Many Indonesian Muslims voiced support for the U.S. operation that killed Osama bin Laden.

Indonesian Muslims Express No Sympathy on Death of Osama bin Laden
VOA - Brian Padden | Jakarta May 02, 2011

In Indonesia, a country with the largest Muslim population in the world, many people voiced support for the U.S. operation that killed Osama bin Laden.

Although Indonesia is home to a variety of militant Islamic organizations that have carried out attacks against Western targets, the country has a history of religious diversity and moderation.

So it is not surprising that Darma Widjaya, like many of the Muslims who came to midday prayers at the Sunda Kelapa mosque in Jakarta Monday expressed no sympathy upon hearing of the death of Osama bin Laden.

He says it is quite good for the entire world, because bin Laden is a terrorist.

Another mosque visitor who was leaving morning prayers, Dadang Solihin, said he hopes that the death of the man responsible for the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, that killed nearly 3,000 people in New York and Washington, D.C., will make the world a safer place.

"It is a good thing. Maybe it is a time for people to, I mean for the situation in the world to be cooling down," said Solihin.

Sitting at a lunch cart outside the mosque, Ellen Sitorus says Bin Laden's death is good news for Indonesia's fight against terrorism.

She says when she heard that bin Ladin was killed, she was very happy because the number of terrorists like those that haunt Indonesia is decreasing.

There are small groups of radical Muslims in Indonesia that have been affiliated or influenced by bin Laden. These groups continue to advocate and execute violent attacks against westerners and urge assassinations against government officials and moderate Muslim Indonesian leaders.

The Indonesian terrorist organization Jemaah Islamiyah, which wants to establish an Islamic state in Southeast Asia, is reported have ties to bin Laden's Al Qaida terror network. The group has been involved in several terrorist attacks in recent years, including the 2002 Bali Bombing that killed more than 200 people. In 2010, a new terrorist group that called itself Al Qaida in Aceh was discovered operating a training camp in Sumatra.

Azyumardi Azra, a professor of history at the State Islamic University, says news of Bin Laden’s death could incite these militant groups to retaliate.

"I think the death of Osama bin Laden would revive the resentment and also hatred against the U.S., so I think particularly with the show of joy in a number of cities in the West,” he said. “Particularly in the U.S."

He says, although anti-American sentiment will likely increase within radical circles, most Indonesians remain supportive of the U.S. military action taken to kill Osama Bin Laden.




Indonesian Muslims Express No Sympathy on Death of Osama bin Laden
Article from VOA

Indonesian Fishermen Struggle to Make a Living - High Waves, Bad Weather

Indonesian Fishermen Struggle to Make a Living

Solenn Honorine reports from Jakarta.

Solenn Honorine | Jakarta February 17, 2011 - VOA

 

In the sprawling Indonesian archipelago, months of bad weather have made life hard for fishermen. The past weeks have been especially difficult, so much so that the government has had to give relief to half a million fishermen who have been unable to go to sea.

Eight-year-old Ika pours a large bucket full of shellfish into a dish, and crouches down, knife in hand, to open them one by one.

Her father could not go to sea the day before because the waves were too high for his little wooden boat. There was no money for the bus fare to school, so on this day Ika helps her grandmother Habibah earn a few rupiah for the day’s meals by harvesting shellfish.

Life is hard in their fishing village, where mud and brick houses sit between expanses of industrial and empty land along Jakarta Bay. It is women like Habibah who shoulder the burden of finding alternative incomes when fishing is not possible.

"So basically I do whatever I can do to compensate for the situation of the extreme weather," explains Habibah. "A few days ago we had a small meeting with the ladies from this neighborhood. ‘Hey! Let’s do something else, make some chips.' But also, the biggest problem for us is that we need money to start this new business, and we don’t have it. So - basically - there’s not much we can do."

Times are hard for the three million Indonesian fishermen. Most of them, like those in Habibah’s village, are traditional fishermen whose little wooden boats capsize easily if waves reach two meters high.

Fishermen say the weather has been unusually rough for the past five years. But it has become particularly dangerous since last November, and the government weather center warns them not to go to sea until at least the end of the month as high waves are likely.

The situation worries Riza Damanik, the secretary-general of Karia, an organization that defends fishermen’s rights.

