Quoting: biznews Rempang and Galang islands demand recognition Ok.

JAKARTA, March 29 (Xinhua) -- The hope is high that the Indonesian government led by re-elected President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono could continue to push for reform plans, although the progress may not run as smoothly as expected.

The pros and the cons of President Barack Obama’s visit to Indonesia attracted my attention to the new form of economic relations the United States and Indonesia should be pursuing. As a woman who grew up in a naturally rich land in the most controversial province in Indonesia, I had seen first-hand the widespread social problems that arose alongside the massive US investment in liquid natural gas (LNG) projects in my beloved homeland.

Jakarta - Indonesia's ambitious plan to turn large swathes of fertile land in the easternmost region of Papua into a food estate has sparked concerns about potential forest destruction and the marginalisation of small farmers.

The West Lampung administration plans to auction the management of the Suoh-Sekincau geothermal power plant next month to help solve energy shortages in the province, says an official. Regent Mukhlis Basrim said that the power plant was ready for auction following the decision from the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry allowing it to be mined. “With the additional energy supply expected to be generated from the site, hopefully Lampung’s energy crisis will come to an end,” Mukhlis said.

The Batam city administration in Riau Islands has urged the Home Ministry to immediately determine the management rights of Rempang, Galang and other surrounding islands. The current power vacuum in the management of the islands, which is contested by the Batam Industrial Development Authority (BIDA) and the administration over the past decade, has seen residents arbitrarily dominate plots of land.

The government must ease restrictions on foreign investors and overcome fears about opening up domestic markets to access the massive amounts of funding needed to build crucial infrastructure and stimulate growth, analysts, foreign envoys and government officials have said. Indonesia is far ahead of the curve in terms of economic performance compared to rivals both regional and global.