Drunk Citilink Indonesia Pilot Stumbles Through Security, Makes Weird Announcements Before Takeoff

A pilot of Garuda Indonesia Budget subsidiary Citilink showed up strongly intoxicated for work and started a chain event within the company culminating in senior executives resigning from their post.

The irregular behavior of the pilot caught passengers attention when he made strange, incoherent announcements prior to take-off and led some to demand leaving the aircraft.

After that the pilot was questioned by authorities after which it was determined that he was overly intoxicated and sent to a clinic for medical examination for which reports are due to be released next week.

You can read about it in the Jakarta Post (access here).

Citilink, the low-cost subsidiary of national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia, has been under media spotlight following reports that one of its pilots was possibly under the influence of alcohol while on duty.

The pilot, identified as Capt. Tekad Purna, was relieved on Wednesday after passengers claimed he spoke incoherently during a flight announcement made before takeoff. Many passengers decided to disembark from the plane soon after as they were suspicious that the pilot was drunk.

The incident occurred on Wednesday morning as a Citilink flight prepared to depart from Juanda International Airport in Surabaya, East Java, to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta.

Also on Friday, the airline announced that it had fired Tekad for breaching the procedures, a violation that can endanger the lives of passengers.

The pilot was reported to have undergone a medical test at a clinic in Surabaya, East Java, as well as a second medical test in Jakarta by the Flight Health Agency. The final results of the medical check will be issued in a week. …

Citilink vice president of corporate communications Benny S. Butarbutar said that president director Albert Burhan and operational director Hadinoto Soedigno had decided to resign from the company following the incident.

When such a senior figure of a company resigns that means the allegations are serious and either their personal responsibility or at least code of honor weighs heavily on them.

In the meanwhile a video surfaced that shows the captain at the airport in Surabaya, stumbling (apparently drunk) through the security checkpoint.

Under normal circumstances that alone would have been sufficient for security staff to alert authorities to check on the pilots.

Of course in some countries being a pilot and a Captain at that commands a lot of respect and maybe the security staff among other fear consequences of whatever entity if the suspicion turns out to be false.

Conclusion

We wrote about a number of drunk pilot incidents this year and many times the crew was actually stopped or detected by ground staff who then alerted the local authorities. Unfortunately this system doesn't work everywhere. I find it hard to believe that the First Officer wouldn't detect his captain to be totally blitzed and then let him get away with it. I've never flown Citilink before so I can't comment on any experience with them first hand.

Nevertheless let's hope 2017 will be the Sober Year for flight crews (I doubt it somehow). I wish all of you a Happy New Year ahead and safe travels for 2017!

Source: Drunk Citilink Indonesia Pilot Stumbles Through Security, Makes Weird Announcements Before Takeoff

Southeast Asia’s Best Stock Seen Extending Rally on Cost Cut (1)

(Bloomberg) -- PT Adaro Energy, Southeast Asia's best-performing stock this year, is expected by analysts to extend gains in 2017 as it benefits from rising coal prices and cost-cutting initiatives.

The coal miner's measures to reduce expenses resulted in an earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization margin of 36.2 percent in the third quarter, the largest among Indonesia's five biggest listed coal miners, and the highest quarterly reading in three years, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Adaro's shares more than tripled in 2016, also buoyed by rebounding commodity prices, and analysts see the stock advancing another 8.1 percent in the next 12 months to the highest since May 2012.

Adaro is "the most cost efficient coal producer and the second cheapest in terms of enterprise value over Ebitda," said James Wahyudi, an analyst at PT Sinarmas Sekuritas in Jakarta. "We estimated its revenue to increase by 47 percent in 2017 and net profit to rise by 27 percent."

The country's second largest coal miner by output is expected to report a 32 percent increase in net income next year as its revenues climb a projected 15 percent, according to estimates from analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. Adaro has been a "consistent long-term player" as it decreased its cash costs by 36 percent in five years, said Sandro Sirait, an analyst at Trimegah Securities in Jakarta.

Adaro has managed to lower its stripping ratio, the volume of soil waste to be handled to extract a ton of coal, without affecting its reserves due to the size of its pit, Sirait said. To further reduce its costs, Adaro also contracted its own unit to do more of the mining work rather than outsourcing the job, he said.

Share Boost

Adaro shares surged 228 percent this year, almost three times as much as the equities of AirAsia Bhd., which had the second largest rally on the MSCI South East Asia Index. Erindra Krisnawan, a Jakarta-based analyst at CIMB Securities whose recommendation on the stock produced the best return among analysts surveyed by Bloomberg, predicts the stock price could rise to 1,950 rupiah from 1,690 rupiah on Friday.

Rising commodity prices and expectations for higher demand has boosted the Jakarta Stock Exchange Mining Index 70 percent this year, making it the best performer among nine industry groups in the benchmark measure. Some investors are also betting that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's plans to boost infrastructure spending will result in even more demand for commodities and energy.

Rally Overdone

Adaro shares traded unchanged at 1,690 rupiah at 10:15 a.m. local time in Jakarta after gaining as much as 0.9 percent earlier. Despite this year's rally, Adaro trades at 11.4 times of its 12-month projected earnings, near its three-year average of 11.1 times. However, Indra Mawira, a fund manager at Panin Asset Management in Jakarta, said he sees more downside risk for coal stocks.

"The rally in coal stocks might be overdone as the recent uptrend in coal prices was driven by the intervention of the Chinese government instead of fundamentals," Mawira said. "I don't think it can be sustained. We see the new equilibrium for coal price of around $60-70 per ton." The coal price at Australia's port of Newcastle climbed 2.5 percent on Dec. 28 to $91.75 per ton, according to data compiled by Bloomberg, taking its year-to-date advance to 102 percent.

Adaro Energy's spokeswoman Febrianti Nadira said in an e-mail that the company will provide guidance for 2017 in early February and will continue to look at efficiency improvements. "We are optimistic with the prospect from Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries as these countries will continue to depend on coal to fuel their surging energy needs to achieve stronger economic growth." Nadira wrote.

Adaro's largest shareholder, PT Adaro Strategic Investments with a 43.9 percent stake, could not be reached for comment.

(Updates shares in eighth paragraph.)

--With assistance from Fathiya Dahrul To contact the reporters on this story: Fitri Wulandari in Jakarta at fwulandari@bloomberg.net, Harry Suhartono in Jakarta at hsuhartono@bloomberg.net. To contact the editors responsible for this story: Divya Balji at dbalji1@bloomberg.net, Andrew Janes

©2016 Bloomberg L.P.

Source: Southeast Asia's Best Stock Seen Extending Rally on Cost Cut (1)

Where to celebrate New Year’s Eve outside Jakarta

Those who seek to spend their New Year's Eve in style outside Jakarta may want to consider these cities that are set to host various festive events. https://goo.gl/i1gw3K

Where to celebrate New Year's Eve outside Jakarta

Those who seek to spend their New Year's Eve in style outside Jakarta may want to consider these cities that are set to host various festive events.

Source

Article is curated - Original might have been posted at a different date/ time!
Source: Where to celebrate New Year's Eve outside Jakarta

Crude Rally Lifts Commodity Currencies; Bonds Rise: Markets Wrap

Oil traded near the highest level since July last year while New Zealand's dollar rose the most among major currencies. European bonds advanced.

Crude climbed for an eighth session, the longest streak since 2010, before OPEC and other producing nations start reducing output. The currencies of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa strengthened as oil and gold prices rose. U.K. gilts traded at the highest level since November, while global equities eked out post-Christmas gains, led by the stocks of commodity-producing companies.

