Kalla blames corruption for poverty

Kalla blames corruption for poverty

JAKARTA: Coordinating Minister for Social Welfare Jusuf Kalla
said on Saturday corruption had robbed Indonesia of its
prosperity.

Corruption, he said, had earned the country the status as one
of the poorest in Asia.

"In the 1950s, Indonesia was as prosperous as other Asian
countries such as Japan and South Korea. But today, Indonesia
lags far behind those countries," he said.

Kalla compared Indonesia's current per capita income of
US$1,000 with Japan's $35,000, South Korea's $10,000 and
Malaysia's $3,500.

"Our country started its development at almost the same time
as them. But, we are still lagging behind. There is something
wrong with us," he said.

"Corruption has destroyed the nation's mental fiber as well as
the country's economic pillars."

Kalla is contesting the convention held by Golkar Party to
select its presidential candidate next year. -- Antara

;JP;MUN;
ANPAa..r..
Scene-criminal-revision
VP supports bans against witchcraft
JP/4/VP

VP supports bans against witchcraft

JAKARTA: Vice President Hamzah Haz said on Saturday he
supported a plan to revise the Criminal Code to allow for a ban
against sorcery.

"It will prevent anarchy among people," he told reporters
during a visit to Bogor Palace.

Hamzah said that witchcraft was a common practice among
Indonesians, therefore a rule to regulate it was mandatory.

He admitted, however, that it would not be easy to provide
evidence to prove charges involving sorcery in court.

The draft of the revision to the Criminal Code has sparked
controversy for clauses that criminalize private sexual matters
and witchcraft.

The government has planned to amend the current Criminal Code
since the 1980s, which is a legacy of the Dutch, who occupied
Indonesia for 350 years until it gained independence in 1945.

The government said that the revision would include the
addition of new articles to cope with the complexity of
Indonesian society. -- Antara

;JP;KHS;
ANPAa..r..
Scene-Sjahrir-seminar
Sjahrir prevented from seminar
JP/4/scen6

Sjahrir prevented from seminar

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Noted economist Sjahrir, who is also
chairman of the New Indonesia Alliance (PIB) Party, was blocked
from addressing a seminar in Medan, North Sumatra over the
weekend following opposition from local political leaders.

Sjahrir said on Saturday that he was scheduled to address a
seminar at the Gunung Sitoli Institute of Education on Friday
when its rector was forced by local political leaders not to
allow him to address the seminar.

He did not mention any of the political leaders that might
have opposed his presence there.

According to Sjahrir, he received notice of the cancellation
just minutes before the seminar was expected to open.

Sjahrir said the student senate had invited him and had
contacted him twice to confirm his readiness to be the keynote
speaker in the seminar.

"Possibly, leaders of political parties do not want me to
speak at the seminar. In fact, my presence has nothing to do with
my political activities," he said.

North Sumatra is the stronghold of President Megawati
Soekarnoputri's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) and Golkar, headed by House of Representatives
Speaker Akbar Tandjung. -- Antara

;JP;ANTARA;
ANPAa..r..
Scene-pwi-election
Tarman reelected PWI chairman
JP/4/scene4

Tarman reelected PWI chairman

PALANGKA RAYA, Central Kalimantan: Senior journalist Tarman
Azzam was reelected as chairman of the Indonesian Association of
Journalists (PWI) for the 2003-2008 period over the weekend.

Tarman was elected during PWI's 21st congress that ended on
Saturday in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan. The congress said
Tarman had successfully led PWI through difficult transition
years.

He was also credited for the successful consolidation of PWI
members whose number had decreased due to the existence of
several new organizations of Indonesian journalists.

The number of PWI members all over the country has reportedly
increased from 8,000 to 13,000, or an increase of 65 percent.

Immediately after his reelection, Tarman called for a special
meeting to form PWI's new executive board. --Antara

;JP;ANTARA;
ANPAa..r..
Scene-ampi-chairman
AMPI to select new chairman
JP/4/scenes

AMPI to select new chairman

JAKARTA: Four candidates have emerged as strong contenders for
the chairmanship of the Youth Movement for Indonesian Reform
(AMPI), the youth wing of Golkar Party.

The four names are Andi Fachri Laluasa, Agusman Effendy,
Tantyo Sudharmono, and Indra Adnan Saleh.

AMPI, boasting around 5.6 million members across the country,
will organize a national congress from Oct. 13 through Oct. 16.

"The congress will choose new executive board members for the
next five years and help Golkar win the 2004 election," AMPI
executive Leo Nababan said.

AMPI is now chaired by Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, the younger
brother of Ginandjar Kartasasmita, a deputy Assembly speaker.

Leo said AMPI had been and would always be a loyal supporter
of Golkar.

The congress will also be attended by presidential candidates
joining Golkar's presidential convention. -- Antara