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Saturday, September 30, 2017

'Evie' now lives in fear in Jakarta slum - Obama's nanny

The former nanny who helped care for a young Barack Obama now lives her days in a shelter for transgender women.

Born a man, Evie identifies as a woman but is forced to dress as male due to widespread discrimination faced by Indonesia's LGBT community, said news.com.au.

The nanny, who cared for the boy who would go on to become President of the United States, was discovered living on Jakarta's streets in 2012, fearing for her life.

Having endured beatings by soldiers, constant harassment and difficulty finding work, she revealed how she was forced to rely on sex work to survive.

According to Human Rights Indonesian researcher Andreas Harsono not much has changed for Evie since then.

If anything, things are worse than ever.

Evie shows a picture of herself, left, dressed as a woman with an unidentified friend in a pageant, in Jakarta, Indonesia. Photo / AP

Mr Harsono said the transgender community didn't feel safe even in a big city such as Jakarta.

He also said it wasn't just the transgender community who felt unsafe.

Recent raids on the gay and lesbian community fuelled by religious intolerance targeting minorities had also left many others petrified.

"Homosexuality isn't accepted," he said.

"It is seen as unnatural and a mental illness."

Mr Harsono said people like Evie faced massive hurdles in day-to-day life.

"Transgender people find it hard to find work and accessing health and education," he said.

"Many are not accepted by their families and run away from home before they're 18, the age they can get their national ID card."

Despite that, Mr Harsono said Evie, who is now in her late 60s, remained a proud person who was sometimes reluctant to talk about her famous charge.

"Evie worked for the Obamas when she was around 19 or 20," he said.

"Obama's mother asked her to come and work for them and she did."

BEATINGS, ABUSE

Evie gave up wearing dresses after discovering a friend's body floating in a canal two decades ago.

"I knew in my heart I was a woman, but I didn't want to die like that," she told the AP."So I decided to just accept it. I've been living like this, a man, ever since."

Evie, also known as Turdi, was the former nanny of US President Barack Obama. Photo / AP

Evie also revealed she was abused growing up by a father who thought his son was too feminine.

HRW said it was difficult to estimate how many people were transgender in Indonesia, with many hiding their sexuality.

However Mr Harsono said he believed there were around 30,000 in Jakarta alone.

FAMOUS CHARGE

In 1969 Evie met Ann Dunham, Barack Obama's mother, who had arrived in the country two years earlier after marrying her second husband, Indonesian Lolo Soetoro.

She was so impressed by Evie's beef steak and fried rice that she offered her a job in the family home. It didn't take long before Evie also was eight-year-old "Barry's" caretaker.

Once the family left Indonesia Evie struggled to find work and was forced into sex work to make a living.

"It's the only way she can get money," Mr Harsono said.

In a 2012 interview with the Associated Press, Evie said she didn't dress up as a woman in front of young Obama who she looked after for around two years.

Neighbours recalled they often saw Evie leave the house in the evening fully made up and dressed in drag. But she says it's doubtful the boy she called "Barry" ever knew.

"He was so young," Evie said.

"And I never let him see me wearing women's clothes. But he did see me trying on his mother's lipstick, sometimes. That used to really crack him up."

She didn't even realise the boy she helped care for won the US Presidential election in 2008 until she saw it on the news.

RISE OF INTOLERANCE

In 2012, Indonesia's highest Islamic body decreed people are required to live as the sex they were born.

Ichwan Syam, a prominent Muslim cleric at the influential Indonesian Ulema Council said people had to learn to accept nature.

"If they are not willing to cure themselves medically and religiously" they have "to accept their fate to be ridiculed and harassed," he said at the time.

Evie was born a man but believes she is really a woman and has endured a lifetime of taunts and beatings because of her identity. Photo / AP

The intolerance against minorities has continued.

Just this month, a raid in the West Java province targeted 12 suspected lesbians.

Local Islamic youth groups and religious leaders complained the women's cohabitation was "against the teachings of Islam".

Human Rights Watch said the forced evictions violated the women's right to privacy and police demanded the women relocate elsewhere with no legal justification.

According to HRW, at least four raids have been carried out on LGBTI people in private settings this year alone.

On March 28, vigilantes forcibly entered an apartment in Aceh and took two men to the police for allegedly having same-sex relations. The men were publicly flogged two months later.


Source: 'Evie' now lives in fear in Jakarta slum - Obama's nanny

Friday, September 29, 2017

Indonesia shares higher at close of trade; Jakarta Stock Exchange Composite up 1.02%

Investing.com – Indonesia equities were higher at the close on Friday, as gains in the , and sectors propelled shares higher.

At the close in Jakarta, the rose 1.02%.

The biggest gainers of the session on the were Sat Nusapersada Tbk (JK:), which rose 34.72% or 50 points to trade at 194 at the close. Alfa Energi Investama Tbk PT (JK:) added 23.64% or 325 points to end at 1700 and Graha Andrasentra Propertindo Tbk PT (JK:) was up 21.48% or 29 points to 164 in late trade.

Biggest losers included Asuransi Bintang Tbk (JK:), which lost 19.17% or 74.00 points to trade at 312.00 in late trade. Asuransi Harta Aman Pratama Tbk PT (JK:) declined 16.15% or 31 points to end at 161 and Rimau Multi Putra Pratama (JK:) shed 14.87% or 145 points to 830.

Advancing stocks outnumbered falling ones by 192 to 131 and 125 ended unchanged on the Jakarta Stock Exchange.

In commodities trading, Crude oil for November delivery was up 0.06% or 0.03 to $51.59 a barrel. Meanwhile, Brent oil for delivery in December fell 0.02% or 0.01 to hit $57.15 a barrel, while the December Gold Futures contract rose 0.17% or 2.13 to trade at $1290.83 a troy ounce.

USD/IDR was down 0.01% to 13458.0, while AUD/IDR fell 0.23% to 10568.00.

The US Dollar Index Futures was up 0.05% at 93.00.

Disclaimer: Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. All CFDs (stocks, indexes, futures) and Forex prices are not provided by exchanges but rather by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual market price, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Therefore Fusion Media doesn`t bear any responsibility for any trading losses you might incur as a result of using this data.

Fusion Media or anyone involved with Fusion Media will not accept any liability for loss or damage as a result of reliance on the information including data, quotes, charts and buy/sell signals contained within this website. Please be fully informed regarding the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, it is one of the riskiest investment forms possible.


Source: Indonesia shares higher at close of trade; Jakarta Stock Exchange Composite up 1.02%

Thursday, September 28, 2017

Underpasses at six Greater Jakarta stations fully operational

State-owned commuter line operator Kereta Commuter Indonesia (Indonesia Commuter Train, KCI), has opened an underpass in Bojong Gede station in Bogor, West Java on Thursday.

The underpass was the last of six underpass building projects in 2016 at Tebet station in South Jakarta, Sudimara and Pondok Ranji stations in Tangerang, Citayam in Depok, and Cilebut in Bogor.