Trading has been thin across the globe during the last week of the year, with volumes in crude oil, equities and currencies all below average. Investors have displayed resilience in the face of shocks such as the Brexit vote and Donald Trump's presidential win, sending the dollar to the highest level in more than a decade and propelling U.S. equity benchmarks to records.

"Positions are being defended, not least in oil, while China worries and lower U.S. bond yields has seen gold move higher," said Ole Hansen, the head of commodity strategy at Saxo Bank A/S in Hellerup, Denmark, said by e-mail. "Very thin market conditions ahead of year-end are making it difficult to read too much into the current movements."

Commodities

Crude futures jumped 0.6 percent to $54.22 a barrel at 10:33 a.m. in London, extending Tuesday's 1.7 percent gain. Prices are set to recover next year as production cuts help rebalance an oversupplied market, Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih said last week. OPEC and 11 nations from outside the group including Russia have agreed to trim about 1.8 million barrels a day from January.

Gold was up 0.2 percent at $1,140.66, climbing for a third day from an 11-month low.

The trading volume for natural gas for next-month delivery on the U.K.'s National Balancing Point exchange reached four times the average for the time of day. Prices rose 3.1% to 50.17 pence a therm.

Currencies

The New Zealand and Australian dollars rose the most among the major currencies. 

The New Zealand dollar rose 0.5 percent to 69.24 U.S. cents, extending a rally from a near seven-month low reached on Dec. 23.

The yen slipped 0.2 percent to 117.68 per dollar after falling 0.3 percent Tuesday.

The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index was little changed, still trading near the highest level in more than a decade.

Turkey's lira retreated 0.4 percent as the Anadolu news agency said the country agreed with Russia on a Syria truce plan.

Bonds

U.K. gilts advanced as markets in Britain reopened after the public holiday. Yields on 10-year gilts fell three basis points to 1.314 percent. They earlier reached 1.302 percent, the lowest since Nov. 10. 

The advance in German bunds lagged behind those in peripheral bonds from Italy and Spain. The yield on the benchmark 10-year bund fell one basis point to 0.19 percent, while those on similar-maturity Spanish notes fell four basis points.

Stocks

The Stoxx Europe 600 Index swung between a gain and loss of less than 0.1 percent.

Commodity stocks were the biggest gainers among industry groups, with BHP Billiton Ltd. and Fresnillo Plc up at least 4 percent. Italian lenders declined, with Banca Popolare di Milano Scarl and Banco Popolare SC down at least 3.3 percent.

Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index added 0.8 percent, rebounding from a five-month low, as banks led a rally among Chinese companies. The Hang Seng China Enterprises Index gained 1.3 percent, the most in a month, and the Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.4 percent.

The Jakarta Composite Index added 2.1 percent, extending Tuesday's 1.5 percent gain and clocking up the biggest two-day advance since February. The Philippine Stock Exchange Index posted the steepest advance since October. 

A measure of mining companies in South Africa led equity gains, with a ratio of prices to earnings rising from its lowest level since 2013.

The S&P 500 Index extended its monthly advance on Tuesday with a gain of 0.2 percent. The Nasdaq Composite Index rose to an all-time high and the Dow Jones Industrial Average approached 20,000.

Source: Crude Rally Lifts Commodity Currencies; Bonds Rise: Markets Wrap

Ahok’s next blasphemy hearing moved to S. Jakarta: Judge

The next hearing of Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama's blasphemy case will be held at the Agriculture Ministry's building in Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta, to avoid disruptions in public areas.

The Supreme Court approved the North Jakarta District Court's plan to move Ahok's trial venue to the ministry's compound from the current location at the former Central Jakarta District Court building on Jl. Gajah Mada No. 17, Central Jakarta, following requests from police authorities and prosecutors.They sought a new venue in a bid to avoid disruptions of public activities in the current location, which is in the heart of the city's economic center.

"The next hearing is set to be held at the Agriculture Ministry's building on Jan. 3," presiding judge Dwiarso Budi Santiarto said during Ahok's third hearing on Tuesday.

In the hearing, the judge panel read out the court's rejection over Ahok's exception conveyed on Dec. 21. In his exception, Ahok rejected the prosecutors' indictment, saying he had never intended to insult Islam, the Quran and ulemas.

The blasphemy case, which occurs during heightened political tensions ahead of the upcoming Jakarta gubernatorial election, has drawn public attention, including among Ahok's supporters and opponents. 

During Tuesday's hearing, hundreds of people packed areas in front of the North Jakarta District Court both to give their support to Ahok and to criticize him over the case and demand his arrest.

Police personnel beefed up the security inside and outside the court's building, prohibiting many journalists from entering the courtroom by claiming it had been overcapacity. Like in previous hearings, heavy traffic congestion occurred during today's hearing. (ebf)

Source: Ahok's next blasphemy hearing moved to S. Jakarta: Judge

Suspected terrorists allegedly plotting New Year's Eve attack on police in West Java

Jakarta: Indonesian police say that suspected terrorists who were arrested and killed on Christmas Day had been plotting to attack a police post in West Java on New Year's Eve.

Two suspected militants were shot dead in a floating house on the Jatiluhur dam in West Java on Sunday after attacking police officers with machetes.

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Anti-terrorism police killed three alleged suspects on Wednesday who had plans for a Christmas day attack, as Indonesia correspondent Jewel Topsfield explains.

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Three alleged terrorists killed in Indonesia

Anti-terrorism police killed three alleged suspects on Wednesday who had plans for a Christmas day attack, as Indonesia correspondent Jewel Topsfield explains.

The police had been led to the floating house after arresting two other men in nearby Cibinong.

Police had earlier warned of potentially catastrophic results if they had intended to target Jatiluhur dam, which could have caused massive flooding.

National Police spokesman Rikwanto said a statement was found in the floating house, which was like an instruction to fight police, whom they considered evil.

"When they (the alleged militants) were on land they also did a survey of police posts," Mr Rikwanto said.

"They found a police post (in Purwakarta) and they planned to do their action on New Year's Eve."

He said the suspects were members of Jamaah Anshar Daulah. Police were still investigating if there was a direct link with Bahrun Naim, an Indonesian-born IS fighter believed to be in Syria. "But their affiliation to ISIS is clear," he said. 

Alleged mastermind Bahrun Naim is believed to be in Syria with IS.  Photo: Google+

Mr Rikwanto said police had not received any statement suggesting Jatiluhur dam was a target just an indication the men had fled to the floating house from a rental property in Bandung, after the locals started getting suspicious.

He said at the rented house in Cibinong police found nails in different sizes, scales, a mobile phone with many SIM cards, disks, books about religious studies and handwritten notes, which were crucial for their ongoing investigations.

No bombs materials had been found but the scales indicated they intended to weigh something so it was possible the materials were yet to arrive.

"Detachment 88 (the special counter-terrorism police force) will continue to expand (the investigation) based on the arrests," he said.

"We estimate there are people still from their group who will disrupt events like Christmas and New Year's Eve and police station attacks on officers in the field. To anticipate these, Detachment 88 have never stopped investigating."

West Java police chief Anton Charliyan had earlier told Fairfax Media the water dam wall was only a few hundred metres from the floating home and there were fears that if the dam was the target, the impact could be catastrophic.

"That's why we are now combing the area, diving, as a precaution, they might already have something there we don't know."

The statement found in the floating house warned that "infidels" and those who imprisoned mujahideen [holy warriors] fighting for Allah would be targeted with knives.

The statement said: "We will come to you wherever you are, we will stake out your posts, your houses, in crowded or quiet place, day or night ... Earth belongs only to Allah, it is improper for you uphold other than Allah's law, you uphold the devil's law."

Mr Anton said no bombs were found at either of the two sites on Christmas Day but eight machetes had been seized.  

