Readwrotes Blog

The Associated Press | Sat, 03/06/2010 1:22 PM | World A protester portraying President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is surrounded by others carrying native tray written with slogans during a rally dramatizing the plight of farmers in the present El Nino-triggered drought in the country Saturday, near the presidential palace in Manila, Philippines. The protesters assailed the government for their alleged inaction and that the financial assistance for the farmers should reach its intended beneficiaries. Text at right reads "P1.7 billion (US$3.7 million) El Nino fund should be allotted to rice farming." AP/Pat Roque

Hans David Tampobolon , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Sat, 03/06/2010 11:35 AM | Headlines The political standoff over the Bank Century bailout drags on with political parties and the House of Representatives giving the cold shoulder to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s defense of the policy. Golkar Party chairman Aburizal Bakrie met with his party’s lawmakers on Friday evening to assert his support for the legislative body’s ruling on the bailout and legal measures against those held responsible for the decision to salvage the bank. “The due process of law must continue without any political intervention, and uphold the principle of presumption of innocence,” Aburizal said while briefing Golkar lawmakers. Aburizal said the Bank Century inquiry was a long and tiring process, but it had taught the country a few lessons. “The lesson learned from the Bank Century case is that we know now that we need to improve the country’s protocol on crisis m

Adianto P. Simamora , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Sat, 03/06/2010 11:21 AM | Headlines One day after President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono strongly defended Boediono and Finance Minister Sri Mulyani, the Vice President took an offensive stance against his critics. The Vice President reminded his political opponents that democracy should not be used to bring down political competitors or adversaries. He asked them to learn from the experiences of Indonesia and other countries where excessive and short-term political desires often destroyed the goals and system of the democracy itself. “Let us not use democracy as an arena of mass mobilization and a contest of financial power,” said Boediono, in a clear reference to the street demonstrations conducted in Jakarta and other cities before and around the final sessions of the House’s inquiry committed on the Bank Century bailout scandal. Boediono also made it very clear he would not resign from his pos

Erwida Maulia , The Jakarta Post | Fri, 03/05/2010 9:24 AM | Headlines The visiting former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan said that Indonesia, as an emerging economy and the world’s third largest democracy, had the potential to be a major influence on other countries in the way it met development and religious challenges. “The progress made in the face of many challenges explains why Indonesia is seen as a model from which other countries can learn,” Annan said, adding that extremism, internal conflicts, social inequality and catastrophic natural disasters were among the challenges. Annan was addressing dozens of high-ranking Indonesian officials in a lecture titled “The Challenge for Leaders in a Multipolar World” at the Presidential Palace. Annan also underlined the need for reform of many organizations. He said reforms of global institutions “should be stepped up to give a bigger voice” to emerging economies and developing countries. President

Daniel Schearf | Schearf Bangkok 05 March 2010 Photo: AP Ships are seen off the coast of Singapore, 04 Mar 2010 Security patrols in the Malacca Strait have increased following a warning from Singapore that terrorists were planning attacks on ships. Defense authorities in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore say they have increased sea and air patrols in the Malacca Strait. Singapore warned that a terrorist group was planning attacks on oil tankers in the shipping lanes, through which half the world's oil and much of its trade is transported. The warning did not specify a terrorist organization or say when the sea attacks were expected. But, the Singapore Navy said militants could use small boats to launch the attacks and urged shipping companies to stay alert for suspicious activities. Rohan Gunaratna, the head of the International Center for Political Violence and Terrorism Research in Singapore, says the countries are right to take the terrorism

Relations between the United States and Indonesia have seen highs and lows, over the years, but with the election of President Obama - who spent part of his childhood in Indonesia - leaders here saw a new opportunity to re-evaluate their relationship with the United States and work toward building better cooperation. Sara Schonhardt | Jakarta 02 March 2010 Photo: AFP A school official (R) leaves as students look at the newly set-up bronze statue depicting President Obama as a boy at the Menteng One primary school of Jakarta, 22 Feb 2010 Indonesian leaders and academics gathered today in Jakarta to discuss how U.S. President Barack Obama's upcoming visit could help build better bilateral relations in areas such as education, climate change and trade. Relations between the United States and Indonesia have seen highs and lows, over the years, but with the election of President Obama - who spent part of his childhood in Indonesia - leaders her