Weekly News from Indonesia
Wednesday, August 8th, 2007
With this, im introducing a new category in our blog. Every week, we will provide some of the actual news, which were domonating in indonesias media the previous week.
End of July to August, 8th
Politics:
Accusation against Yudhoyono
The former vice chairman of the indonesian parliament, was forced to resignation in End of July by his own party (PBR, Partai Bintang Reformasi).
After a scandal grew up, in which Ma’arif was accused to be married to two wives, he had to resign from he was forced to resign.President Yudhoyono supported the demands for his demission.
Zaenal Ma’arif probably tried to pay Yudhoyono back, when he made the allegation, that Yudhoyono himself was already married, before he married his current wife and also that two children of this relationship were born.
To prove his allegations, he presented a video, on which a woman tells, that she would be the mother-in-law of Yudhoyono and also that her daughter has born two children during the supposedly marriage to Yudhoyono.
Yudhoyono responded with legal actions against Zaenal Ma’arif. Perhaps, because of this Zaenal Ma’arif s back pedaled and also accused the former leader of the indonesian army to have been the main source of the accusations against Yudhoyono.
The KPU comitee intervented in the run-up of governor elections in Jakarta
In the run-up of Jakartas governor elections the KPU (Kamitee Pemihilan Umum), an comitee, which is monitoring elections, intervented, because of several violation of a regulation, called “minggu tenang” (=Quiet week).
In the quiet week is the last week before the elections. It ist not allowed to do any propaganda for the upcoming elections, posters, campaign events etc. are not allowed.
Because campaign events, also poster campaigns and similair measures were going on, the KPU had to take action.
They forbid all campaings, poster and similair propaganda was removed in the area of jakarta.
The elections will be held on August, the 8th.
The candidates from the Party “PDIP (Partai Perjuangan =Party of democratic struggle)”:
- Governor - Dr. Ing. H. Fauzi Bowo (current Vice Governor)
- Vice Governor - Prijanto
On side of the PKS (Partai Keadilan Sosial = Islam social Party):
- Governor - Adang Daradjatun (Chief of the Jakarta police)
- Vice Governor - Dani Anwar
Nature and Science:
Gunung Semeru shows stronger activity
On August the 6th the volcano showed stronger activity. Two times small amounts of lava erupted and a cloud of smoke was uprising. The population near the volcano feared a strong eruption.
The Gunung Semeru is located near the City Lumajang (south of Surabaya) in East Java. It hast a height of 3676 meter and is the highest mountain on java. The gunung Semeru erupted last time in March 2007, when cold lava cause a damaged of 160 billion Rupiah (ca. 20 Mio Dollar).
The Gunung Talang is barred
After the Gunung Talang in western Sumatra showd increased activity it was blocked. The local observation ward told that after the expulsion of large amounts of smoke, it would be too dangerous for visitors, also the ward feared of an upcoming earthquake in the area.
Society and Culture:
Elections for Miss Indonesia
On friday, the 3rd the election for Miss Indonesia (Putri Indoensia) were held. 36 candidates from 36 indonesian provinces showed up. The winner of the election was Putri Raemaswasti (20) from east java.
Now, the winner, Putri Raemaswasti is preparing for the upcoming elections for Miss Universe.
Buddhists celebrate Adasa day
Hundreds of buddhists were part of a solemnly ritual at the temple Muaro in the province Jambi on Sumatra, in which 1 Mio. candles were lit.
The adasa day celebrates the point in time, when buddha first shared his message with the world.
Also in other parts of indoensia the occasion was celebrated. Altogether 50 Mio. candles were lit in whole indonesia.
Economy:
China stops import of indoensian seafood
At the beginning of the week, the chinese government forbid the import of indoensian seafood. After a released official statement the analysis of indonesian seafood prooved the existance of substances, that may cause cancer in imported seafood from indonesia.
The import stop could be the direct answer to indonesias ban of chinese cosmetics, in which contaminations were found.
The indonesian government hopes for bettering of the relations to china and a solution for this situation, because the export yearly value of seafood exports to china is amounting to 150 Mio. dollar.
Indonesia also demanded the analysis of its seafood products in european laboratories, to proove, that the chinese allegations are anchorless.