KCI spokesperson Eva Chairunisa said the development of the underpasses was intended for the safety of passengers by eliminating crossing sections on railway tracks.

More than 35,000 passengers pass through Bojong Gede station each day.

"The underpass has a 2.5 meter depth under the railway tracks with length of 18.3 meters and width of 5 meters, accompanied by two stairways located on the platform of Jakarta Kota and Bogor stations," Eva said in a statement.

KCI hoped that passengers will follow the prevailing rules by using the underpass instead of crossing the railway tracks, she added.

In December last year, Manggarai station in Central Jakarta opened an underpass that was 60 meters long and had 7 meters width. The underpass, however, has often been flooded when heavy rains hit Jakarta.


Source: Underpasses at six Greater Jakarta stations fully operational

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Jakarta in big five world’s fastest growing destinations

The Global Destination Cities Index (GDCI) has placed Jakarta as the fifth fastest growing destination amid 132 cities, according to an annual report issued by Mastercard on Tuesday.

The report shows that Jakarta's position was behind Osaka in Japan, Chengdu in China, Colombo in Sri Lanka and Abu Dhabi in United Arab Emirates, while the five cities behind Jakarta are Tokyo, Hanoi, Riyadh, Lima and Taipei.

Legion Lead Asia Pacific Mastercard senior vice president Eric Scheineder said 59.1 percent of people were visiting Jakarta for business, while the other 40.9 percent were visiting for leisure.

"The research shows more than half of visitors were visiting Jakarta for business purposes," Scheineder said in Singapore on Tuesday as quoted by kontan.co.id, adding that meanwhile 98 percent of visits to Colombo were for leisure purposes.

Similarly, a majority of visitors to Osaka (89.4 percent) and Chengdu (82.6 percent) were for leisure, indicating that Jakarta is not yet a major destination for leisure purposes.

This is also indicated by the spending figures of Jakarta visitors, which were 44.6 percent for accommodation, 20.4 percent for food, 13.4 percent for shopping, 10.6 percent for transportation, 10.2 percent for local services and 0.8 percent for other purposes.

Scheineder said it was a challenge for Jakarta to attract more visitors who want to spend their time for leisure. "Jakarta needs to attract more tourists, who have already visited Singapore, Thailand, China and India to come to the city for leisure purposes" he added. (bbn)


Source: Jakarta in big five world's fastest growing destinations

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Popular East Jakarta drugstores closed for a week

Some 294 drugstores at Pramuka Market, East Jakarta, are set to be closed for a week while the owners of the stores apply for the official pharmacy license from the government.

The secretary general of Pramuka Market drug sellers association, Yoyon, said the store owners would rather lose a huge amount of money than running the businesses without a license.  

"We will surely lose money, but we don't want to be deemed as violators of the law. We want to run the business in accordance with the law," Yoyon said on Tuesday as quoted by tribunnews.com.

Should the government fail to grant the licenses swiftly, they would keep the stores closed until receiving the license, Yoyon said.

Pramuka Market is known to Jakarta residents as the one-stop shop for cheap medicines and medical equipment, with its drugstores classified as public pharmacies.

However, since the Health Ministry revoked regulation 284/2007 concerning public pharmacy's in October last year, drugstores at the market no longer had a legal basis to run their business. 

As a result, the drugstores were often blamed for distributing illegal drugs and vaccines in the city.

"We hope that after revoking the regulation, the government can help us to manage our business," Yoyon said. (cal)


Source: Popular East Jakarta drugstores closed for a week

Monday, September 25, 2017

Jakarta demolishes illegal buildings around Rusun

The Jakarta administration has started demolishing hundreds of illegal buildings around seven low-cost apartments (Rusun) in Jakarta.

Melly Budiastuti of the Jakarta Public Works and Public Housing Agency's development and public participation division, said there were 350 illegal buildings in the seven locations.

Melly said 61 illegal buildings were found in Rusun Bidaracina in East Jakarta; 47 in Bendungan Hilir, 38 in Tanah Tinggi and 43 in Karet Tengsin in Central Jakarta; 58 in Tambora and 85 in Petamburan in West Jakarta; and 18 in Tebet Barat, South Jakarta.

She added that the 61 buildings in Bidaracina and those in Bendungan Hilir had been demolished few weeks ago.

"We will demolish those illegal buildings gradually. Now, there are still 289 in several Rusun," she said on Sunday as quoted by kompas.com. (rdi/syl)


Source: Jakarta demolishes illegal buildings around Rusun

Sunday, September 24, 2017

Online motorcycle taxi driver arrested for theft, murder in N. Jakarta flat

The Jakarta Police have arrested Peri Sugianto, 27, an online motorcycle taxi driver, for the alleged murder of sales promoter Dini Oktaviani, 19, in her apartment in Laguna Tower, Penjaringan, North Jakarta.

Jakarta Police general crimes deputy chief Adj. Comr. Didik Sugiarto said the suspect killed Dini on Sept. 13 and that he was arrested on Thursday.

"Her family from Pangkal Pinang [in Bangka Belitung] could not contact her, so they visited her apartment, which was unlocked, and found her dead on Monday," he said.

According to findings by the police, prior to the murder, Dini asked Peri to find moneylenders to borrow money.

He then allegedly killed her and took her valuables, including her phone and jewelry.

Jakarta Police automotive robberies head Adj. Sr. Comr. Antonius Agus said the suspect had known the victim since 2010.

He said that Peri had previously worked as a DJ at a nightspot and lived close to the victim's house in Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta. The victim reportedly used Peri's service as a motorcycle taxi driver.

Antonius said the motive behind the alleged murder related to debt.

Peri was charged under Article 365 of the Criminal Code (KUHP) on violent theft and Article 338 of the KUHP on murder, which carry a combined maximum sentence of 15 years' imprisonment. (dis/wit)


Source: Online motorcycle taxi driver arrested for theft, murder in N. Jakarta flat

Saturday, September 23, 2017

Jakarta Asian Games 2018 to incorporate 40 sports and 462 gold medal events

Indonesia will host a total of 40 events at next year's Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang after reaching a deal with the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), the head of Indonesia's organising committee told AFP.

With less than a year to go until the Games open next August, the final programme had been in doubt before an agreement was reached during a meeting on the sidelines of the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, currently taking place in the Turkmenistan's capital Ashgabat.

Under the agreement, the Games -- larger than the Olympics both in terms of the number of sports and competitors -- will incorporate 40 sports and 462 gold medal events.

The final number is down from the 42 sports that the OCA announced in March, but one more than the 39 that Indonesia's organising committee (INASGOC) had proposed.

"Basically, we had already agreed on 39 sports but the policy that we have to follow is what is on the 2020 Olympic Games in Japan so that is why a new one has come up," INASGOC secretary general Eris Herryanto said, after Indonesia presented their final plans to the OCA general assembly on Wednesday.

"We are supported by the Ministry of Public Affairs, and they are going to build all the infrastructure," Herryanto told AFP.

"Some of it is already finished but most of (it) will be finished by the end of this year so we are confident we'll have all the venues ready in time for next year. I think everyone understands that this is a very big undertaking but it's been more than 50 years since we had the Asian Games so we are very about excited and looking forward to it."

