Minister upbeat about tourist arrivals

JAKARTA: The number of international tourists visiting Indonesia could reach the optimistic figure of 4.8 million by the end of 2003, despite the Bali bombings in October 2002 and the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), says Minister for Tourism and Culture I Gede Ardika.

"After the bombing we predicted that tourist arrivals would only reach 4.5 million by the end of this year. But looking at the recent situation, I am optimistic that the more optimistic figure can be reached by the end of this year," the minister said.

Before the deadly terrorist attacks in October 2002, some 5.4 million foreign tourists visited Indonesia every year.

In Bali alone, Indonesia's prime tourist destination, some 2,700 international visitors arrived every day in June and 3,500 in July. June and July are considered the peak season.

The minister also said that the government had prepared an emergency plan for next September, October and November. He did not elaborate. --JP

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Registration of assets in E. Timor

JAKARTA: Indonesians, including those of East Timorese origin, who left immovable assets in East Timor have been invited to register their assets with the land and property directorate of East Timor's Justice Ministry, or the East Timorese Embassy in Jakarta.

The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs' directorate general of information, diplomacy and international agreements said in a press statement on Wednesday that the registration would cover the assets owned by the Indonesian government, private companies and individuals.

It also said that Indonesians have until March 2004 to register their assets and a failure to make the deadline would mean losing their title to the properties.

The issue of properties owned by Indonesians in East Timor was brought up by President Megawati Soekarnoputri when she met with East Timor Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri in Jakarta in June. --JP

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No hurry in Akbar graft case

JAKARTA: A panel of five Supreme Court justices has yet to decide on the appeal brought by House Speaker Akbar Tandjung against his graft conviction, and has said that no target date had been set to finish it.

"We have no target date. We will deal with it in good time," said Justice Paulus E. Lotulung, who heads the panel hearing Akbar's appeal.

The case is currently being examined by the fourth justice, Parman Suparman. As the chairman of the panel, Paulus will be the last to examine the case. After Paulus examines it, the five justices will hold discussions before arriving at a final decision.

Chief Justice Bagir Manan has said that the court is expected to present its verdict on Akbar's case in August or September of this year.

Akbar, who is also the chairman of the Golkar Party, has been sentenced to three year in jail for embezzling Rp 40 billion in Bulog funds. He remains free pending the decision of the Supreme Court. -- JP

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PDI-P condemned as New Order clone

JAKARTA: Pioneer Party (PP) chairwoman Rachmawati Soekarnoputri says that the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan)'s central board's strategy of ignoring its own members when choosing who to support in gubernatorial elections resembled the approach of the former regime of president Soeharto.

She lambasted the decision of the PDI Perjuangan's central board to nominate candidates with military backgrounds as part of its effort to safeguard the party's interests in the upcoming general election.

"This is the way Soeharto's New Order regime maintained its control over the people," he told reporters here.

Rachmawati was commenting on a statement by an influential figure in the PDI Perjuangan, Taufik Kiemas, who said that the Indonesian military and police should be credited for their role in maintaining the territorial integrity of the country.

She said the PDI Perjuangan's preference in backing candidates with military backgrounds also indicated that the party lacked members with leadership qualities. -- Antara