"In January 2011, we already got 20 fishermen who died or were lost at sea because of extreme weather. There are 550 000 fishermen in 53 districts in Indonesia who stopped their activities because of extreme weather," says Damanik.

Rustan, a fishermen from East Kalimantan, 1,000 kilometers from Jakarta, says there used to be two clear-cut seasons: one where the wind blows from the east, the other from the west. But nowadays seamen like him can not read nature’s signs anymore, and they have to take the sea at their own peril.

Rustan adds his town suffers from the men’s forced unemployment. It is difficult to get enough money to feed his nine children, and he really needs the government’s help to make ends meet.

The song of the wind chime dangling on Thiarom’s porch has glum overtones nowadays. It is his warning system telling him that the waves out in Jakarta Bay could easily swallow his boat.

Thiarom says that he and his fellow fishermen are back to zero. The knowledge he inherited from his forefathers is useless because everything is changing in Jakarta Bay: the direction of the wind, the strength of the waves, the course of the currents, the hideouts of the fish. He says that the government rice handouts are not enough: he wants a long-term solution to his problems.

Riza Damanik from the Karia group says that most fishermen work on small operations, and they need access to modern technologies to overcome the challenges posed by changing weather patterns.

"The government has weather information on their website but the problem is that the fishermen don’t have Internet access. So, how to make that information come to their home, that’s very important right now," says Damanik.

Thiarom says in the old days his grandfathers could harvest fish and shrimp with their bare hands in Jakarta Bay.

That is not possible now; mangroves are being destroyed and pollution taints the sea a foul brown. For him, the whims of nature are another blow to a struggling profession.


Indonesian Fishermen Struggle to Make a Living
Article from VOA

Indonesian Experience Offers Framework for Egypt - Toppled President Suharto

Indonesian Experience Offers Framework for Egypt

Gary Thomas February 15, 2011 - VOA

 

Now that the army has taken power in Egypt, the question arises of when - or even if - they will give it up.  But another Islamic country under autocratic rule halfway around the world held its own "people power" uprising 13 years ago and emerged with a functioning democratic state.  Indonesia's experience may hold some lessons for Egypt.

 

After some three decades in power, an autocratic ruler of a Muslim majority nation suddenly finds himself under pressure after massive street protests.  The military forces the president, himself a former general, to resign, sparking wild jubilation in the streets.  The military still wields considerable power after the ruler steps down.

But the country is not Egypt and the ousted ruler is not Hosni Mubarak.  It is Indonesia, and the toppled president is Suharto.

Former National Security Council director for Asian affairs Karen Brooks says there are significant parallels between Egypt in 2011 and Indonesia in 1998.

"In both you saw longtime U.S. allies, Mubarak and Suharto, each supported by the U.S. for 30 some-odd years - arguably at the expense of the development of democracy and the protection of human rights - come unglued, thanks to initially exogenous factors - in Indonesia the Asian financial crisis, in Egypt the Tunisia example," said Brooks.

The military has held a significant political role in Egypt and Indonesia, although it can be argued it was more direct in Indonesia.  The Indonesian military under Suharto had a so-called "dual function" in which it played both a security and political role.  Karen Brooks, who was a significant contributor to the Clinton administration's Indonesia policy, points out that both militaries were the key players in orchestrating events.

"In both cases the military is a secular, nationalist institution which played and continues to play, particularly in Egypt at this critical juncture, a critical role in determining the trajectory of events. In both Egypt and Indonesia the military played the key role in getting their respective leaders to step down," added Brooks.

Egypt is currently under the rule of a military-run Supreme Council of the Armed Forces.  Analysts say it is always a concern that the military in any post-revolutionary country will not relinquish power back to civilian control.  But as former CIA senior intelligence analyst Emile Nakhleh points out, they did so in Indonesia, in part because of training they received at U.S. military institutions.

"The Indonesian military, also, under Suharto - the former dictator - had many of those officers who were trained in this country," said Nakhleh.  "They realized that ultimately for Indonesia to move forward, there's got be civilian control.  And so the military was in the background, saying that they wanted to protect Indonesia, to safeguard Indonesia, regardless of the regime."