The final programme includes all 33 sports that will be staged at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, as well as others that are popular in Asia such as additional martial arts, sepak takraw, kabaddi, jet ski, paragliding and the card game bridge.

Indonesia has been short of preparation time from the outset after agreeing in 2014 to step in when the original hosts, Vietnam, pulled out for reasons of cost.

The only previous time Indonesia hosted the Asian Games was in 1962, when there were fewer than 1,500 athletes and 13 sports, making next year's edition by far the biggest sports event ever held in the archipelago.

A series of test events planned for the end of this year have already been pushed back until February 2018.

But the Indonesian delegation assured the general assembly during a slick, well-received presentation that all the venues and infrastructure would be ready well before the Games commence.


Source: Jakarta Asian Games 2018 to incorporate 40 sports and 462 gold medal events

Friday, September 22, 2017

Everyone has the right to walk on Jakarta & Kuala Lumpur’s streets

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An inclusive city is one where everyone, from the pedestrian to the car drivers are given equal treatment. That's not the case in Jakarta and KL now. Source: Shutterstock

IF the Malaysian and Indonesian governments want to improve quality of life in their respective capital cities, a major revamp of their public transport networks must be considered, a conference on sustainable transport was told on Tuesday.

There are too many vehicles on Jakarta's and Kuala Lumpur's roads, and far too few sidewalks, cycling lanes and good bus systems, speakers at the "Social City 2: Towards Inclusive and Sustainable Public Transport in Malaysia" conference in Kuala Lumpur pointed out.

This, they say, drives up living costs for those who need to commute daily to or within the capital.

"A city is only a good one if it is inclusive socially and economically," said Liew Chin Tong, who chairs the Research for Social Advancement (REFSA) research institute, which organised the conference.

shutterstock_693713221

Poor, old or disabled, all deserve a public transport system that serves them. Source: Shutterstock

Liew referred to a study by global data measurement company Nielsen in 2014 which found that 93 percent of Malaysian households own cars, making it the third highest worldwide in terms of car ownership. The global average is 74 percent.

As much as one-third of Malaysians' month incomes are spent on car loans, petrol and maintenance – funds they could be spending elsewhere in the domestic economy.

The gap between the "haves and have-nots" are further exaggerated when the city does not provide equal space for a bicycle costing US$30 bicycle, compared to a US$30,000 car. Bike lanes in Malaysia are far and few in between, even in its bigger cities.

Free Malaysia Today noted that data from the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research found 35.6 percent of cycling fatalities occur between cars and cyclists, while 21.6 percent take place between motorcycles and cyclists.

Neither are there feasible sidewalks or sufficient facilities for the elderly and disabled at its train stations.  Persons with disabilities (PWDs) face significant problems when using the country's public transport modes which have been described as "severely lacking in accessible facilities", despite the passing of the Disability Act in 2008 – an act to provide for the development and well-being of PWDs in recognition of, among others, their equal entitlement to accessibility so they can fully participate in society.

@gcntweet Top 9 Worst Bike Lanes. Featured MALAYSIA. My country. pic.twitter.com/6Dv0zzQwdn

— Aish (@FaizAlavi) May 9, 2016

Jakarta suffers from the same problems, according to Yoga Adiwinarto, who is the country director for the Institute for Transportation & Development Policy based in Menteng, Jakarta.

Like Kuala Lumpur, Indonesia's capital's infamous traffic congestion is a result of a car-oriented city planning, instead of one that is people-oriented.

This makes Jakarta's public transport system one that is "not inclusive at all", Yoga told Asian Correspondent during the conference.

The poor, disabled and elderly are still at a disadvantage. Despite the popularity of previous governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, Yoga finds his decision to resettle many lower-income groups living in illegal squatter areas to the city's outskirts "regrettable".

SEE ALSO: It wasn't just religious hatred that cost Ahok the Jakarta vote

"In the past, they can just go to work by walking 10 to 15 minutes. but now they have to travel using buses and trains. Some even lose their jobs as they cannot afford the fees for these modes of public transport," Yoga said.

2017-09-17T050312Z_200040361_RC157A834560_RTRMADP_3_GLOBAL-FITNESS

Not a common sight in Jakarta. Source: Reuters

There have been small improvements in recent years such as the TransJakarta Care, a service by the city's bus system where bus drivers notify minivans to pick up those wheelchair-bound and bring them to their destinations for free.

"They realise there's nothing they can do about the sidewalks but there's a lot of things they can do to make sure all their users are served," Yoga said.

Jakarta's sidewalks are notorious for being dangerous due to its close proximity to the traffic-clogged roads, if one can even find them in the first place. According to the Jakarta Pedestrian Coalition, only 20 percent of the city's roads have anything that resembles a path for pedestrians, way from the traffic from motorists.

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Source: Everyone has the right to walk on Jakarta & Kuala Lumpur's streets

Thursday, September 21, 2017

Jakarta Asian Games 2018 to incorporate 40 sports and 462 gold medal events

Indonesia will host a total of 40 events at next year's Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang after reaching a deal with the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), the head of Indonesia's organising committee told AFP.

With less than a year to go until the Games open next August, the final programme had been in doubt before an agreement was reached during a meeting on the sidelines of the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, currently taking place in the Turkmenistan's capital Ashgabat.

Under the agreement, the Games -- larger than the Olympics both in terms of the number of sports and competitors -- will incorporate 40 sports and 462 gold medal events.

The final number is down from the 42 sports that the OCA announced in March, but one more than the 39 that Indonesia's organising committee (INASGOC) had proposed.

"Basically, we had already agreed on 39 sports but the policy that we have to follow is what is on the 2020 Olympic Games in Japan so that is why a new one has come up," INASGOC secretary general Eris Herryanto said, after Indonesia presented their final plans to the OCA general assembly on Wednesday.

"We are supported by the Ministry of Public Affairs, and they are going to build all the infrastructure," Herryanto told AFP.

"Some of it is already finished but most of (it) will be finished by the end of this year so we are confident we'll have all the venues ready in time for next year. I think everyone understands that this is a very big undertaking but it's been more than 50 years since we had the Asian Games so we are very about excited and looking forward to it."

The final programme includes all 33 sports that will be staged at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, as well as others that are popular in Asia such as additional martial arts, sepak takraw, kabaddi, jet ski, paragliding and the card game bridge.

Indonesia has been short of preparation time from the outset after agreeing in 2014 to step in when the original hosts, Vietnam, pulled out for reasons of cost.

The only previous time Indonesia hosted the Asian Games was in 1962, when there were fewer than 1,500 athletes and 13 sports, making next year's edition by far the biggest sports event ever held in the archipelago.

A series of test events planned for the end of this year have already been pushed back until February 2018.

But the Indonesian delegation assured the general assembly during a slick, well-received presentation that all the venues and infrastructure would be ready well before the Games commence.