Police have now shot dead five suspected militants and arrested multiple others allegedly plotting terror attacks in the lead-up to the holiday period.

Security has been beefed up, with 85,000 police and 15,000 military personnel deployed during the Christmas and New Year period as part of the annual Operation Candle.

Meanwhile three Indonesians were reportedly deported after allegedly trying to join militants fighting in Syria. They are being interrogated by police.  

The Australian government updated its travel warning to Indonesia on December 21, warning that ​Indonesian authorities continued to arrest terrorists who had allegedly been in the advanced stages of attack planning.

"The terrorist threat level in Indonesia remains high. Terrorist attacks could occur anywhere at any time in Indonesia, including Bali. Be particularly vigilant during the Christmas and New Year period as gatherings of Westerners could be targeted," it said.

Follow Jewel Topsfield on Facebook

Source: Suspected terrorists allegedly plotting New Year's Eve attack on police in West Java

Bandung train trips added as unfit bridge discourages car travelers

State railway company Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) will increase the number of trips from Jakarta to Bandung, West Java, to anticipate increasing demand during the year-end holiday period as car travelers may look to avoid the out-of-shape Cisomang bridge.

KAI will add four more Jakarta-Bandung trips, bringing up the total number of daily trips to 20.

The extra trips aim to accommodate those who want to avoid the deformed Cisomang bridge in Purwakarta—part of Purbaleunyi toll road, which connect the two cities, KAI president director Edi Sukmoro has said.

"We have adjusted to the current situation so that our brothers and sisters who want to travel can be accommodated," Edi said in Jakarta on Sunday, as reported by tribunnews.com.

Earlier on Friday, one of the six pillars supporting the bridge on the Jakarta to Bandung route reportedly had slightly shifted. Hence, the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry declared that trucks were prohibited from passing over the bridge, while smaller vehicles like vans and sedans were allowed to pass.

Meanwhile, the toll road is expected to see heavy traffic throughout the festive season. (wnd/ags)

Source: Bandung train trips added as unfit bridge discourages car travelers

Singaporean man found dead in Riau Islands waters

The Karimun Police in Riau Islands are investigating the discovery of the dead body of a Singaporean man.

Karimun Police water police unit head First Insp. Sahata Sitorus said the body, which was found by local fishermen on Friday, has been admitted to the Muhammad Sani General Hospital to undergo a post-mortem examination.

"We have yet to identify the cause of the death and why the body was floating in the Karimun Anak water," Sahata told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.

The dead body was found in black trousers, a white shirt with "PSA Marine" written on it and boots. An ID card was found with the name Ilzam bin Odit, born on Sept. 8, 1963. The ID card said the man lived in Sengkang, Singapore.

Sahara estimated that the body had floated in the sea for around two days. 

Karimun regency is located 50 kilometers southwest of Singapore and can be reached in 105-minutes by ferry from the city-state. (fac/hwa)  

Source: Singaporean man found dead in Riau Islands waters

Live From Jakarta! Garuda’s 90% Off Sale, 100% Unavailable

The sale of the decade, everything must go, better than my first orgasm, were words used to describe Garuda's 90% off sale. For those of you from Michigan, it was akin to Mr. Allen's 29 or 2 for 50 promotions. Sure the numbers sound great, but can you really get those pumped up kicks?I'll tell you what I got. I got nothing. And the reason was not because I could not get through to an agent. I bypassed that problem and went straight to Garuda's ticket office in Jakarta. I waited in the DMV queue for my number to be called. I approached the agent with my dream routing and the days I wanted to go.

At first I was looking for two long-haul first-class tickets from Jakarta to Europe and vice versa in May. I quickly expanded the search from any day in February through any day through end of May. Then I said let's drop the number of tickets to one. Then I said let's forget about long-haul. Then I said let's try long-haul business. Then I said let's try island hopper short of the short haul. Then I said, "Is there anything in economy?"

When it was all said and done, I had no great options. One business class ticket from Jakarta to Mumbai, two business class tickets from Hong Kong to Jakarta, and a few economy choices from "it's just not worth it" to…

Since I was in Jakarta, I could buy the points directly from the ticket office and it would have only cost me a few hundred dollars to go from Hong Kong to Jakarta in business then Jakarta to Sydney in economy. That's a good deal…if I lived in Asia. But I don't and I can't get excited about a 5 hour flight in business no matter how great the service is. Surprisingly, even I have better things to do than fly halfway around the world for some bubbles.

It was a fun coincidence to be in Jakarta when news of this sale broke. I do not mind that I spent my entire afternoon trying to capitalize on this deal. Even though there was some deals to be had, I came for the prime cuts and refused to settle for the bread crumbs.

Anyone you know get a first-class long haul flight on sale?

Wally World Dad? Skyteam=Phanton Award Space Now serving..beetlejuice
Source: Live From Jakarta! Garuda's 90% Off Sale, 100% Unavailable

Honk It Up, Uncle: Indonesia’s Bus Horns Capture Global Attention

Dec. 22, 2016 4:41 a.m. ET

JAKARTA—A meme in Indonesia about honking bus horns has gone viral, sparking a craze that has swept the dance-music world and sent social media into a tizzy trying to figure out what it means.

The phrase is "Om Telolet Om"—or "Uncle, Honk Your Horn, Uncle" —something kids shout out, hold up signs saying or simply gesticulate to get bus drivers to honk their horns. Videos of the resulting cacophony are posted online.

The fun has catapulted to internet stardom, and by Thursday, dance-music producers inundated by Indonesia's internet youths had created remixes using the horn-honking melody, a sound that mimics the word telolet.

Billboard, which picked up on the trend and tried to explain it, put out a roundup of the top six Om Telolet Om beats. The phrase has spanned the globe, from Australia to Thailand to the U.S., even if most people don't fully get the joke.

So how did a meme that has puzzled most of the world get started?

It goes back to last year, when new intercity buses in this nation of 250 million people and 18,000 islands straddling the Pacific and Indian Oceans came out with horns that play an unusual melody, rather than a single-note blare.

Youths, delighted by the new honk, began writing the phrase on pieces of paper to greet passing buses. Videos circulated of youths celebrating when they got a response.

Early this week, the phrase started trending when youths flooded the social-media accounts of musicians, DJs and celebrities everywhere. The phrase was even posted in the comments section of President-elect Donald Trump's official Instagram account thousands of times. He hasn't responded.

Well-known international dance-music artists such as Zedd and DJ Snake picked it up and sent out tweets with the phrase. Other artists, puzzled by the hottest thing sweeping the internet, asked what it meant.

Reactions began pouring in, ranging from pride to hilarity to embarrassment in Indonesia, one of the world's biggest strongholds for Facebook and Twitter. At its peak Wednesday, it was drawing 1,800 tweets a minute and was the No. 1 trending tweet world-wide around 2:30 p.m. Jakarta time , according to data from the social-media company. As of Thursday, Twitter had recorded 1.5 million tweets related to the phrase.

Karim Metwaly, an American YouTube celebrity, circulated a video on Twitter using the meme on a truck in New York City. "We doing this everywhere in New York from now on," he wrote.

Artists such as Austin Mahone, an American singer and songwriter, and Dutch duo Firebeatz made remixes using the horn and uploaded them on SoundCloud.

"Saw about 15k comments & tweets w this so looked into it and here you go," Mr. Mahone wrote.

Indonesia's Ministry of Transportation said Thursday that it would hold a telolet competition early next year to capture the momentum, which it says could help popularize public bus travel.

Indonesians like to be social and to joke, and they have brought those characteristics to the internet, said Shafiq Pontoh, chief strategy officer at Provetic, a strategic consultancy in Jakarta. Now, they are understanding how using the internet they can "become present in the global environment."

