs under a chair in the interrogation room, Wijaya said, as reported by kompas.com.
If convicted, the 44-year-old could face the death penalty.
Ni Komang Erviani, The Jakarta Post, Badung | Tue, 07/05/2011 7:00 AM
Bali Police foil turtle smuggling attempt
The Bali Police arrested three men who attempted to smuggle 18 green sea turtles at around 3 a.m. on Monday in the waters off Tanjung Benoa in Badung regency.
Bali Police coast guard director Sr. Com. Agus Soeta Supranggono said Monday that the turtles were taken from a small boat to a Toyota minivan.
The three men — identified as Gede Kole, Gusti Ngurah Datia and Nyoman Sugira — refused to comment on the operation, saying only that they were couriers and did not know where the turtles came from.
Another suspect, who police believe may have been the mastermind behind the smuggling scheme, managed to evade arrest by fleeing in his boat.
“When the police arrived at the site, the turtles were already on the beach and were ready to be transported,” Supranggono said.
The smuggling attempt was reported by officials working on a National Police patrol vessel, the Merpati. The ship had been operating in Bali waters to monitor security in the area. The officers said they noticed a small boat unloading unidentified goods.
“We presume these turtles were caught in Sulawesi and would be sold to restaurants here in Bali that serve turtle meat,” Supranggono said.
The three men, he said, would be charged with violating the 1990 Biodiversity and Ecosystem Conservation Law and could face a maximum sentence of five years in prison and fined Rp 100 million (US$11,700).
Supranggono speculated that the illegal trade in turtle species would continue to flourish in Bali as demand for turtle meat was very high despite strict laws and regulations.
In May, the Bali Police confiscated 150 kilograms of turtle meat sent from Kangean Island in Madura.
Apart from turtles, numerous endangered species, including primates, reptiles and birds, continue to be sold in Bali.
Rosek Nursahid, the chairman of conservation NGO ProFauna, said Bali was a hotbed for animal trafficking and poor enforcement at ports meant the trade was relatively unhindered.
Balinese formerly consumed turtle meat both in meals and in religious offerings. But as turtle populations diminished, especially rare species such as green sea turtles, the provincial administration issued a decree prohibiting people from consuming turtle meat.
Turtle meat can be used only in offerings at major Hindu festivals under the strict supervision of religious leaders.
Supranggono said some of the rescued turtles were released at Kuta while others were taken to the Turtle Conservation Center on Serangan Island.
“We are keeping two turtles as evidence,” he said, adding that police would continue investigations and arrest other suspects.
Ni Komang Erviani, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar | Tue, 07/05/2011 7:00 AM
Bali Police coast guard director Sr. Com. Agus Soeta Supranggono said Monday that the turtles were taken from a small boat to a Toyota minivan.
The three men — identified as Gede Kole, Gusti Ngurah Datia and Nyoman Sugira — refused to comment on the operation, saying only that they were couriers and did not know where the turtles came from.
Another suspect, who police believe may have been the mastermind behind the smuggling scheme, managed to evade arrest by fleeing in his boat.
“When the police arrived at the site, the turtles were already on the beach and were ready to be transported,” Supranggono said.
The smuggling attempt was reported by officials working on a National Police patrol vessel, the Merpati. The ship had been operating in Bali waters to monitor security in the area. The officers said they noticed a small boat unloading unidentified goods.
“We presume these turtles were caught in Sulawesi and would be sold to restaurants here in Bali that serve turtle meat,” Supranggono said.
The three men, he said, would be charged with violating the 1990 Biodiversity and Ecosystem Conservation Law and could face a maximum sentence of five years in prison and fined Rp 100 million (US$11,700).
Supranggono speculated that the illegal trade in turtle species would continue to flourish in Bali as demand for turtle meat was very high despite strict laws and regulations.
In May, the Bali Police confiscated 150 kilograms of turtle meat sent from Kangean Island in Madura.
Apart from turtles, numerous endangered species, including primates, reptiles and birds, continue to be sold in Bali.