Will the military do the same in Egypt?  Analysts point out that, like their Indonesian counterparts, many Egyptian officers also received American military training.  Retired U.S. Army Col. Joseph Englehardt, who was U.S. military attache in Cairo, and knows several members of the council, believes the army wants out of the political arena as quickly as possible.

"My strong belief is that these officers took this on as a duty and a responsibility," noted Englehardt.  "They understand it's a bounded set [limited period].  And so the inclination of this group is going to be to do what they have to do and then get back to what they normally do, which is running the military."

Egypt's military council has said it will temporarily administer the country for six months or until parliamentary and presidential elections.

Former CIA officer Emile Nakhleh says the first, and most significant step, for the ruling military to take would be lifting the state of emergency.

"When will they remove the state of emergency?  They have dissolved the parliament, which is a right step forward.  They dissolved the constitution.  They kept the present government as a caretaker government for six months.  But I think the key is dissolving or removing the state of emergency.  To me, this will be a major litmus test," noted Nakhleh.

The state of emergency in Egypt was declared by Mubarak when he assumed office as president after Anwar Sadat's assassination in October 1981.



Indonesian Experience Offers Framework for Egypt
Article from VOA

Komodo National Park, Indonesia - Komodo Dragons

Indonesia Markets Rare Lizard as Tourist Draw

Sara Schonhardt - Komodo National Park, Indonesia  - 24 January 2011 - VOA

Photo: VOA - Sara Schonhardt
One of Indonesia's rare Komodo dragons. The three-meter-long, 90-kilogram creature lumbers toward the beach at the Komodo National Park, Indonesia.

 
Indonesia is promoting the Komodo dragon as a tourism draw, hoping the rare creatures will bring new income and attention to the Komodo National Park where they run wild.


As a gentle breeze rustles tree leaves on Komodo Island, tourists talk in whispers and snap pictures of one of the world’s largest lizards. The three-meter-long, 90-kilogram creature lumbers toward the beach while park rangers stand guard with long sticks to ensure it does not turn on a visitor.

Komodo National Park is home to around 2,500 Komodo dragons. Comprising four small islands in eastern Indonesia, the park is the only place where visitors can see today’s modern dinosaurs in the wild.

That makes it potentially a prime tourist destination. But because the park is not as well known as the Indonesian island of Bali, and because the Komodo islands are difficult to get to, tourist numbers have been below expectations.

Of the 7 million foreign tourists who visited Indonesia in 2010, most went to Bali. Only around 45,000 made the trek to Komodo National Park. This year the Ministry of Tourism expects that figure to grow by 20 percent.


The reason for their optimism is that the park was recently listed among the 28 finalists for the
world’s new seven natural wonders. People vote for their favorite candidate by global poll, with the winners announced in November.

Among the other finalists are Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, Vietnam’s Halong Bay, and the Galapagos Islands.

Komodo National Park is already recognized by the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization as a world heritage site, but officials say being among the seven wonders would draw more attention to Indonesia and more money to the thousands of villagers living in the park.

Esthy Reko Astuty is the director of promotions at the Tourism Ministry.


"It will make that destination more popular, and it will invite more tourists to come to Komodo National Park," says Astuty. "Of course it will also impact the local people since the tourists will not only come to the destination, they will also spend their money for the accommodation and also for the merchandise or souvenir."

VOA - Sara Schonhardt

Komodo dragons can swim and climb trees and rely on the element of surprise when hunting. They have small but lethal teeth, capable of crunching bones, hooves and hides. They eat almost all of their victims, which include other Komodo dragons. Their acute sense of smell leads them to prey, which they inject with venom that kills slowly.

To stay safe, rangers warn visitors against separating from the group, making too much noise and getting too close to lounging lizards. "Don’t run, don’t run. She’s a female, an aggressive female," warns one ranger.


They also tell cautionary tales about tourists who have not obeyed instructions. In 1974 a Swiss man disappeared and only his camera bag was found.


Increased publicity alone may not be enough to significantly increase tourism in the country, however. For years Indonesia has failed to draw as many tourists as neighboring Thailand and Malaysia because it lacks vital infrastructure, such as hotels and efficient transportation.

Officials recognize the constraints, but they believe Komodo’s white beaches and array of indigenous wildlife make it ripe for more visitors.