—Anita Rachman contributed to this article.

Write to Sara Schonhardt at Sara.Schonhardt@wsj.com

Source: Honk It Up, Uncle: Indonesia's Bus Horns Capture Global Attention

Indonesian police kill 3 armed suspects near Jakarta

Indonesian police killed this morning 3 armed suspects during fire in a house south of Jakarta.

Police said that the incident came as a result of investigations into 14 suspects involved in planning suicide attacks.

"During the raid, we tried to be careful but they threw something from inside the house and it was a bomb but it did not explode. Then they fired from inside," national police spokesman Rikwanto told Metro TV.

Source: Indonesian police kill 3 armed suspects near Jakarta

Blasphemy trial against Jakarta's Christian governor continues

Hundreds of protesters and supporters gathered outside the courthouse in the Indonesian capital as the governor's trial resumed. He denies charges of having insulted Islam.

The blasphemy trial against Jakarta's governor, Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, resumed on Tuesday in the Indonesian capital.

Ahok, a Christian of Chinese descent, is accused of having insulted Islam. Under Indonesia's strict blasphemy laws, he could face up to five years in jail if found guilty.

The charges relate to an incident in September when Ahok, who is Jakarta's first Christian governor in half a century, was filmed saying that his political opponents were using a verse from the Koran to deceive voters.

"If you cannot vote for me because you're afraid of being condemned to hell, you do not need to feel uneasy, as you are being fooled," Ahok said, referring to a verse in the Muslim holy book that some interpret as a warning to Muslims not to elect a non-Muslim as their leader.

Controversial comments

The appearance of the video online led to some of the biggest protests in Indonesia in recent years. At one rally, more than 200,000 people took to the streets to demand Ahok's arrest.

Ahok's comments sparked protests among Indonesia's majority Muslim population

Ahok, has apologized for the comments, but claims that he never intended to insult Islam.

At the opening of his trial, which is being televised on national television, he appealed to judges to dismiss the case, saying that he was being unfairly targeted because of his Christian faith.

On Tuesday prosecutor Ali Mukartono said: "Based on our analysis and judicial description, the entire objection filed by the accused and his lawyers is not based on the law and has to be dismissed."

Ahok, 50, has not been formally arrested and is not in custody.

Protests outside the courthouse

As the trial resumed, hundreds of anti-Ahok demonstrators gathered outside the courthouse chanting "God is great."

"We want the judges to arrest Ahok because he is already a suspect and the police and attorney general are not bold enough to arrest him," one protester, Thirman Elon, said.

Most blasphemy trials in Indonesia, which has the largest Muslim-majority population in the world, result in convictions.

Of Indonesia's 250 million inhabitants, an estimated 200 million are Muslims

Ahok's supporters, many wearing red and white headbands, also gathered to denounce the trial.

"Ahok is not guilty. What he did was not blasphemy. Ahok has apologized many times and, as Muslims, we should forgive him," a supporter, Misirah, said.

Losing ground in the polls

Ahok is standing for re-election in February against two Muslim candidates. While he had been the favorite to win, the trial appears to have had a negative impact on his campaign, with at least one opponent pulling ahead of him in the polls.

The Jakarta governor is a close aide of President Joko Widodo, who has faced criticism for not doing enough to protect Indonesia's religious minorities.

The trial has been adjourned until December 27.

rls/tj (afp/dpa)

Source: Blasphemy trial against Jakarta's Christian governor continues

Best things to do in Vegas? The most Googled travel questions of 2016

Having all the world's information at our fingertips has forever changed how we travel.

No more searching for something on a globe or a map—just ask Google where that distant destination is or what to do in any city you find yourself in.

Google ranked the travel-related searches with the highest spike in traffic over a sustained period in 2016 as compared to 2015, and the results span the globe. Here are those searches, along with some answers (just in case you were wondering).

1. Where is Bali?

We're so glad you asked. Bali is in Indonesia, southeast of Jakarta and almost due north of Perth, Australia (though the two are about 1,600 miles apart). Flights from the U.S. connect through Singapore, Manila, and Hong Kong, among other hubs.

Now that you know where it is, here's the Travel + Leisure travel guide for planning a trip to Bali, the "Island of the Gods." We named Bali one of the top destinations for 2016.

2. What to do in Vegas?

First of all, pay tribute to Cher.

Then consider our many other highlights in our three-day weekend guide to Las Vegas.

3. What to do in San Francisco?

Check out the Tartine bakery, get your garlic on at the Stinking Rose restaurant, and take advantage of the many great free activities in the city.

And if you've got some time, here is the T+L guide for a three-day weekend in San Francisco.

4. Where is Corfu?

The island of Corfu is in Greece, situated off the coast of Albania, and should not be confused with "curfew."

The gorgeous island—with its whitewashed houses, Greek temples, and Venetian fortresses—has all the makings of a great vacation.

5. What to do in Orlando?

Orlando welcomed 66 million visitors in 2015, a record not only for the destination but for the United States.

Get T+L's recommendations for this entertainment epicenter in our three-day weekend guide to Orlando.

6. Where is Bora Bora?

Bora Bora, in French Polynesia in the South Pacific, is in paradise. That is, it is paradise, or at least as close as anything on this planet gets to it. If you were looking for it on a map, it's one of those dots between Australia and South America, about 2,500 miles south of Hawaii.

T+L's complete travel guide to Bora Bora has all the information you need on when to go, where to stay, and what you absolutely cannot miss.

7. What to do in Miami?

Miami is a great city for art, whether or not you make it there for Art Basel. There's the Arts + Entertainment District, the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, Museum Park and more.

For more ideas, check out our travel guide for Miami.

8. How many ounces can you take on a plane?

Per TSA rules, liquids should be in "travel-sized" containers that are 3.4 ounces or less, and all those little items should be put in a small bag that can be taken out of your carry-on at security checkpoints.

This is true for carry-ons, not for checked baggage. If you're checking a bag, you can pack all the full-size hair products your heart desires.

9. What to do in Myrtle Beach?

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, has great beaches, live entertainment, and of course mermaids.

It's a top summer destination, but also makes for a great shoulder or off-season getaway (as long as a dip in the ocean wasn't on your must-dos).

10. Where is the Grand Canyon?

The Grand Canyon National Park is in Arizona, not too far from the Utah border.

The South Rim of the park is open year round, but to go the North Rim, you'll need to visit the Grand Canyon in the warmer months. For the next season, the North Rim opens May 15, 2017, according to the National Park Service.

Anyone planning a road trip to the Grand Canyon should build in some time for the region's other natural wonders, like Bryce Canyon and Zion, which are both a (relatively) short drive away in Utah.

Source: Best things to do in Vegas? The most Googled travel questions of 2016

Air Force Confirms Hercules Plane Airworthy Before Crashing

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Air force deputy chief Air Vice Marshal Hadiyan Sumintaatmadja said on Sunday that its C-130HS Hercules with registers numbered A-1334 from Australia that crashed in Wamena, Papua, that morning was airworthy.

"In terms of its airworthiness it is indeed airworthy. It still has 9000 flight hours left. It was all fine, airworthy," he said at a press conference at Halim Perdanakusuma air base in East Jakarta.

The aircraft was on a training mission to improve the capability of pilots.

In the training exercise this time a co-pilot was tested to become a captain pilot. Hadiyan said the co-pilot was tested to meet natural condition in Papua.

"The mission in Papua was a test mission. One of the tests is for the pilot to be able to fly aircraft wherever it is later," he said.

He predicted the crash happened because of weather condition although it could not as yet be confirmed.