Rosek Nursahid, the chairman of conservation NGO ProFauna, said Bali was a hotbed for animal trafficking and poor enforcement at ports meant the trade was relatively unhindered.
Balinese formerly consumed turtle meat both in meals and in religious offerings. But as turtle populations diminished, especially rare species such as green sea turtles, the provincial administration issued a decree prohibiting people from consuming turtle meat.
Turtle meat can be used only in offerings at major Hindu festivals under the strict supervision of religious leaders.
Supranggono said some of the rescued turtles were released at Kuta while others were taken to the Turtle Conservation Center on Serangan Island.
“We are keeping two turtles as evidence,” he said, adding that police would continue investigations and arrest other suspects.
Ni Komang Erviani, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar | Tue, 07/05/2011 7:00 AM
Buleleng works to become fishery breeding center
Buleleng regency has pledged to develop marine and coastal areas as the island’s major fishery breeding center by the year 2027.
Starting November this year, private firm PT Philips Seafood Indonesia has planned to export 1 ton of snapper to various destinations in Europe.
Buleleng Fishery office head Nyoman Sutrisna told The Jakarta Post that the company has built four cages in Pegametan waters in Gerokgak village, some 20 kilometers west of Singaraja.
The local administration has set up cooperation with PT Philips Seafood Indonesia to install 17 cages in the near future to breed snappers.
“It is expected that we will start harvesting the fish by November this year,” Sutrisna said.
Buleleng has huge marine potential, he said, adding that the multi-billion rupiah investment is expected to encourage the fishery industry in Buleleng and other parts of Bali.
A number of foreign investors have run fishery businesses here, including a pearl breeding center.
Bali is also well-known as an exporter of tuna, shrimp and other marine products. The products are mostly shipped to Singapore, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, the United States and European countries.
The Buleleng administration has also sent its officials to conduct a comparative study to Norway before signing the joint agreement with PT Philips Seafood Indonesia.
Gerokgak has been designated as a marine development area.
A Fishery Research and Development Center located in the village od in Gondol has regularly monitored the quality of water and fish in Bali waters.
For the first-stage of the project, the company has installed four cages, measuring 10 to 20 meters in width and 10 meters in depth.
Each cage can breed 20,000 baby snappers, with a risk of 25 percent of the baby snappers perishing during the breeding period.
Alit Kartarahardja, The Jakarta Post, Singaraja, North Bali | Mon, 07/04/2011 11:14 PM
Starting November this year, private firm PT Philips Seafood Indonesia has planned to export 1 ton of snapper to various destinations in Europe.
Buleleng Fishery office head Nyoman Sutrisna told The Jakarta Post that the company has built four cages in Pegametan waters in Gerokgak village, some 20 kilometers west of Singaraja.
The local administration has set up cooperation with PT Philips Seafood Indonesia to install 17 cages in the near future to breed snappers.
“It is expected that we will start harvesting the fish by November this year,” Sutrisna said.
Buleleng has huge marine potential, he said, adding that the multi-billion rupiah investment is expected to encourage the fishery industry in Buleleng and other parts of Bali.
A number of foreign investors have run fishery businesses here, including a pearl breeding center.
Bali is also well-known as an exporter of tuna, shrimp and other marine products. The products are mostly shipped to Singapore, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, the United States and European countries.
The Buleleng administration has also sent its officials to conduct a comparative study to Norway before signing the joint agreement with PT Philips Seafood Indonesia.
Gerokgak has been designated as a marine development area.
A Fishery Research and Development Center located in the village od in Gondol has regularly monitored the quality of water and fish in Bali waters.
For the first-stage of the project, the company has installed four cages, measuring 10 to 20 meters in width and 10 meters in depth.
Each cage can breed 20,000 baby snappers, with a risk of 25 percent of the baby snappers perishing during the breeding period.