Source: Jakarta Asian Games 2018 to incorporate 40 sports and 462 gold medal events

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

All of Jasa Marga’s toll gates in Jakarta will only accept card payment by Oct. 31

PT Jasa Marga, the state-owned company operating the majority of toll roads in Jakarta, is going on a drive to digitize payments on all of its toll gates in the capital.

According to Warta Kota, the company is currently removing manual payment facilities, i.e. toll booths, and replacing them with automatic gates that open with the swipe of certain e-payment cards issued by major banks in Indonesia. Their target is that all transactions at toll booths will be cashless by October 31 of this year.

Starting October 31, transactions on all Jasa Marga toll roads ONLY ACCEPT CASHLESS.

The company is gradually implementing the change throughout the city, and have announced the dates for specific toll gates to go fully digital on major toll roads like Jakarta-Cikampek, Jagorawi, the inner ring road and Prof. Ir. Dr. Soedijatmo.

Automated toll gates (GTO) .: GTO Jasa Marga © Provided by Coconuts Media Limited GTO Jasa Marga

The cards that are accepted by the electronic toll gates are e-Toll and e-Money by Bank Mandiri, Brizzi by BRI, Flazz by BCA, and TapCash by BNI. There was a public outcry earlier this week when Bank Indonesia, Indonesia's central bank, said that the aforementioned banks must charge a nominal fee for every time customers top up the credit on their cards, but the banks have since said that they wouldn't charge their customers as long as there are no official regulations requiring them to.

While switching to card payment and automated gates was deemed necessary to increase efficiency on toll roads, workers unions in Indonesia said that it would affect around 20,000 toll road workers, who stand to lose their jobs.

The post All of Jasa Marga's toll gates in Jakarta will only accept card payment by Oct. 31 appeared first on Coconuts.


Source: All of Jasa Marga's toll gates in Jakarta will only accept card payment by Oct. 31

Tuesday, September 19, 2017

Jakarta gets Rp 6 billion from illegal parking fines

Jakarta has collected roughly Rp 6 billion (US$500,000) in fines from vehicles parked illegally around the city this year, an official has said.

Jakarta Transportation Agency head Andri Yansyah said the figure constituted fines collected from Jan. 3 until Sept. 15.

"The money comes from 14,613 vehicles," he said at City Hall as quoted by kompas.com on Monday.

The agency charges owners Rp 500,000 per day for their violations, according to a regulation that has been in place since 2015, Andri said, referring to bylaw No. 3/2012 on regional retribution.

Officials from the agency tow vehicles parked illegally or tow the cars of unruly drivers who violate traffic orders. Owners get their cars back after paying a fine. (fac)


Source: Jakarta gets Rp 6 billion from illegal parking fines

Monday, September 18, 2017

Fake news about communism in Indonesia blamed for triggering riot in Jakarta

Fake news about Indonesia's omnipresent bogeyman - communism - has been blamed for riots in Central Jakarta that injured five police officers and damaged vehicles in the early hours of Monday morning.

Police were forced to fire tear gas and water cannons to disperse anti-communist protesters who began to pelt police with water bottles and stones and attempted to force their way into the offices of the Jakarta Legal Aid Institute.

Indonesian police attempt to control a crowd protesting against a meeting of 'communists' in Jakarta. Indonesian police attempt to control a crowd protesting against a meeting of 'communists' in Jakarta. Photo: detikcom

A weekend seminar on the 1965 anti-communist purge - a dark chapter in Indonesia's history that remains extremely sensitive today - had already been banned by police on the grounds the organisers had not applied for a permit.

But this did not stop crowds chanting "Crush the PKI" (the now defunct Indonesian communist party) and surrounding the institute building.

The Indonesian Legal Aid Institute claimed "clearly hoaxes or false news have been broadcast ... with instructions for attacking (the institute) done systematically and extensively".

It asserted false claims included that the planned historical seminar was a re-emergence of the PKI and participants intended to sing genjer-genjer, one of the most controversial songs in Indonesia.

Genjer-genjer, which was adopted as a protest song by the PKI, was banned under the Suharto regime, amid military claims that female communists had tortured six generals while singing the song.

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"People said we are PKI - that's the hoax," Muhammad Isnur from the Indonesian Legal Aid Institute told Fairfax Media.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has been targeted by opponents peddling fake news claiming he is Christian. Indonesian President Joko Widodo has been targeted by opponents peddling fake news claiming he is Christian. Photo: AP

"They said PKI was holding an event. It's not true. We wanted to hold an academic discussion about what happened in 1965."

Police have arrested five people suspected of provoking the riots.

Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama was subjected to a vicious smear campaign. Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama was subjected to a vicious smear campaign. Photo: AP

Jakarta police spokesman Argo Yuwono told Fairfax Media that police had informed the institute that the planned seminar could not go ahead because the organisers did not have a permit.

But Mr Isnur said the police were "just making it up". "Why would we need a permit for an internal, closed door discussion in our own office? We hold discussions every day."

Supporters conduct a candlelit vigil in Bali in support of Ahok. The sign reads "Bitter over the lack of justice in ... Supporters conduct a candlelit vigil in Bali in support of Ahok. The sign reads "Bitter over the lack of justice in Indonesian law". Photo: Amilia Rosa

The 1965 tragedy was triggered by the kidnapping and murder of several high-ranking army officers, which was blamed on the PKI.

Last month Indonesian authorities disbanded a workshop in East Java on the findings of an international tribunal into the 1965 massacre - also on the grounds organisers didn't have a permit.

In 2015 the Ubud Writers Festival cancelled sessions discussing 1965 - the first act of censorship in the history of the popular international event.

Amnesty International issued a statement last month saying there had been at least 39 cases since 2015 where authorities disbanded events related to 1965.

"These actions are a clear violation of the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly," Amnesty said.

Asked if hoax news had inflamed tensions at the weekend, Mr Argo said: "Listen, if people get together to make speeches, discussion, dialogue, they must notify the police, this should be understood by people who work in the legal business."

Fake news was a huge problem in Indonesia in the lead-up to the gubernatorial election in February, with much of it targeting the ethnicity of former Jakarta governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama.

Hoax news included that Indonesia was being flooded by 10 million Chinese workers, that its new currency bore an image of the banned communist hammer and sickle, that Ahok's free Human Papillomavirus vaccine program could make girls infertile and that China was waging biological warfare against Indonesia with contaminated chilli seeds.

Smear campaigns during the last presidential election also asserted President Joko Widodo was a Christian and communist.

"Don't forget, negative (news), slander, reproaching each other, hoax and fake news are spreading in social media today. They also become our challenge in the future," President Jokowi told a group of boys scouts in Central Java on Monday.

Last month police arrested three people accused of spreading hoaxes against President Jokowi and Ahok, among others, on a "news" website known as saracen, which allegedly charges clients to publish and spread fake news.

"There is clearly a growing industry around the production of disinformation (false information spread to deliberately deceive) in Indonesia and elsewhere around the world," says Australian National University academic Ross Tapsell, an expert on social media in Indonesia.