He said regarding a flight incident there would be five factors that need to be investigated and analyzed namely man, material, media, mission and management.

"So, we may not rush to jump into a conclusion as analysis is needed to be done. We have sent an investigation team there. The chief of the Air Force Operations II Command himself would personally lead the evacuation in Wamena," he said.

Hercules A-1334 flown by Major Marlon A Kawer with 12 crew members and a passenger took off from Timika at 05.35 East Indonesia Time and was expected to arrive in Wamena at 06:13 EIT but at 06:09 EIT it lost contact.

Other crew members on board the plane include Captain J. Hotian F. Saragih, First Lieutenant Hanggo Fitradhi, First Lieutenant Fajar Prayogo, Chief Warrant Officer Lukman Hakim, Chief Warrant Officer Suyata, Chief Warrant Officer Khusen, Sargeant Major Khodori, Chief Warrant Officer Agung, Sergeant Major Fatoni, Second Sergeant Suyanto, Chief Warrant Officer Agung Tri.

"The other victim is a passenger who joined from Abdurrahman Saleh air base (in Malang, East Java) is Captain Rino from the Radar Unit 242 Tanjung Warari, Biak," he said.

He said the aircraft carried around 12 tons of cement to meet the official request from the Papua province. "The air forces plane involvement in shipment activity is to help development program in the region," he said.

ANTARA

Source: Air Force Confirms Hercules Plane Airworthy Before Crashing

Surabaya Airport Provides Extra Flights During Xmas, NY Holiday

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Juanda international airport in Sidoarjo, East Java, is preparing 53 extra flights ahead of this year's Christmas holiday and the 2017 New Year holiday.

Head of Legal and Communication Section of Juanda Airport Anom Fitranggono on Saturday said the extra flights are for several major routes including Surabaya-Jakarta and Surabaya-Denpasar.

"Several airlines have asked for extra flights before this year's Christmas holiday and 2017 New Year holiday," Anom said, adding that between " 23-27 December and 31 December – January, the airport will operate for 24 hours.

Anom added that the airport operator will also open up special posts for passengers to find information during the holidays.

INDRA SETIAWAN | ANTARA

Source: Surabaya Airport Provides Extra Flights During Xmas, NY Holiday

Ahok's lawyers hope judges will accept their evidence

Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama's legal team said that they hoped the presiding judges would accept the evidence they conveyed during the first hearing into their client's blasphemy case on Dec. 13 and dismiss the charges against him. 

"We really hope the judges would accept our evidence. The conveyed evidence has explained why the judges need to dismiss this case," Ahok's lawyer Josefina Syukur told The Jakarta Post on Friday. 

During Tuesday's session of the North Jakarta District Court, which is now temporarily located at the former Central Jakarta District Court building on Jl. Gajah Mada in Central Jakarta, Ahok tried to convince the judges that he had never had the intention to insult Islam when he mentioned Surah Al Maidah 51, a verse from the Quran. 

He also told the judges that he had always had a harmonious relationship with Muslims, something he said was proven by the several pro-Muslim programs implemented during his term as Jakarta governor.

Ahok's lawyers also highlighted what they said were irregular actions police and prosecutors took against Ahok. They said the actions had violated prevailing laws.

On Dec. 20, prosecutors are scheduled to read their response to Ahok's evidence. 

"We haven't made special preparations for the next hearing because it will be  prosecutors' turn to read their response. However, we are now preparing strategies to be implemented further should judges decide to disregard our evidence," she said. 

Josefina said that the lawyers are preparing eyewitnesses and experts to be presented in the trial. Ahok's Muslim godbrother Analta Amir has been looking forward to defending Ahok, she said. (dmr) 

Source: Ahok's lawyers hope judges will accept their evidence

Flights Between Mumbai and Jakarta by Garuda Indonesia Airline

Indonesia's national airline, Garuda launched flights between Mumbai and Jakarta on Monday, December 12, 2016. The airline has announced operation between the two cities via Bangkok thrice a week.

According to M Arif Wibowo, President and CEO, Garuda Indonesia, who spoke on the occasion of the launch at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, there are about 3 lakh people who fly to Indonesia from India annually and one-third of them (1 lakh) choose Mumbai as the boarding destination. Therefore, Mumbai is seen as an important transit point. Wibowo also said that the airline is considering operation of direct flights between the two destinations along with directly connecting Bali and Mumbai as well. The airline is also planning to operate flights from Delhi and Chennai and based on the response is likely to increase flight frequency between Mumbai and Jakarta.

It is to be noted that the flights between Jakarta and Mumbai will operate on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Garuda will be using Boeing 737 aircraft with a two-class cabin, namely business and economy. The aircraft will depart at 12:55 p.m. and arrive in Mumbai at 8:30 p.m. local time with a stopover in Bangkok.On the other side, the flight from Mumbai will depart at 11:20 p.m. local time and land in Jakarta at 10:05 a.m. The aircraft can accommodate 156 passengers, 12 in Business Class and 144 in Economy Class.

Tour My India News Desk.

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Source: Flights Between Mumbai and Jakarta by Garuda Indonesia Airline

Greater Jakarta: Man nabbed for Rp 1.9b haul from ATMs

The Jakarta Police's general crimes unit has nabbed a man for allegedly manipulating ATMs and withdrawing Rp 1.9 billion (US$142,500) without decreasing the balance of his savings account.

General crimes unit chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Budi Hermanto said on Tuesday that the modus operandi of the perpetrator, identified only by the initials NKM, 43, was quite advanced as he could withdraw money from ATMs on multiple occasions without his account being debited.

Budi said that NKM, who was a currently unemployed information technology (IT) technician, had admitted carrying out the illegal withdrawals several times, including withdrawing money from an ATM machine in a mini-market in Cengkareng, West Jakarta, in August.

"He withdrew money many times from a Hyosung-branded ATM. He prevented the withdrawal from being detected by the sensor of the machine, so the amount [in his account] did not decrease," he said, as quoted by tribunnews.com.

Budi said the suspect had admitted learning the technique from a hacker on the internet. "He made hundreds of withdrawals until he had Rp 1.9 billion," he said.

NKM reportedly told the police that the money was used to buy a car and smartphone, and that only Rp 15.7 million of the money remained.

The arrest was based on CCTV camera footage from an ATM booth. The police confiscated ATM cards of several banks, a smart phone, a car and Rp 15.7 million in cash.

"The suspect will be charged under Article 363 of the Criminal Code on theft with a maximum penalty of seven years in prison," said Budi.

Source: Greater Jakarta: Man nabbed for Rp 1.9b haul from ATMs

Jakarta's governor defends himself against charges of blasphemy

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Source: Jakarta's governor defends himself against charges of blasphemy

Police name terrorist suspects in Jakarta bombing plot

National Police spokesperson Insp. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar said the police had named seven suspects during their investigation into a recent discovery of active explosive bombs in Bekasi, West Java, on Saturday.

"As of today, seven people have been named suspects, including the alleged bomb assembler who was arrested in Ngawi, East Java," he said in Bandung on Monday.

Boy further said the police had also arrested another bomb assembler and a woman. She was suspected to have been prepared for a suicide bombing mission.

Boy said all of those suspects were part of a terrorist network led by Bahrun Naim, who was suspected by the police to have orchestrated terror attacks on Jl. M. H. Thamrin in Jakarta in January. They were also suspected to be part of a terror network behind a suicide bomb attack at the Surakarta Police headquarters in July, he further said.

"Thus, these terror cells had direct contacts with Bahrun. They operated in several cities. They belonged to a terror cell in Surakarta, Central Java. They had planned a terror attack, in which Bekasi was just a transit area before they moved to their main target area, Jakarta," said Boy, adding that all suspects had been brought to Jakarta for a further investigation.

