Minister upbeat about tourist arrivals

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 for assets in E. Timor
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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
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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
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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