Gas development remains govt focus

Rangga D Fadillah, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Wed, 05/18/2011 1:53 PM | Body and Soul

Commenting on Indonesia's declining oil production, Vice President Boediono has reaffirmed the government's commitment to promoting natural gas as the main energy source to fuel economic growth in the future.

"Last year I mentioned that gas was our future. That remains our basic policy. The government obviously has a strong interest in keeping this on track and will continue to closely monitor its progress," he said before the official opening of the 35th Indonesian Petroleum Association (IPA) Annual Convention and Exhibition in Jakarta on Wednesday.

The government, he continued, would continuously facilitate "gradual moves toward economic pricing for domestic gas uses" and direct negotiations between gas producers and consumers to tackle problems on pricing.

"However, we know that the key issues are more than this. The critical step is how to accelerate the development of gas infrastructure," Boediono said.

He promised that the government would speed up the completion of gas pipelines in Java and the construction of floating storage and re-gasification units (FSRU) in Sumatra and Java.

"One unit in Jakarta area is expected to be ready by as early as 2012," he said.

Irzen Octa's remains to undergo 2nd autopsy

Hans David Tampubolon, The Jakarta Post, Depok | Wed, 04/20/2011 8:34 AM | Humanities

Lawyer OC Kaligis, as the legal representative of the family of the late Irzen Octa, says a second autopsy is required to iron out discrepancies in the findings of a preliminary autopsy conducted on the remains of Octa, which are to be dug up today for the purpose.

Octa is a Citibank client who died allegedly after violence committed by the bank's debt collectors on March 29.

On Wednesday, Kaligis said Octa's death remained suspicious because there were two contradicting preliminary autopsy results, which were signed by the same doctor, at the same time and on the same day.

One result revealed indications of violence on Octa's body, while the other said he died from a stroke.

Citibank representative Ditta Amahorseya has repeatedly denied that Octa was a victim of violence committed by debt collectors working for the bank.

Remains of Octa dug up for 2nd autopsy

Hans David Tampubolon, The Jakarta Post, Depok | Wed, 04/20/2011 8:40 AM | Humanities

Second Autopsy: A forensic scientist is examining the remains of Irzen Octa, who died under suspicious circumstances after meeting Citibank debt collectors, on Wednesday.

Srengseng Sawah cemetery undertakers have dug up the remains of Irzen Octa, who died under suspicious circumstances after meeting Citibank debt collectors.

Forensic scientist Munim Idries is currently examining the body.

"We are going to remove several organs, so we can conduct microscopic tests on them," Munim told reporters at the cemetery in Depok on Wednesday.

Lawyer OC Kaligis, who represents the family of the late Irzen Octa, said Octa's death was suspicious because there were two contradicting preliminary autopsy results, which were signed by the same doctor, at the same time and on the same day.

One result says there were signs of violence on Octa's body, but the other said he died from a stroke.

Citibank representative Ditta Amahorseya has repeatedly denied that Octa was assaulted by debt collectors.

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