Little chance of ‘the king of dangdut ’ becoming Indonesian President

In spite of possible support from the National Awakening Party (PKB) and the United Development Party (PPP), it will be a steep climb for the self-styled king of dangdut Rhoma Irama to fulfill his presidential ambitions.

Even if the two parties went ahead with their nomination of Rhoma, he would likely fail to meet the presidential election threshold of 20 percent of seats in the House of Representatives, or 25 percent of the popular vote, and rival political parties have expressed their preference for retaining the current cap.

When asked about the prospects for Rhoma in the poll, Democratic Party central board member Saan Mustofa said only that his party would seek to maintain the current threshold as mandated by Law No. 42/2008.

“We feel that we need to maintain the threshold in order to create quality democracy in this country. This doesn’t mean that we mean to shut out minor political parties. It’s just the best way to strengthen our presidential system,” Saan said on Monday.

The PKB has repeatedly said that it is serious when saying that it will nominate Rhoma. Late last week, PKB chairman Muhaimin Iskandar held talks with Rhoma, reportedly about the latter’s presidential ambitions.

The Muslim-based PPP has also warmed to the idea of nominating Rhoma.

PPP executive Romahurmuziy, said that Rhoma, a card-carrying member of the party, should be given the opportunity to prove himself.

“Even a developed country like the United States was once led by the actor Ronald Reagan. Thus, we don’t yet to know what a dangdut singer like Rhoma could do for this country. He has the largest number of fans as a singer,” he said.

Romahurmuziy said that Rhoma should be allowed to contest the election, in spite of his perceived shortcomings. 

“Let the public vote for their leaders. However, it’s the job of political parties to introduce potential leaders to the public,” Romahurmuziy said.

Other political parties, however, have not been impressed by Rhoma’s move. 

Senior Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician Pramono Anung Wibowo said that Rhoma had nothing to offer to the country.

“Without a doubt he is popular, but I honestly don’t think he could serve the country as president,” Pramono said.

Many have speculated that the moves by the PKB and PPP to create controversy with Rhoma’s candidacy are part of a desperate effort to stay relevant.

Political analyst Hanta Yuda AR of the Indonesian Institute said that the publicity stunt could backfire given Rhoma’s penchant for making ill-advised comments.

“PKB has the right to experiment, but I don’t think that Rhoma will help them get more votes. He doesn’t have a quality that could attract regular voters,” he said.

Rhoma has failed to appear on the list of most popular politicians released by a number of pollsters.

In a list recently compiled by the Indonesian Survey Institute (LSI), Rhoma joined the Golkar Party chairman Aburizal Bakrie as one of the least electable candidates.

In the list, compiled from a survey on leadership in the country, former vice president Jusuf Kalla and outgoing Constitutional Court chief justice Mahfud MD were the most popular candidates for the 2014 presidential election.

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Religious Freedom in Indonesia so the U.S. Spotlight

Indonesian group to Afghanistan, Belarus, Cuba, India, Laos, Russia, Somalia, Sudan, and Venezuela in terms of offense related to religious freedom.

Similarly, according to a U.S. Government annual report to be released on Tuesday (03/20/2012), but it has acquired The Associated Press (AP) on Monday. U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) in its annual report that classifies Indonesia and nine other countries were on a watch list that need careful monitoring because the government commit or allow violation of religious freedom.

The report also said there are 16 other countries that are categorized as countries with particular attention. In this group, two U.S. allies, such as Turkey and Tajikistan, due to "limitations of systematic and horrible" linked religious freedom. Turkey and Tajikistan was part of the 16 countries listed by the commission as the country with special care.

Turkey's ambassador to Washington, Mamik Tan, has denied the commission's assessment and said it could not be justified. "Every eye that no bias would soon realize that Turkey should not be included in the annual report of USCIRF it," Tan told The Associated Press.

The report criticized Turkey for organizing groups of non-Muslims by restricting how they should train their religious leaders, offer education, and places of worship confiscated.

The U.S. Congress established the commission in 1998 to compile reports that can be used by the president, the foreign minister, and a member of the country's parliament.

In addition to Turkey and Tajikistan, the report also includes Myanmar, North Korea, Egypt, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, China, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam in the same category.

Although the commission recommends action to be taken by the U.S. Government encourages improvements in religious freedom in various countries, the U.S. State Department's list usually pursed into smaller groups that should receive special attention in its own neighbor annual report on religious freedom. Countries could then be penalized.

As a NATO ally, Turkey stand out among the other countries named by the commission. However, the report seems to contradict the assessment of the U.S. State Department about Turkey. When the department released a report last year, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton praised Turkey for taking "serious steps to improve the climate of religious tolerance."

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Malaysia denies taking Indonesia Region

Malaysian Defense Minister Dato 'Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid bin Hamidi insists, was never annexed Malaysia Indonesia at Seagull Moon and Tanjung Datu, West Kalimantan. According to Ahmad Zahid, the government has so far remained honor the Semarang 1978, which set the border between Indonesia and Malaysia.

"We're not, we accept the facts because the facts had been no annexation of the territory. And, nothing in the report of Malaysia. Was all right from Jakarta. We keep a cool head," said Ahmad Zahid during a press conference at Hotel Grand Hyatt, Jakarta, Monday (Oct, 17, 2011).

Ahmad Zahid said Malaysia so far on the border officers often conduct joint patrols with Indonesian officials. He said, indeed some common peg was broken, but it can not be the reason that Malaysia has annexed the territory of Indonesia.