But, as in other developing countries with rich natural environments, the government must balance economic need with efforts to protect the fragile Komodo environment.


Andi Kefi, who manages the ecosystem at Komodo National Park, worries that the park is a conservation area where there is already an established community. If the community continues to grow, he says, the Komodo habitat will be damaged.


He hopes the regional government works quickly to improve infrastructure in Labuan Bajo, the city closest to Komodo, and provide support to the rangers and forestry police who enforce rules against disturbing the dragons.



The national park system has partnered with the San Diego Zoo in the United States on a Komodo Survivor Program, which tracks and monitors the lizards and takes a hands-off approach to preserving their natural habitat.


He hopes the regional government works quickly to improve infrastructure in Labuan Bajo, the city closest to Komodo, and provide support to the rangers and forestry police who enforce rules against disturbing the dragons.

VOA - Sara Schonhardt
Andi Kefi, Komodo National Park

The national park system has partnered with the San Diego Zoo in the United States on a Komodo Survivor Program, which tracks and monitors the lizards and takes a hands-off approach to preserving their natural habitat.

All the Komodo dragons receive an ID tag in their right thigh, which records their weight and size. Rangers periodically trap the lizards and compare the data to records to better understand how the dragons are faring.


Kefi is concerned that food shortages could lead to competition between the lizards and the humans who rely on the park’s deer and buffalo. But villagers on the main islands of Komodo and Rinca say they have learned to live in peace with the lizards, thanks in part to a legend about a dragon princess, which has fostered respect for the creatures.


They also have found ways to earn money by selling Komodo dragon woodcarvings and souvenirs to tourists.


Fisherman Ali Mudar says he sees how the people could benefit from more tourism. During the next 10 years, if new people come to the island, there will continue to be progress, he says.


But for now, he will keep selling fish - always keeping a watchful eye for a Komodo dragon lurking in the distance.

Indonesia Delays Forest Development Moratorium

Indonesia Delays Start of Forest Development Moratorium

Brian Padden | Jakarta - 05 January 2011

Indonesia has yet to implement a moratorium on the burning of forests and peat lands that was scheduled to start on January 1st. The moratorium is part of a $1 billion deal with Norway to reduce greenhouse gas emissions caused by deforestation. Competing government groups are still arguing over elements of the plan.

An Indonesian government task force last year developed a strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. A key part of the plan is a two-year moratorium on clearing forests and peat lands.

The moratorium is part of a $1 billion deal with Norway to reduce Indonesia's carbon dioxide emissions, which primarily come from burning of forests and peat lands for farming and other development. Indonesia is the world's third biggest emitter of greenhouse gases, which many scientists say contributes to global warming. The government aims to slash emissions by 26 percent by 2020.

But the forestry ministry has also submitted a plan and is arguing it should oversee the moratorium. As a result, neither plan has been implemented, while the task force and forestry ministry reconcile their differences.

Hadi Daryanto is a member of the task force and the ministry's director general of forestry management. He says it is a question of legal authority.

He says the president's instructions were only for the forestry minister and all the provincial regents because only they have the authority.

Joko Arif is a forestry activist with the environmental organization Greenpeace. He says the competing plans differ on specific types of permits that would be affected, such as logging and mining, and on which government agencies would be involved in enforcing and overseeing the moratorium. He says the plans do not even agree on what areas will be protected.

"Up until now there are no clear definitions of forests which will be implemented related to this moratorium," Arif said. "For example the ministry of forestry said it is only for primary forests but some of the people in government said it is also for other type of forests, not only primary but also secondary forests."

Primary forests have never been cleared and secondary forests have re-grown.

Daryanto plays down any differences in the plans and in the delay in announcing the moratorium. He says the ban will protect almost 44 million hectares of primary forests, while applying sustainable forest management practices to an additional 48 million hectares.

And Daryanto says the national government has stopped issuing permits to develop primary forest land based on existing law.

He says using law number 41, the moratorium has already begun because it says that protecting the natural forests is a priority.

But he says illegal logging remains a problem and getting local authorities and other agencies involved is more complicated than anticipated,
.

Indonesia Delays Start of Forest Development Moratorium - article came from VOA.