Earlier, National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian said the terrorist group in the Bekasi terror attack plan was comprised of six people who coordinated directly with Bahrun. It was believed he was still in Syria. Nur Solihin, a terror suspect arrested by personnel of the police's Densus 88 counterterrorism squad at his home in Kampung Griyan, Laweyan, Surakarta, Central Java, was the leader of the small group, Tito said.

"They prepared bombs that they learned to assemble on the internet. For the mission, Bahrun provided funds he sent via banks. Nur's second wife, the woman arrested, was prepared as 'the bride'," said Tito, using terminology that references a suicide bombing perpetrator.

They learned to make a high explosive bomb using a pressurized cooker with the security post at the State Palace in Jakarta as their main target, Tito added. (ebf)

Source: Police name terrorist suspects in Jakarta bombing plot

Suspect's wife taken for questioning over Jakarta bomb plot

The National Police's Densus 88 counterterrorism squad has taken into custody the wife of a terrorist suspect linked to a plot to bomb a major target in Jakarta for questioning after searching the suspect's house in Surakarta, Central Java, for more evidence. 

The police spent about two hours on Sunday afternoon searching the house of one of two men arrested on Saturday in Jakarta.

The wife was seen carrying her 6-month-old baby into a police car. There was no official statement from on-duty police officers after they concluded the search.

Densus 88 on Saturday arrested two men and a woman in Bekasi, West Java, for allegedly plotting a bomb attack at a major target, believed to be the State Palace, in Jakarta.

The two men were arrested at about 3:40 p.m. on the Kalimalang overpass, while a 27-year-old woman was arrested 10 minutes later in a rented house in the Bintara Jaya subdistrict.

In the Bintara Jaya house, the police found high explosives weighing about 3 kilograms packed into a pressure cooker.

The fourth suspect, another man, was arrested in Karanganyar, Central Java, at about 6:30 p.m.

Neighbors of the first suspect and his wife in Surakarta said they had got married in 2015 and had since lived in their current house, which belongs to the woman's parents. 

"They seemed fine. The wife joins regular residents meeting, while the husband is a bit of an introvert," said Muhammad Amin, one of the couple's neighbors. (hwa)

Source: Suspect's wife taken for questioning over Jakarta bomb plot

At least 45,000 homeless after Aceh quake in Indonesia

JAKARTA, Indonesia –  At least 45,000 people have been displaced by the powerful earthquake that hit Indonesia's Aceh province, authorities said Saturday, as the government and aid agencies pooled efforts to meet the basic survival needs of shaken communities.

The estimate of the number of homeless people continues to grow while relief efforts fan out across the three districts near the epicenter of Wednesday's magnitude 6.5 quake, National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho told a press conference.

"The basic needs of refugees must be met during the evacuation," the agency said in statement.

Humanitarian groups are now coordinating their efforts from a main command post in the worst affected district Pidie Jaya, the agency said.

At least 100 people were killed and hundreds injured in the quake, which also destroyed or damaged more than 11,000 buildings, mostly homes but also several hundred mosques and schools. The displaced are staying in temporary shelters and mosques or with relatives.

On Saturday, sniffer dogs were again used in the search for bodies and possible survivors in the devastated town of Meureudu, where a market filled with shop houses was largely flattened. Four other locations in Pidie Jaya are also the focus of search efforts.

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo traveled Friday to worst-hit areas of the province and promised to rebuild communities.

Australia's government said on Saturday it will provide 1 million Australian dollars ($750,000) of humanitarian aid through the Indonesian Red Cross.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said Australia is ready to respond to additional requests for assistance from the Indonesian government.

Source: At least 45,000 homeless after Aceh quake in Indonesia

Democracy ‘best system’ for pluralism

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo opened on Thursday the ninth Bali Democracy Forum, reiterating the importance of democracy as a system that guarantees the rights of citizens in the diverse nation and protects their religious freedom.

He also met with former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan, who recently visited Myanmar's Rakhine state, to pledge humanitarian aid for victims of the recent violence there.

"Throughout history, Indonesians have persistently fought for democracy [where] everyone has the same rights and obligations, the checks-and-balance system works, and every single voice matters. Indonesians believe that through democracy, our nation will be better," the President said, addressing participants, including delegates of 95 nations and international organizations.

He said the synergy of religion, tolerance and democracy in Indonesia had been proven over time, including in recent massive rallies last month and on Dec. 2 in Jakarta. Protesters de manded Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, a Christian, be jailed for blasphemy.

"It is our responsibility to ensure democracy works well to support stability and peace, and brings prosperity to the people. The government is committed to actively improving synergy between democracy, religion and tolerance, and aims for those efforts to be reflected in all our laws and policies."

Annan also said in his keynote speech that democracy was the system best suited to secure and sustain pluralism in today's world.

"True democracy enshrines the rights and liberties of all individuals in law and institutions regardless of race, gender and religion, and gives everyone a voice. I couldn't think of a better country in which to deliver this message than Indonesia, a great country made up of many ethnic groups, languages and faiths, spread out across a vast archipelago-a heartening confirmation that pluralism can work," said Annan, a board member of th e Global Center for Pluralism.

As chairman of the Myanmar government's Advisory Committee for Rakhine, Annan expressed deep concern over reports of alleged human rights abuses. "

Annan said plural societies, however, often proved hard to govern.

 "As Indonesia knows, successful governance [...] requires inclusive leadership, to build and sustain trust across communities over time."

"Religion, pluralism and democracy should be mutually reinforcing foundations of healthy, stable and prosperous societies. […], the only way to avoid conflict and ensure that all believers […] are able to practice freely is by ensuring that religion is tempered […] by pluralism."

"Religion can be harnessed for the good, but also misused. We must stress the basic values that are common to all religions: compassion, solidarity and respect for the human person," he concluded.

Participants shared best practices and key lessons in religious harmony and in countering violent extremism.

Before the opening, President Jokowi met with Annan to discuss humanitarian aid for Rohingya Muslims in Rakhine state.

"Indonesia will immediately send humanitarian aid for Rohingya people. I have ordered the minister to prepare the logistics, especially food and blankets," the President said.

Source: Democracy 'best system' for pluralism

Sun to shine on Greater Jakarta property market

After a lengthy decline, the property market in Greater Jakarta is expected to shine next year as the government's flagship tax amnesty and extensive infrastructure development stoke property demand.

The tax amnesty will provide a stimulus as around 60 percent of funds repatriated via the program are expected to be invested in the property sector, Indonesian Property Watch (IPW) chief executive officer Ali Tranghanda said on Thursday.

"The demand for property will skyrocket in the second half of 2017 after the gubernatorial election and tax amnesty are over," he said at the Rumah.com Indonesia Real Estate Summit 2016 event in Jakarta.

(Read also: Urban middle class struggle to afford housing)

Ali said landed houses in East Bekasi, West Java, priced between Rp 500 million (US$37,582) and Rp 1 billion would become attractive as infrastructure projects such as the Bekasi-Cawang-Kampung Melayu toll road and light rail transit (LRT) are expected to be completed in 2017.

Meanwhile, Wasudewan, country manager of online property website rumah.com, said the property market in East Jakarta had good prospects because the area still had an adequate supply of land with relatively low prices.

"We have observed that the number of housing advertisements in East Jakarta [placed on rumah.com] has increased, and so have page views and customers' inquiries for properties in this area," he said. (win/jun)

Source: Sun to shine on Greater Jakarta property market

Agus woos Jakarta voters with three cash assistance programs

Jakarta gubernatorial candidate Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono promised to implement three fund assistance programs for Jakarta residents if he was elected, during his campaign visit to Mampang Prapatan, South Jakarta, on Wednesday. 