"Of course, Indonesia has a long history of government and non-government anti-PKI propaganda designed to incite and enrage," he said.

"So the material may not have changed, but the technology used to disseminate it is changing rapidly."


Source: Fake news about communism in Indonesia blamed for triggering riot in Jakarta

Sunday, September 17, 2017

Akhmetov outpoints Eustaquio in One Championship Jakarta as Roy Doliguez wins by TKO over Yago Bryan

Akhmetov outpoints Eustaquio in One Championship Jakarta as Roy Doliguez wins by TKO over Yago Bryan

Geje Eustaquio is outpointed by Kazakstan's Kairat Akhmetov.

FORMER One flyweight champion Kairat Akhmetov scored a huge triumph over top contender Geje "Gravity" Eustaquio of the Philippines on Saturday in One:Total Victory in Jakarta.

Akhmetov consistently brought Eustaquio to the canvas, controlling the action on the ground on the way to a split decision victory.

Eustaquio would land his usual crisp, clean combinations throughout the contest, but it wasn't enough to earn him the win as Akhmetov's grappling proved too much to overcome.

In a battle of former world title challengers, former professional boxer Roy Doliguez of the Philippines stopped Yago Bryan of Brazil to win by third round technical knockout.

Doliguez kept Bryan on the outside with fast kicks and punch combinations. Although Bryan would land the cleaner, stronger punches throughout the bout, Doliguez found his range late into the contest. A straight left hand down the middle felled Bryan in the third round from which he was unable to recover.

Meanwhile, undefeated hometown hero Stefer Rahardian continued his winning ways in One Championship, stopping Cambodia's Sim Bunsrun in just a little over a minute.

Rahardian, who was just recently awarded his Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt, jumped on Bunsrun's back as soon as he recognized the opening and slithered his way into a deep rear naked choke, forcing the latter to tap out.

In the fastest finish in the One Championship heavyweight division, Alain "The Panther" Ngalani stopped Hideki "Shrek" Sekine in just 11 seconds.

As Sekine charged recklessly towards Ngalani at the sound of the opening bell, Ngalani stepped back and uncorked a right hand counter right on the jaw that dumped Sekine to the ground.


Source: Akhmetov outpoints Eustaquio in One Championship Jakarta as Roy Doliguez wins by TKO over Yago Bryan

Saturday, September 16, 2017

USS Coronado makes goodwill visit to Jakarta, Lays Wreath on USS Houston in Sunda Strait

JAKARTA (NNS) – The Littoral Combat Ship USS Coronado (LCS 4) made a goodwill visit to Jakarta, Indonesia Sept. 14-16 to engage with civic leaders, the diplomatic community, and Navy counterparts from the Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL).During the visit to Jakarta the crew hosted a shipboard reception attended by U.S. Ambassador Joseph Donovan and senior members of the Indonesian government and military.

The port visit to Jakarta also provided an opportunity after departing Jakarta for the crew of USS Coronado to lay a wreath in remembrance to the fallen Sailors of the former USS Houston (CA 30) who perished in the World War II Battle of the Sunda Strait 75 years ago in waters near West Java.

"It is an honor to visit Jakarta to engage with our U.S. Ambassador, our Navy counterparts and then have an opportunity to remember the sacrifices of the brave Sailors aboard USS Houston and HMAS Perth," said Cmdr. Douglas Meagher, commanding officer of Coronado. "We thank our In donesian partners for helping us preserve this important site."

In the early morning of March 1, 1942, the cruisers USS Houston and HMAS Perth were sunk by the Japanese Imperial Navy in the Sunda Strait, about 60 nautical miles from Jakarta, Indonesia. During the battle, in which both ships fought to the last of their fuel and ammunition, 696 U.S. Sailors and Marines aboard Houston and 375 Australian sailors aboard Perth, including the captains of both ships, lost their lives. The wrecks remain their final resting places as war graves beneath the sea.

"The heroism exhibited by the Sailors aboard USS Houston and HMAS Perth is inspiring, and their ultimate sacrifice has not been forgotten," said Capt. Lex Walker, commodore of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7. "As the U.S. Navy continues to operate and work with partner nations in the region, the site serves as an important symbol of remembrance and lasting tribute to those who served during World War II."

USS Coronado continues to operate in the Indo-Asia-Pacific engaging with navies across the region in exercises such as Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) with 9 partner nations, Exercise Pacific Griffin with Singapore, Maritime Training Activity (MTA) in Malaysia and the Philippines, and Naval Engagement Activity (NEA) in Vietnam.

Task Force 73 and DESRON 7 staff conduct advanced planning, organize resources and directly support the execution of maritime exercises such as Pacific Partnership, the bilateral CARAT series, NEA with Vietnam, and the multilateral Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) with Bangladesh, Brunei, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand.

Date Taken: 09.16.2017 Date Posted: 09.16.2017 06:03 Story ID: 248525 Location: ID Web Views: 31 Downloads: 0 Podcast Hits: 0 PUBLIC DOMAIN  
Source: USS Coronado makes goodwill visit to Jakarta, Lays Wreath on USS Houston in Sunda Strait

Friday, September 15, 2017

The Stream, September 15: Jakarta, Indonesia Plans to Build a $40bn Seawall

The Global Rundown

The Indonesian government plans to construct a giant seawall to minimize flooding in the capital city of Jakarta. A new study maps water in the moon's soil, which could be a valuable asset in future lunar explorations. Utah may siphon water away from the Great Salt Lake in order to supply the state's expanding population. The United Kingdom reopens an inquiry into ways of minimizing plastic water bottle waste. A recent oil spill in Greece has spread into the Athens Riviera.

"If Utah continues to grow, it's not a matter of if but when we are going to need more water." –Stuart Adams, a Utah Senator, in reference to the state's skyrocketing demand for water. In the next 30 years, the population of Utah is expected to increase from three million to five million. In order to meet the growing water needs, some have suggested diverting water away from the rivers that feed the Great Salt Lake. The proposed plan would drop the lake's water level by nearly a foot, which could devastate wetlands and harm economic growth. The Wall Street Journal

By The Numbers

20,000 Number of plastic bottles that humans produce every second, few of which are recycled. In hopes of combating plastic waste, the United Kingdom has reopened an inquiry into solutions to cut back on plastic pollution. Possible solutions include a deposit scheme and taxes on single-use bottles. The Guardian

4 meters Distance that northern areas of Jakarta, Indonesia have sunk in the past 40 years. The low-lying coastal city is extremely vulnerable to floods, prompting officials to unveil a plan for a $40 billion seawall. Critics of the plan say that it does not address land subsidence and could damage the city's fishing industry. Reuters

In context: As groundwater withdrawals increase, Jakarta sinks.