"It should be made ​​based on facts right. So I ask not to worsen the situation. We have to re-create the silence relations between Indonesia and Malaysia," said Ahmad Zahid.

Ahmad Zahid added stakes in the border region Indonesia Malaysia so far still using a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in 1978, which was also agreed under previous agreements in 1891, 1915, and 1928. "We have 36 times the meetings to talk about what's translation MOU regarding laying stakes on the border of Indonesia and Malaysia, and the result was that at this time so we did. So no problem," said Ahmad Zahid.

Allegations annexation was first raised by the Deputy Chairman of Commission I Hasanuddin TB. PDI-P politicians described the area Seagull Moon decreased by almost 1,500 hectares and the area of Tanjung Datu 800 meters of the shoreline. In two regions, said Hasanuddin, Malaysia has built a national park as well as the cultivation of sea turtles.

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Mt Lokon Refugees Return to Respective Homes

Mount Lokon spews volcanic ash as seen from Tomohon, North Sulawesi, Indonesia, Sunday, July 17, 2011. The volcano in central Indonesia unleashed its most powerful eruption yet Sunday, spewing hot ash and smoke thousands of feet (meters) into the air and sending panicked villagers racing back to emergency shelters. There were no immediate reports of casualties.

Some 5,437 evacuees of Mount Lokon began to return to their homes in five villages, Tomohon District, North Sulawesi Province, on Sunday.

"The evacuees have started to be sent home after lunch at around 11.30 am local time until in the afternoon to Kinilow, Kinilow I Wailan, Kakaskasen I and Kakaskasen villages, because the condition is considered safer," Tomohon Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) Secretary Leivi Golioth said here on Sunday.

Although they had been sent home, they were told to remain on alert because the status of Mount Lokon has not been lowered from the current fourth level or watchful, Golioth said. If the mountain erupted again, they must come back to their shelters immediately.

The local authorities, volunteers and PMI stay on alert in Tomohon for emergency response anytime. PMI personnel Hengky Riey said PMI would remain assisting local residents until next week to distribute relief aid.

"We also distribute baby milk, rice, plastic baskets, blankets, mats, sheets, and canned fish to the refugees," Riey said.

Mount Lokon had started to erupt on June 29, 2011, and spewed hot ash, forcing local people to move to other safer places. Most of the refugees are from Kinilow, Kiniow I, Kakaskasen, Wailan, and Kakaskasen I, and some from Kayawu in North Tomohon.

Source : Antara

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Find the Perfect Wave in Indonesia for Surfer

Surfers have long been known for a nomadic lifestyle spent scouring the globe in search of the perfect wave, and at some point in their search every self-respecting surfer will find themselves drawn to the wave gardens of Indonesia. Here’s where to find them, whether you’re a beginner or after something more challenging:

Bali

Bali, with its glut of world class surf spots, is the epicentre of Indonesian surfing. Any surf trip here almost invariably begins on Kuta beach, the original Indonesian beach resort. The waves here offer something for everyone; advanced surfers will revel in fun, peaky conditions whilst beginners will find the soft sand beach breaks, and numerous surf schools, the perfect setting for a first taste of surfing.

Not far from Kuta is the Bukit Peninsula where the best waves in Bali can be found. Padang Padang is one of Indonesia’s banner spots. It only comes to life on the biggest of swells but when it does you can expect one of the most intense lefthanders in the world. You can also expect serious crowds and lots of aggro in the water.

Nusa Tenggara

Just south of Bali is the island chain of Nusa Tenggara, which is rammed with surf spots. Lombok, the closest island to Bali, is the most visited by surfers and the jewel in the surf crown here is the legendry Desert Point; possibly the best wave in the world. It’s a highly fickle wave but when all the elements come together this near endless, freight train lefthander offers tube rides of up to twenty seconds. For something a little more beginner friendly try either Don Don or Inside Ekas both of which are found on the south coast of Lombok.
Java

The most famous wave on Java, Bali’s northern neighbour, is G-Land (also known as Grajagan). This is one of those freak of nature waves against which all other waves are measured. Endlessly long, flawlessly perfect and super consistent, G-Land is most commonly reached via boat charter from Bali.

For something less nerve-wracking, try the long, mellow sand bottom right point in Batu Karas. Needing a really solid swell to get going this is probably the most user-friendly spot in Indonesia and though experienced surfers might find it a little uninspiring it seems almost tailor made for learners and intermediates. There are a couple of surf schools and board hire places here as well as a few cheap places to stay.

Sumatra

Surfing Sumatra is all about the necklace of islands that lie off the west coast. Nias, in the far north, is the most famous. An almost hypnotically perfect righthander, this wave has always been considered perfect, but following the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami the wave actually improved dramatically after the reef rose upward by around a metre and made the wave hollower, faster and much more consistent.

Good as Nias is though if you ask the average surfer where they’d most like to go surfing the answer will almost invariably be the Mentawai Islands. These islands are home to more world class surf spots than any other place on Earth and it’s almost a given that on any single day of the year unbelievable waves will be breaking somewhere in the Mentawais. Surf trips here have long been the preserve of (expensive) boat charters and (equally expensive) surf resorts, but for the adventurous it’s still possible to charter a local fishing boat and put together your own Mentawai adventure.

When to go

Indonesia is basically a year-round surf destination, but it’s the dry season (May-October) – when the offshore southeast trade winds blow and the swell, pouring out of the Southern Ocean, is at its biggest and most consistent – that is far and away the best time to venture here.

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