While talking with residents at the Tegal Parang hall, Agus reiterated that he would channel Rp 1 billion (US$74,892.4) per year to every community unit (RW) in the capital. The scheme was once deemed a form of "vote buying" by the city's Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu).

"We plan to set aside Rp 1 billion from the city budget for each RW. The funds will be disbursed in the form of programs to help an RW repair its water sluice, for instance, or build open space for kids," Agus told the residents.

The eldest son of former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono added that each RW could send project proposals to the city administration. 

The administration would then examine the proposals and do spot checks in the area before granting funds, Agus said. 

He also announced a program to grant Rp 50 million to each small and medium enterprise (UMKM) in the city. He said he believed this fund assistance could reduce the number of unemployed people in the city.

Agus also promised to implement a so-called Direct Cash Assistance (BLS) program, which would be granted to low-income households in the city. He said that each poor family could receive Rp 5 million per year.  (dmr)

Source: Agus woos Jakarta voters with three cash assistance programs

Vietnam Tourism Roadshow held in Jakarta to Increase Tourist Arrivals from Indonesia

In News Post 07 December 2016 By Ani Hasanah Hits: 3

VOI NEWS 06.12.2016, 13.00 LOCAL TIME, GMT+7

Vietnam National Administration of Tourism held Vietnam Tourism Roadshow on December 5th in Jakarta . This activity is aimed to introducing tourism destination in Vietnam, Vietnam's airlines, and to meet Vietnamese and Indonesian tour operators. There are various leadingtourism destinations in Vietnam, such as the city of Hanoi, Quy Nhon, Da Lat, Ho Chi Minh City and Mui Ne . In his opening speech on Monday, December 5th, Assistant Deputy of Asia Pacific Market Development of  Tourism Ministry, Vincent Jemadu, said the Indonesian people have an interest in traveling . This can be seen from the number of visit of Indonesian people to Vietnam  which is higher than the Vietnamese people visiting to Indonesia .

 "So if you look at the number, Indonesian people visiting Vietnam reach almost 70 thousand. While Vietnamese visiting Indonesia only around 40 thousand. Vietnamese tourism growing very significantly.  I am optimistic, by doing roadshow like this, more and more," he said. 

Vincent Jemadu further explained, Vietnam is targeting 100 thousands of tourists visit from Indonesia next year . He is optimistic that the numbers could be reached . Southeast Asia is currently the highest position in the world tourism growth . So, according to him, now is the best time to develop tourism . Indonesia and Vietnam need to work together to promote tourism in both countries // (trs/Rezha)

Indonesia committed to realize peace mission, Minister says

---- The Indonesian government continues to be committed to deploying UN-peacekeeping personnel in its efforts to realize peace mission, Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi remarked after a coordination meeting in Jakarta on Monday, December 5th. According to her, Indonesia is one of the biggest contributors in deploying its security personnel in the UN Peacekeeping Force, in addition to providing the equipment of its main weaponry system for peace mission in 10 countries . She said that during the meeting Indonesian Foreign Ministry made coordination to strengthen the commitment of Indonesia to maintain the sustainability of peace mission . She stressed that the meeting was intended to coordinate the sustainability of Indonesia's role in the placement of its personnel in the UN Peacekeeping Force to maintain peace mission  //  Voi.ROL

 

Asita supports Visit Indonesia 2018 in Bali

----  The Association of Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (Asita) in Bali will fully support the Visit Indonesia 2018 to meet the target of 20 million foreign visits up to 2019 . The Chairman of Asita Bali, Ketut Ardana remarked on Monday, December 5th in Denpasar that the government should concentrate on the 10 main tourism destinations to make Visit Indonesia 2018 a great success . The Ministry of Tourism is offering 10 main tourism destinations known as the "10 New Balis" to boost the national tourism industry . According to Ketut Ardana, the province of Bali is ready to support the program, because the island resort is a regional liaison to attract foreign tourists to Indonesia . Bali is one of the iconic tourism destinations Indonesia, which attracts around 4 million tourists a year, or 40 percent of the total tourists visiting Indonesia . Bali is a destination that already occupies a prestigious spot on the world's tourism map // Voi.ROL

 

Soekarno-Hatta Airport Train to Complete by June 2017

---- Indonesian Transportation Ministry, Budi Karya Sumadi is confident of completing Soekarno-Hatta Airport train project by June 2017, despite facing land acquisition issues in some areas . Budi said on Monday, December 5th in Jakarta the airport train project has actually been fully completed . However, in some areas, we have yet to complete the land acquisition of roughly 130 houses . He said that the ministry has two options for the airport train's starting station: Dukuh Atas and Jakarta Kota Stations . The two has been chosen since Manggarai Station is not yet ready . Earlier, state-owned railway company PT Kereta Api Indonesia president director Edi Sukmoro aims to conclude land acquisition by year-end, in accordance with President Joko Widodo's instruction // Voi.Tempo

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Source: Vietnam Tourism Roadshow held in Jakarta to Increase Tourist Arrivals from Indonesia

N. Jakarta district court chief to lead Ahok's blasphemy trial

The North Jakarta District Court has revealed the panel of judges that will oversee Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama's trial on blasphemy charges, which will start next week.

Court spokesman Hasoloan Sianturi on Monday told The Jakarta Post that Dwiarso Budi Santiarto, the court's chief justice, would serve as the presiding judge in the high-profile trial. The other judges appointed are Jupriadi, Abdul Rosyad, Joseph V. Rahantoknam and I Wayan Wirjana.

Prior to his move to the North Jakarta District Court earlier this year, Dwiarso served as the chief of the Semarang District Court in Central Java. 

(Read also: Conservative Muslims intensify pressure in Ahok's blasphemy case)

Hasoloan said the first hearing in the trial, scheduled for Dec. 13, will take place at the Central Jakarta District Court's former building on Jl. Gajah Mada, Central Jakarta, as his office was currently under renovation.

Ahok, who is campaigning for next year's gubernatorial election, was charged with violating articles 156 and 156a of the Criminal Code on blasphemy. He was named a suspect by the National Police on Nov. 16 after recordings of remarks he made during a visit to the Thousand Islands regency on Sept. 27 were editing before being posted online, allowing some to interpret the remarks as being blasphemous in nature.

The Attorney General's Office submitted Ahok's case dossier, along with 51 pieces of evidence, to the North Jakarta District Court last Thursday. (hwa) 

Source: N. Jakarta district court chief to lead Ahok's blasphemy trial

Jakarta governor protests: Thousands attend unity rally

Jakarta governor protests: Thousands attend unity rally

4 December 2016

From the section Asia

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-38199549 Read more about sharing. Close share panel Image copyright AFP/Getty Images Image caption Indonesian parliament speaker Setya Novanto (in yellow) released doves

Tens of thousands of people have turned out for what was billed as a unity rally in Indonesia's capital Jakarta, held to counter demonstrations against the city's governor.

Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, better known as "Ahok", is accused of insulting Islam during election campaigning.

Two protests against him, the last bringing together 200,000 conservative Muslims, have been held in the city.

Indonesia is the world's largest Muslim-majority nation.

Mr Purnama is Christian and ethnic Chinese - a double minority in Indonesia, where ethnic Chinese are about 1% of the population.

Sunday's counter-rally was pitched as a "parade of Indonesian culture".

It featured traditional dances from across the country and a giant flag proclaiming "We Are Indonesia". Police said 30,000 people attended the rally.

The Jakarta Post said the rally was organised by two parties that are part of President Joko Widodo's coalition. Mr Widodo is a political ally of Mr Purnama, but turned up for the last rally against him on Friday.

