Singapore minister and Gus Dur discuss Bintan<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Visiting Singapore Education Minister Teo Chee
\nHean told President Abdurrahman 'Gus Dur' Wahid on Monday that
\nriots on Bintan Island were counterproductive to the government's
\nefforts to restore international market confidence.<\/p>\n
Emphasizing that the Bintan issue was only briefly discussed
\nduring his 30-minute meeting with the President, Teo, who is also
\nSecond Minister for Defense, pointed out that the island state
\nwas awaiting a conclusive solution.<\/p>\n
\"I think it is important for the confidence of investors that
\na fair and good solution is found to the issue, and we look
\nforward to that,\" Teo said after meeting with Abdurrahman at the
\nBina Graha presidential office.<\/p>\n
Teo stated he did not convey any special message on the
\nBintan Island issue from Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong.<\/p>\n
Bintan Island, about 50 kilometers southeast of Singapore, is
\na popular weekend resort for Singaporeans, who also hold the
\nmajority of the S$1.35 billion (US$808 million) development on
\nthe island.<\/p>\n
In a pre-dawn operation on Sunday, Indonesian troops moved in
\nto quell nearly a week of protests outside the Bintan Beach
\nInternational Resort by about 200 disgruntled villagers.<\/p>\n
At least 13 people were injured, four of them seriously, and
\nmore than 70 people arrested in the 45-minute operation,
\naccording to the Straits Times.<\/p>\n
Three of the injured were said to have gunshot wounds in the
\nchest and stomach.<\/p>\n
The villagers had set up a blockade and camped at a road
\nleading to the Bintan Beach International Resort, demanding
\nadditional compensation for the land they had sold to the resort
\nand an industrial estate managed by a unit of Singapore
\nconglomerate SembCorp. Industries Ltd.<\/p>\n
Armed with knives and spears, last week they had seized a
\npower plant in the Bintan Industrial Estate, severing electricity
\nand water supply to the 27 factories there. They left the plant
\nafter being given assurances their demands would be investigated.<\/p>\n
Teo here on Monday indicated that it was Abdurrahman himself
\nwho first touched on the issue during their conversation.<\/p>\n
\"The President understood the importance of confidence
\nbuilding among investors in Indonesia, not only in Bintan and
\nBatam, but in Indonesia as well. It is important there is a good
\nclimate for investors to come to Indonesia\".<\/p>\n
Singapore's Straits Times daily on Monday quoted Bintan
\nCouncil speaker, Huzrin Hood, as justifying the crackdown.<\/p>\n
\"I am very sad by the turn of events. But if nothing was done,
\nthere will be problems for Bintan in the long run,\" he said.<\/p>\n
SembCorp Industries expressed regret in a statement Sunday
\nthat force had to be used to disperse the demonstrators.<\/p>\n
\"This past week has been a harrowing time for all of us who
\nhave a stake in Bintan -- both the villagers as well as the
\ninvestors,\" said its managing director Tay Siew Choon as reported
\nby AFP from Singapore.<\/p>\n
\"There are no winners in such a situation. In the end both the
\npeople of Bintan and investors like us lose out. If the
\nconfidence of international investors is shaken, jobs and
\nbusinesses on Bintan will be affected.\" (prb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/singapore-minister-and-gus-dur-discuss-bintan-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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