Science, Studies, And Reports

Scientists from Brown University released the first quantitative map of water in the moon's soil. Water is most concentrated in the moon's polar regions, but was found "nearly everywhere" on the lunar surface. Researchers say that the map could serve as a good starting point for understanding how lunar water resources could be utilized in the future. Science Daily

On The Radar

An oil spill off the coast of Greece, which occurred after a tanker sank over the weekend, has now spread to the Athens Riviera, several miles from the original spill. Cleanup is underway, but residents worry that beaches will be marred for the foreseeable future. Reuters

The following two tabs change content below. Kayla Ritter is a recent graduate of Michigan State University, where she studied International Relations and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. She is currently based in Manton, Michigan. Kayla enjoys running, writing, and traveling. She can be contacted at kayla@circleofblue.org Latest posts by Kayla Ritter (see all) Comments
Source: The Stream, September 15: Jakarta, Indonesia Plans to Build a $40bn Seawall

Thursday, September 14, 2017

Jakarta to have parking spaces for 'ojek' drivers

To reduce traffic congestion, the Jakarta administration will build parking areas for ojek (motorcycle taxi) drivers at 17 train stations, with Dukuh Atas near Sudirman Station in Central Jakarta as the pilot project.

Greater Jakarta Transportation Agency (BPTJ) head Bambang Prihartono said Wednesday that the parking spaces would be designed for motorcycle app and conventional ojek drivers. He added that ojek drivers could use the area to pick up and drop off passengers. 

"We will prepare a parking area for them so they don't pick up and drop off passengers on the road, which can cause congestion," he said during a focus group discussion on infrastructure and transportation polices in Greater Jakarta.

He added that his side was in talks with market operator PD Pasar Jaya to use a parking area in Dukuh Atas.

"Dukuh Atas is the pilot project and Tanah Abang [in Central Jakarta] will be next," he said, adding the he hoped all 17 train stations in Jakarta would have ojek-dedicated parking spaces. (rdi/syl)


Source: Jakarta to have parking spaces for 'ojek' drivers

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

NU to train 1,000 Jakarta preachers with peaceful Islam

Indonesia's largest Islamic organization Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) is composing a draft curriculum to train 1,000 preachers in Jakarta to spread peaceful Islamic teachings.

Maksum Machfiedz, the deputy head of NU's central executive board, said it was expected the training would be conducted in November, with the cooperation of the Jakarta administration.

"The curriculum will explain how we can make Islam Nusantara [Islam of the Archipelago] a central practice of Muslims in Indonesia. All preachers must understand the problems in society [...] when they deliver their sermons," Maksum told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

Islam Nusantara is a concept developed by NU to propagate peaceful Islam throughout the world. The concept is based on cultural and pluralist approaches.

Maksum said around 1,000 preachers would participate in the training, which would be delivered in several stages. All technical aspects of the training were still being arranged, he added.

"After signing an agreement with the Jakarta administration last Friday, we plan to discuss all things related to the training with our subordinates. In NU, we will discuss it with our dakwah [missionary endeavor] institutions," Maksum said.

All funds needed for the training would be covered by the Jakarta administration, he went on.

Maksum said he was certain that with the training, preachers could help subdue sectarian and religious tensions among Muslims in Jakarta, or at least among NU cadres. (yon/ebf)


Source: NU to train 1,000 Jakarta preachers with peaceful Islam

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Post Malone surprised Jakarta-born rapper Rich Chigga with a gospel choir

Jakarta-born rapper Brian Immanuel, popularly known as Rich Chigga, turned 18 on Sept. 2.

To celebrate Rich Chigga's new age, American rapper Austin Richard Post, whose stage name is Post Malone, threw a birthday surprise for him during Day N Night festival last weekend in Anaheim, California.  

A video posted on Rich Chigga's official Twitter shows Post Malone brings a cake and a gospel choir group to the young rapper.

Read also: Rich Chigga chats with Pharrell on US radio

One of the gospel choir members hands Rich Chigga a birthday cake with his face on it. After the Indonesian rapper blowing the candles, they begin to sing Rich Chigga's song "Glow Like Dat".

On his Twitter, Rich Chigga mentioned the surprise as the best gift of all time.

Prior to this, Chigga surprised Post Malone with a mariachi band. (jes/asw)


Source: Post Malone surprised Jakarta-born rapper Rich Chigga with a gospel choir

Monday, September 11, 2017

Jakarta's attorneys battle it out beyond courtroom in lawyers 'Olympics'

Jakartan lawyers have gone beyond the legal courts to formulate winning team strategies in the sports arena during the annual Legal Consultants Friendly Games (PPAKH).

Entering its 23rd year, private law firms in the Indonesian capital once again gathered to compete in their annual sporting event, which opened on Aug. 27 and will run every weekend through Oct. 28. 

Sandi Adila, 34, a lawyer with Mochtar Karuwin Komar (MKK), the law firm hosting this year's games, said the event was first established in 1994 by three law firms as a kind of "Olympics" for lawyers to keep employees physically active. 

"The idea at the beginning was that as lawyers, we are busy and mostly sit behind a desk in our day-to-day work. Sometimes there isn't even time to exercise," Sandi, who headed the 2017 PPAKH committee, told The Jakarta Post.

After more than two decades, the games have now grown to involve 16 law firms, each of which must have registered at least 50-60 employees to be able to take part in the games, he said. 

Read also: Exercise even keeps your cells young: Study

Among this year's participating firms are Adnan Kelana Haryanto and Hermanto (AKHH), Assegaf Hamzah and Partners (AHP), Hadiputranto Hadinoto and Partners (HHP), Lubis Ganie Surowidjojo (LGS) and Soemadipradja and Taher (S&T).

The games are being held at the Soemantri Brodjonegoro Stadium in South Jakarta, where the teams face each other in a spirit of friendly competition over two months. 

Consisting of 13 categories, the games include 12 sports and one music competition, of which the winning performance would feature in the closing ceremony on Oct. 28. 

High spirits were palpable on the first day of the games, as the lawyers-turned-athletes battled it out in a tug-of-war. 

The final tug-of-war round saw seven-time champions Ali Budiardjo, Nugroho, Reksodiputro (ABNR) face off against Hanafiah Ponggawa & Partners (HPRP).

In a tense final round, which saw an injury on the ABNR team, HPRP emerged victorious as they claim their gold in a clean sheet set.

Winda Tania, 32, an associate lawyer at HPRP, said the team took the games seriously, and even went as far as hiring a professional tug-of-war coach.

"This was the first time we won gold in the tug-of-war. The previous winners were ABNR, so this is their gold that we've taken. We're extremely happy," she said in an interview shortly following their Aug. 27 win.

Winda, who heads the HPRP contingent this year, said the team members had been practicing intensely across all sports for four months prior to the event. 

The team was driven by their past glory of being games champions for five consecutive years from 2011 until 2015. The law firm claimed its first gold in 2000. 

Read also: Images: The dark ages of Indonesian sport

In addition to the Rp 38 million (US$2,889) fee for a firm to join the games, Winda said the HPRP also provided support for additional expenses, such as training facilities, coaches and team uniforms. 

"There is pride in winning [...] So the competition is not only at work but also in sports. It also strengthens our solidarity and teamwork as a firm, as we combine our efforts to win," she said. 

In the second week of the games, HPRP beat the Lubis Santosa & Maramis (LSM) soccer team to qualify for the quarter-finals. The soccer tournament will continue throughout the month, with the finals set for Sept. 24. 