Alit Kartarahardja, The Jakarta Post, Singaraja, North Bali | Mon, 07/04/2011 11:14 PM
Bali ‘a major hub’ for illegal trade in endangered primates
Activists claim Bali was one of Indonesia’s main hubs in the illegal trade of endangered primate species, with 200 animals trafficked from Java and in Bali every month since 2010.
Rosek Nursahid, the chairman of ProFauna Indonesia, said at a campaign to stop the illegal trafficking of primates at Renon Park in Denpasar on Sunday that the organization was investigating the issue.
“We still have no idea about the motives behind the illegal trafficking of endangered primates,” Nursahid admitted.
A Javan lutung sells for Rp 200,000 (US$23.40) while an orangutan can be bought for more than Rp 2 million and the Javan slow loris for Rp 1 million, he claimed.
The campaign, organized by ProFauna Indonesia and the International Primate Protection League (IPPL), was attended by dozens of young people carrying large banners urging a halt to the illegal trade of protected primates.
The participants also staged theatrical performances depicting the suffering of caged primates. Some of them were dressed in animal costumes and masks.
There are 25 primate species across the world that face extinction in the wild, four of them endemic to Indonesia: the Sumatran orangutan, Siau Island tarsier, Javan slow loris and the pig-tailed langur.
Recently, two residents of Lumajang, East Java, were found to be transporting Javan lutungs through the Gilimanuk Ferry Port in Jembarana, West Bali, which links Java and Bali.
“In general, seaports, ferry ports and airports in Indonesia are not able to stem the trafficking of protected animals,” Nursahid said.
Most port officials only examined passengers’s identity cards but not their belongings,” he said.
“The animals were placed in boxes and went unnoticed. In addition to primates, smugglers also sell rare raptor species and other protected bird species,” Nursahid added.
ProFauna said trade in primates was limited to conservation institutions and zoos under the permission of the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA).
Those found in possession of protected primate species face criminal charges under the natural resource conservation and ecosystem law and could face five years in prison and Rp 100 million in fines.
ProFauna is conducting a series of programs to educate the police, authorities and schools on the importance of identifying and protecting endangered primate species.
Luh De Suriyani, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar | Mon, 07/04/2011 11:12 PM
Rosek Nursahid, the chairman of ProFauna Indonesia, said at a campaign to stop the illegal trafficking of primates at Renon Park in Denpasar on Sunday that the organization was investigating the issue.
“We still have no idea about the motives behind the illegal trafficking of endangered primates,” Nursahid admitted.
A Javan lutung sells for Rp 200,000 (US$23.40) while an orangutan can be bought for more than Rp 2 million and the Javan slow loris for Rp 1 million, he claimed.
The campaign, organized by ProFauna Indonesia and the International Primate Protection League (IPPL), was attended by dozens of young people carrying large banners urging a halt to the illegal trade of protected primates.
The participants also staged theatrical performances depicting the suffering of caged primates. Some of them were dressed in animal costumes and masks.
There are 25 primate species across the world that face extinction in the wild, four of them endemic to Indonesia: the Sumatran orangutan, Siau Island tarsier, Javan slow loris and the pig-tailed langur.
Recently, two residents of Lumajang, East Java, were found to be transporting Javan lutungs through the Gilimanuk Ferry Port in Jembarana, West Bali, which links Java and Bali.
“In general, seaports, ferry ports and airports in Indonesia are not able to stem the trafficking of protected animals,” Nursahid said.
Most port officials only examined passengers’s identity cards but not their belongings,” he said.
“The animals were placed in boxes and went unnoticed. In addition to primates, smugglers also sell rare raptor species and other protected bird species,” Nursahid added.
ProFauna said trade in primates was limited to conservation institutions and zoos under the permission of the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA).
Those found in possession of protected primate species face criminal charges under the natural resource conservation and ecosystem law and could face five years in prison and Rp 100 million in fines.
ProFauna is conducting a series of programs to educate the police, authorities and schools on the importance of identifying and protecting endangered primate species.
Luh De Suriyani, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar | Mon, 07/04/2011 11:12 PM
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