Speaking from the stage on Sunday, Surya Paloh, the chairman of the National Democratic Party, said Indonesians could not work together if they were "scattered, blaspheming, humiliating each other and no longer trust each other".

Who is Jakarta's non-Muslim governor?

Image copyright AFP/Getty Images Image caption The rally was the third in a month, but the first that was not against the governor

In a campaign speech in September, Mr Purnama said Islamic groups who were using a Koranic verse to discourage support for him were deceiving voters. The verse is interpreted by some as prohibiting Muslims from living under the leadership of a non-Muslim.

Islamic groups said he had criticised the Koran and lodged complaints with the police.

Mr Purnama later apologised but denied committing blasphemy, which carries a maximum five-year jail sentence.

On Wednesday, Indonesian prosecutors confirmed his case could go to trial.

A large protest against the governor on 4 November turned violent, leaving one man dead and dozens of police and demonstrators injured. A larger rally was held on Friday.

Source: Jakarta governor protests: Thousands attend unity rally

Police say treason arrests to prevent Jakarta rally being used to topple government

Jakarta: Police have revealed multiple Indonesians were arrested in predawn raids on Friday to prevent opponents of Indonesian President Joko Widodo trying to manipulate a giant protest rally into toppling the government.

Eight people have been named suspects over alleged treason and two for alleged hate speech.

A man holds a poster during a rally against Jakarta's minority Christian Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama. Photo: Dita Alangkara

Another man, Indonesian rock musician Ahmad Dhani, was arrested for allegedly insulting the President during a protest rally last month.

Eight suspects, including Rachmawati Soekarnoputri, the wheelchair-bound sister of former president Megawati Soekarnoputri, were released from detention Friday night ahead of their trial for "humanitarian reasons".

Indonesian Muslims march during a rally against Jakarta's minority Christian Governor on Friday.  Photo: Tatan Syuflana

Rachmawati, who is not politically aligned to her sister, had demanded a return of the original version of the 1945 constitution, which would make it easier to impeach the president.

General Boy Rafli Amar said the police had acted to prevent Friday's rally at Indonesia's National Monument, Monas, from being hijacked for political purposes.

"Police understand the masses can become irrational if provoked," he said.

"The allegation is related to a plan to use the masses to occupy the Parliament building and force Parliament to hold an extraordinary general assembly to change the government."

A Muslim man weeps as he prays during the rally on Friday.  Photo: Dita Alangkara

The peaceful rally, attended by more than half a million people, was held to demand Jakarta's governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, who is popularly known as Ahok, be jailed for allegedly insulting Islam.

Ahok is ethnically Chinese and the first Christian since 1964 to be governor of Jakarta.

Rachmawati Soekarnoputri, the leader of the Pioneer Party and sister of former Indonesian president Megawati Soekarnoputri. Photo: Achmad Ibrahim

The rally was allowed to proceed, despite fears it could spiral into violence, on the grounds it would be contained within the National Monument and restricted to mass chants in praise of God, sermons and Friday prayers.

"Police did not want the Ulemas' (Muslim scholars') intention to hold mass prayers to be hijacked," General Boy said.  

One of those arrested, Sri Bintang Pamungkas, an activist in the 1998 movement that led to the fall of Suharto, was detained in custody.

"He is still being questioned. It is related to YouTube content in November to incite people through social media," General Boy said.

In the YouTube video, Mr Bintang says: "Suharto, who was supported by the military, police, army, can fall. Why can't Jokowi (the nickname for the president) fall? Jokowi surely can fall."

After cheering from the small crowd, he says in the YouTube video:  "If you unite, let us together go to MPR (Parliament), demand MPR revoke Jokowi's mandate as president. Revoke!"

General Boy said freedom was not an absolute in a country based on law. He said criticism of the government was normal but treason was a different thing.

He said investigators had collected evidence from meetings and other activities that suggested a conspiracy to carry out treason.

"(Those) accused of treason are being investigated for committing a conspiracy."

A lawyer for Rachmawati confirmed his client had held a meeting at a Jakarta hotel on December 1 to discuss asking Parliament to hold a special meeting to return to the original constitution in order to impeach the President.

However Yusril Ihza Mahendra said Rachmawati did not consider this treasonous. "They were discussing their concerns over what the country is facing," he said. The solution according to them is to return to the original 1945 Constitution, before it was changed in recent years."

Mr Yusril said it would be up to experts to determine if this constituted treason.

Police said it was possible more treason suspects would later be named.

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Source: Police say treason arrests to prevent Jakarta rally being used to topple government

200,000 protest in Jakarta against governor

Indonesian protesters march down Jakarta's main street to urge authorities to arrest Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, December 2, 2016. (Photo by AFP)

Some 200,000 Indonesians have taken to the streets in Jakarta in a second, major protest rally against the governor of the capital .

They gathered in Jakarta's National Monument park on Friday, calling for the arrest of Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, a who is being prosecuted as a suspect in a blasphemy case.

President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo, who is a political ally of the embattled Jakarta governor, unexpectedly arrived at the site and called for protesters to disperse peacefully.

Over 20,000 security forces had been deployed to the city to ensure the demonstration stayed orderly. Police said they had arrested eight people suspected of "treason."

Two other people were arrested for alleged crimes under Indonesia's law on electronic information and transactions.

Protesters hold up posters calling for the arrest of Jakarta's Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, December 2, 2016. (Photo by Reuters)

A previous protest in Jakarta had attracted about 100,000 people, who marched on the presidential palace and called for Purnama's dismissal, on November 4.

Clashes during that protest left one person dead and dozens of others injured. Police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse the demonstrators.

Purnama stirred controversy after he dismissed a political attack by his opponents by invoking a verse from the holy Qur'an. His move was perceived as an insult to Islam by his opponents.

The governor is being investigated for blasphemy, which is considered a criminal offense in Indonesia, the country with the largest Muslim population in the world.

On Wednesday, the Office of the State Prosecutor announced that the police record on the case had met the requirements for Purnama's blasphemy case to proceed to a trial.

The ethnic Chinese governor could be imprisoned for five years if found guilty.

Source: 200,000 protest in Jakarta against governor

West Papuans protest against Indonesian rule in Jakarta

Dozens of West Papuan protesters calling for the region's independence have been detained after clashing with police in Jakarta.

1 Dec 2016 - 4:44 PM  UPDATED 14 MINS AGO

West Papuan protesters have faced off with police in the Indonesian capital while calling for the remote region's independence.

Organisers had promised protests in other cities and said on Thursday police had denied them permission to march in central Jakarta.

The dozens of demonstrators were blocked from marching on to a busy traffic circle in the capital by several hundred police, who fired water cannons and dragged several men from the crowd into waiting police vans.

After about three hours, they agreed to end the protest and were detained by police.

A West Papuan protester shouts slogans as he and others are taken away on a police truck during a rally in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016. (AAP)

"Don't hinder our right to voice our aspirations. Papuans are demanding the truth of our history," a speaker standing on a small truck shouted at the crowd.

Members of the Papua Students Alliance chanted "Freedom Papua" and others sang independence songs.

Rights groups accuse the Indonesian military of serious human rights abuses in Papua and some Melanesian island states have also voiced concerns and called for Papuan independence.

Many West Papuans see December 1 as the anniversary of what should have been their independence.

The Dutch colonisers of the Indonesian archipelago held onto West Papua when Indonesia became independent after World War II.

It became part of Indonesia following a UN-supervised referendum in 1969.

A low-level insurgency has plagued the mineral-rich region, which is ethnically and culturally distinct from much of Indonesia, for years.

Source: West Papuans protest against Indonesian rule in Jakarta