Meanwhile, the bowling finals on Sept. 3 saw HHP come in first, followed by Mochtar Karuwin & Komar (MKK) and HPRP. in third. Other sports contested in the PPAKH include badminton, basketball, futsal, tennis, relay races and volleyball. (kes)

Editor's note: Paragraph 11 in this article has been corrected.


Source: Jakarta's attorneys battle it out beyond courtroom in lawyers 'Olympics'

Sunday, September 10, 2017

Jakarta to begin renovating sport halls for Asian Games this month

The Jakarta administration is set to begin renovation work on 10 sport halls at the end of this month in preparation for the 2018 Asian Games. 

The funds needed for the renovation come from a private company as payment in return for the expansion of the floor area ratio (KLB). Jakarta Youth and Sport Agency head Ratiyono said the company in question had begun conducting surveys on the sites, while his office had submitted the renovation plan. 

"We want to start [the renovation] at the end of this month, so that it will finish by March. We plan to hold a test event in April at all venues for the Asian Games," he said on Saturday, as quoted by beritajakarta.id.

While the location of the 10 sport halls was not mentioned, Ratiyono said the renovation would include repair work on floors, toilets and lighting as well as adding more air conditioners, in line with the international standards set for the quadrennial event.

He added that total funds of Rp 65 billion (US$4.92 million) were needed for the renovation.


Source: Jakarta to begin renovating sport halls for Asian Games this month

Saturday, September 9, 2017

Guess what?: Martin Garrix to get Jakarta moving at Invasion 2017

PREMIUM World-famous DJ Martin Garrix will perform at JIExpo in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, on Sept. 22.Garrix' upcoming performance is part of an electronic dance festival called Invasion 2017 — Lost in Wonderland.Garrix was set to perform not only his hit singles but also new material never presented before, Invasion 2017 event organizer representative Dany Setiawan said, as quoted by trib...


Source: Guess what?: Martin Garrix to get Jakarta moving at Invasion 2017

Friday, September 8, 2017

Garuda to offer nonstop Jakarta-London service

Garuda Indonesia is to upgrade its Jakarta-London route to a nonstop service from next month.

Currently the carrier's flights to Heathrow route via Singapore, but from October 31 the nonstop service will depart Jakarta at 1205, landing into London at 2000.

The Heathrow-Jakarta leg – already a nonstop service – departs London at 2155, arriving into Jakarta at 1855.

The route will remain thrice weekly – earlier this week we reported that the carrier was dropping the current Sunday service, but Garuda has now confirmed this frequency will be rescheduled to Thursday, resulting in a Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday service.

The route will also continue to be operated by a three-class B777-300ER aircraft (economy, business and first class).

Garuda says that it has amended flight timings "to boost connections from the UK to Australia (Melbourne, Sydney and Perth), the Far East (Hong Kong, Tokyo and Seoul) and China (Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou and Shanghai)".

Commenting on the news Boydike Kussudiarso, General Manager UK & Ireland said:

"Operating non-stop flights from Jakarta to London has been a significant goal of ours for many years, even more so since the new Terminal 3 at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport – which opened just last year – became our home this May.

"We wanted to introduce the non-stop service to reflect Jakarta's growing profile as a hub for international and domestic travel, allowing UK travellers and our SkyTeam Frequent Travellers better connections to more destinations."

garuda-indonesia.com


Source: Garuda to offer nonstop Jakarta-London service

Thursday, September 7, 2017

Jakarta-Bekasi travel time cut significantly with Transjabodetabek

Bekasi residents are now able to reach Jakarta faster by using Transjabodetabek Premium buses, the Greater Jakarta Transportation Agency (BPTJ) said during the first trial operation of the bus service on Thursday.

While previously Bekasi commuters have had to endure two hours battling through traffic jams on Cikampek toll road, the new buses can reach Jakarta within one hour.

The shorter travel time was made possible by dedicated bus lanes on Cikampek toll road and police escorts, BPTJ said.

"Initially, we aimed for a travel time of about one and half hours. However, with the dedicated lane, travel time has been cut to within one hour," BPTJ head Bambang Prihartono said in a statement. 

BPTJ is set to run a trial of Transjabodetabek Premium buses from Sept. 7 to 20 to service Bekasi residents traveling to and from Bekasi to the capital.

The buses, which are equipped with free wi-fi, reclining seats and phone charging ports, charged passengers Rp 15,000 (US$1.1) on Thursday and will charge Rp 20,000 for the remaining days of the trial.

As part of the trial, buses will make only three morning trips from Mega Mall, Bekasi, to Senayan, Central Jakarta, with buses departing between 5:45 a.m. and 6:30 a.m..

In the evening, buses will make three trips from Senayan to Mega Mall, departing from Senayan between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m..

Bambang added that BPTJ encouraged Bekasi residents to use public buses instead of private vehicle to ease traffic congestion around Cikampek. (cal/vny)


Source: Jakarta-Bekasi travel time cut significantly with Transjabodetabek

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Central Jakarta Police arrest 17-year-old who allegedly stabbed man to death for catcalling his girlfriend

Pride is a big motivator for violence amongst young people in Indonesia, with rivalries between high schools often blowing up into large-scale brawls. There is also a disturbing culture of street harassment in Jakarta. These two problems created a violent mix of pride and jealousy that authorities say led to the death of one man in Central Jakarta on Monday.

bloody knife b&w © Provided by Coconuts Media Limited bloody knife b&w

Yesterday, Central Jakarta Police arrested a 17-year-old man, identified by his initials SH, for the murder of a 20-year-old identified as TF in Johar Baru on Monday night.

According to police, SH was walking with his girlfriend, identified as SAN, on Jalan Kramat Pulo Gundul at around 10:30 pm. The couple passed by a group of youths on their motorcycles including TF. The 20-year-old and his friends allegedly called out to SAN and catcalled her, which enraged SH. the 17-year-old challenged them to a fist fight but ultimately left, only to return soon after.

"The perpetrator was upset and jealous [because they had harassed his girlfriend]. So he left the scene and returned with a sharp weapon," Central Jakarta Police Chief Suyudi Ario Seto said as quoted by Tempo yesterday.   

The couple went to SH's house to get a knife and returned to the street where TF and his friends were still hanging out. Seeing he had a knife, TF tried to flee on his motorcycle but he ran into another motorcycle parked on the side of the road.

Immediately, SH caught up with him and stabbed TF in the chest several times, killing him on the spot.

Police tracked down and arrested SH about 9 hours later while riding a public bus. He has been charged with premeditated murder and could face up to 20 years in prison.

The post Central Jakarta Police arrest 17-year-old who allegedly stabbed man to death for catcalling his girlfriend appeared first on Coconuts.


Source: Central Jakarta Police arrest 17-year-old who allegedly stabbed man to death for catcalling his girlfriend

Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Soraa Beautifies L'Oréal in Jakarta

Soraa, the world leader in high-quality LED lighting and illuminator of many the world's most famous historical buildings, museums, hotels, and luxury retailers, announced it's working with beauty giant, L'Oréal, known globally for makeup and cosmetics to haircare and perfume.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170905005077/en/

Soraa lamps have been installed at the L'Oréal Academy in Jakarta, Indonesia where they train beauty ...

Soraa lamps have been installed at the L'Oréal Academy in Jakarta, Indonesia where they train beauty professionals to be trend-setters in the industry. (Photo credit: Sefval Mogalana)

Soraa lamps have been installed at the L'Oréal Academy in Jakarta, Indonesia where they train beauty professionals to be trend-setters in the industry, inspiring hairdressers with innovation and an understanding of local expectations and aspirations. Because of this, it is essential for the academy's classrooms to have a colour quality that ensures the company's professional hair colours are rendered accurately.

To help give the L'Oréal Academy the beauty makeover they were looking for, interior designer Jenny Kartika Harto from Iconic Interior Design directed the Academy to lighting designer Lenny Pariyanto of LITO Special Lighting Consultants. To light the classrooms, Pariyanto selected Soraa to illuminate the space.

"In an environment where lighting is critical, requiring high colour rendering, Soraa was the perfect fit," said Lenny Pariyanto. "Soraa lamps enable L'Oréal hairdressers to confidently select the truest colour for their customers."

"The L'Oréal brand is known worldwide, and as such, academy students and customers expect world-leading training and experience in our classrooms and salons. Soraa's lighting has helped us create an atmosphere that our students have come to appreciate and rely on in our new modern facility," said Queentia Tampubolon, Brand General Manager L'Oréal Professionnel Indonesia. "Not only does the lighting draw the customers and students to L'Oréal's vibrant products, it also creates the perfect atmosphere for students to be inspired."

The stylists' hair products and the customers' hair, are now beautifully and accurately rendered by Soraa VIVID Color™ technology which utilises all colours of the visible spectrum achieving a colour rendering index (CRI (News - Alert)) of 95 and deep red (R9) rendering of 95. Soraa lamps also feature Soraa Natural White™ technology yielding infinite shades of white revealing warm rich tones and cool bright whites with accuracy.

For more information on Soraa's LED lamps, please visit: www.soraa.com.

Photo credit: Sefval Mogalana

About Soraa

Pioneering lamps built from pure gallium nitride substrates (GaN on GaN™); Soraa has made lighting, simply perfect. Soraa's full spectrum lamps have superior colour rendering and beam characteristics compared to lamps using LEDs created from non-native substrates. Founded in 2008, Soraa is based in Fremont California, where it manufactures its LEDs.

Please visit us at www.soraa.com and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]


Source: Soraa Beautifies L'Oréal in Jakarta

Monday, September 4, 2017

No discrimination in Jakarta motorcycle-ban extension: Minister

The move to extend motorcycle-free areas is not a form of discrimination against motorcyclists, says Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi.

The Jakarta administration, with support from the Transportation Ministry's Greater Jakarta Transportation Agency (BPTJ), is set to extend the ban on motorcycles from Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat in Central Jakarta to the Senayan traffic circle on Jl. Sudirman, South Jakarta – beyond the current restriction from Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat to the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle on Jl. MH Thamrin, Central Jakarta.

The policy has garnered strong criticism from the public, particularly motorcyclists who describe the policy as discriminatory.

"There is no discrimination. We restrict cars through the odd-even policy," he said as quoted by wartakota.tribunnews.com on Monday, referring to the policy allowing only cars with license plates ending in odd digits to use restricted roads on odd dates and vice versa.

The administration currently applies such a policy on Jl. Sudirman in Central Jakarta and on Jl. Gatot Subroto in South Jakarta.

Budi further explained that officials would soon restrict cars with low engine capacities.

However, he did not explain the details of the plan. (agn).


Source: No discrimination in Jakarta motorcycle-ban extension: Minister

Sunday, September 3, 2017

Jakarta administration upbeat over vehicle tax target

The city administration booked Rp 5.9 trillion (US$442 million) in tax revenues from the vehicle ownership tax from January to August, an official said over the weekend.

The income was collected from taxes on 2,152,638 motorcycles and 1,175,184 cars, Jakarta Tax and Levy Board deputy head Wahyu Haryadi said.

"We still have four months to go and we are optimistic that our target of collecting Rp 7.9 trillion from vehicle ownership taxes can be achieved this year," he said as quoted by beritajakarta.id on Saturday.

"I urge people who have not paid their vehicle taxes to do so immediately because the money will be returned to the community in the form of various development projects," he said.

The board earlier waived arrears on vehicle owners behind on their taxes for six weeks ending on Aug. 31 in a bid to boost revenues. (dis)


Source: Jakarta administration upbeat over vehicle tax target

Saturday, September 2, 2017

Rally Staged against Myanmar Embassy in Jakarta

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Professional Community for Rohingya Humanitarian Act held a rally in front of Myanmar Embassy in Jakarta on Saturday, September 2. The rally urged Myanmar Government to stop the genocide against Rohingya ethnic.

"We demand Myanmar military and civil regime to put an end to violence and genocide against Rohingya ethnic," Andi Sinulingga said in his oration Saturday, September 2.

Read: Rohingya Crisis Minister Retno to Visit Myanmar

His community also demanded action from Myanmar national leader Aung San Suu Kyi and tried to end banishment and slaughter against Rohingya ethnic group.

The rally involving 100 protesters urge ASEAN countries to exert pressure on Myanmar military regime to stop the cruelty against Rohingya. The rally also urged the UN and Human Rights activists to defend Rohingya ethnic.

Thousands of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar have been forced to flee to Bangladesh border to avoid brutal violence in the past five years which has claimed the lives of 104 people. 

ANTARA

 


Source: Rally Staged against Myanmar Embassy in Jakarta

Friday, September 1, 2017

Jakarta books trillions in tax revenue after waiving fines on arrears

Waiving the fine for tax arrears, the city administration has booked trillions of rupiah in tax income from East Jakarta residents alone.By Aug. 30, the East Jakarta municipality collected Rp 1.08 trillion from vehicle ownership tax (PKB). At the same time, the municipality obtained another Rp 668 billion from vehicle-ownership transfer fees (BBNKB)."This fine waiver program is effective. We are confident that [the administration's] target this year will be achieved," said M. Taufik Hidayat, East Jakarta's PKB and BBNKB service unit head, as quoted by kompas.com on Friday.Meanwhile, over the same period, the municipality of South Jakarta obtained Rp 2.3 trillion from the PKB, while West Jakarta booked Rp 29.27 billion in revenue from the PKB and the BBNKB. This includes tax income of Rp 7.6 billion for 207 luxury cars -- vehicles valued at more than Rp 1 billion.The city administration targets to collect Rp 7.9 trillion in PKB and Rp 5 trillion in BBNKB payments this year.A s of early August, it has collected Rp 4.8 trillion from the PKB and Rp 3.1 trillion from the BBNKB.


Source: Jakarta books trillions in tax revenue after waiving fines on arrears