Alleged drug dealers arrested in Sawah Besar

JAKARTA: The City Police’s narcotics division revealed on Monday that they had arrested four alleged drug dealers in Sawah Besar, Central Jakarta, on Sunday night.

One of the suspects tried to avoid the police pursuit and shot Suripno, a hansip (civil defense officer), before he was apprehended by the authorities.

Suripno sustained an injury to his right shoulder and was taken to nearby Husada hospital for treatment.

“Officers confiscated 11 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 100 ecstasy pills, a SIG Sauer pistol and five bullets from the suspect, identified only as HE,” police spokesman Sr. Comr. Rikwanto said.

During questioning, HE reportedly confessed that he had bought the drugs from T in Kampung Ambon, an area notorious for narcotics dealing in Cengkareng, West Jakarta.

According to Rikwanto, earlier that night, the police had arrested three of HE’s accomplices, identified as HU, D and E. From them, officers confiscated eight packages of crystal meth and one ecstasy tablet.

Sriwijaya pilots grounded after landing failure

The Transportation Ministry has grounded the pilot and co-pilot of privately owned carrier Sriwijaya Air for two weeks after the aircraft skidded off the end of the runway at Supadio Airport in West Kalimantan last week.

"We’re grounding them for two weeks while waiting for an evaluation from the air transportation directorate general on the incident," spokesman Bambang Ervan told The Jakarta Post.

He identified the pilot as Yohannes and the co-pilot as Fabian Way.

Sriwijaya Air Flight 188, a Boeing B737-400 aircraft, made an unplanned excursion on Supadio's runway upon landing in the capital city Pontianak on Friday at 12:30 p.m. local time.

The aircraft was arriving from Jakarta in torrential rain and strong wind when the incident occurred.

It carried 163 passengers on board including a baby. All passengers and crew were safe.

He said that the nose-wheel of the B737-400 was broken and the landing gear had come off into the soft soil.

A full investigation conducted by the ministry and the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) is underway.

In a separate interview, state owned airport operator Angkasa Pura II president director Tri Sunoko said that Supadio Airport was closed for 27 hours since the incident in order to evacuate the SJ-188 aircraft.

As a result, 29 flights were delayed; 17 arrivals and 12 departures, he said.

"Supadio Airport returned to normal on Saturday at 4 p.m. local time," he told the Post.

He said that the company had provided food for passengers whose flights were delayed. (nfo/mtq)

Green economy and blue economy

Green is the color of the month. Blue is running a strong second. Each color marks a world event this June. Green goes to Rio de Janeiro and blue to Yeosu, South Korea.

Rio is hosting the once-a-decade United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development on June 13-22, which will climax when world leaders attend the June 20-22 summit.

Called the Earth Summit, the conference reviews the progress has been made (and not made) since the first summit in Rio in 1992 and the second summit in Johannesburg in 2002. One major theme of Rio +20 is “a green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication”.

Short of a universally accepted definition, the concept of a green economy “carries the promise of a new economic growth paradigm that is friendly to the earth’s ecosystems and can also contribute to poverty alleviation,” a United Nations document prepared for the conference stated.

 The paper, The Transition to a Green Economy: Benefits, Challenges and Risks from a Sustainable Development Perspective, says a green economy would nevertheless entail risks, particularly for developing countries.

The concept could be used to reinforce protectionist trends, impose conditions tied to financial aid and reinforce international inequalities, the document said.

Meanwhile a United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) report on the green economy said that strategies for economic growth and environmental stewardship could complement one another and prevail over the trade-offs. UNEP defined a green economy as “one that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities.” This definition is in line with the three pillars of development — economic, social and environmental — established in the past Earth summits.

Indonesia has not declared that it has a green economy per se. But President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has forwarded a four-prong strategy for the nation’s development in 2007. Yudhoyono has stated his government’s programs are pro-growth, pro-jobs, pro-poor, and pro-green. The government’s target is to achieve a 7 percent economic growth rate by 2014 and a decline of greenhouse gas emissions by 26 percent as against a business as usual scenario in 2020.

Meanwhile at the provincial level, natural resources-rich East Kalimantan has launched a green economy initiative. Governor Awang Farouk Ishak declared a low-carbon growth strategy or green growth concept (LCGS) in December 2009.

The LCGS was drafted March 2010. Within a sustainable development framework, the province’s LCGS has four aims: scale up the quality of life; reduce the threats from ecological and climate change like floods, landslides and fires; reduce pollution and degradation of the ecosystem; and increase public awareness of the importance of the strategy. The strategy identified 20 priority initiatives in five sectors: oil and gas, coal, palm oil, forestry, and agriculture. The idea is to lower carbon emissions in each sector and at the same time gain added value in their economic growth.

While delegates draft and redraft the outcome documents (one is Sustainable Development Goals, another is The Future We Want), many other participants will engage in the more than 500 side events starting June 13. These side events are a clearinghouse for new knowledge. Indonesia is involved in at least 24 thematic events, according to the conference website http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20.

They include Developing Green Economy Approaches: The Role of Heart of Borneo, Women’s Leadership in a Green Economy: Valuing Women’s Contributions, Climate Policy under a New World Order, Analyzing REDD+: Challenges and Choices, and Blue Economy Leadership Event: Showcasing Efforts to Achieve a Blue Economy. In this last event, the blue economy relates to the aspect of the oceans and coasts in sustainable development and poverty eradication.

The blue economy will be the principal issue at Expo 2012 Yeosu. This world expo with the theme “The Living Ocean and Coast” is now taking place in the new port area of Yeosu in the south of Korea from May 12 to Aug. 12.

The seas cover 71 percent of the Earth’s surface. They are a rich repository of marine life, sea-based food, sea-embedded minerals, and coral reefs, the oceans’ equivalent to the tropical rainforests. They are, however, under threat of ocean warming and acidification, to name two problems.

In Rio and Yeosu, Indonesia can contribute in sharing its experience. Both events focus on sustainable development. If sustainable livelihood is a subset of sustainable development, Indonesia has real-life stories to share.

In Rio on the green economy, one story is the hamlet of Lubuk Beringin in Jambi province, Sumatra. In their forested area, some 80 families made a pact of protecting trees and not growing crops on hilly soil and along river banks to prevent erosion. They get light from a power generating water mill they installed. They ban outsiders from planting monoculture crops such as oil palm that deplete much ground water.

For the blue economy, sustainable living is found in the coastal village of Kutuh in the south of Bali. Once poverty-stricken because their land is poor, villagers switched to sea farming by cultivating seaweed.

World market demand for seaweed is high. More than 30 products are derived from seaweed: tooth paste, cosmetics, baby food, fertilizer and medicines.

From these two stories, forest people in Jambi and seaweed farmers in Bali show how green and blue their local economy works.

The writer teaches journalism at Dr. Soetomo Press Institute (LPDS), Jakarta.

RMB internationalization ‘is market's choice’

The internationalization of the renminbi is the will of the market rather than a government-backed move, People's Bank of China Governor Zhou Xiaochuan was quoted as saying on Monday.

"It is the result of the growing power of the nation and its financial market boom ... though there is still much to do considering the low level of development and openness," Zhou said in an interview with China Business News.

According to Zhou, China needs to continue removing restrictions on transactions such as "settlement only in hard currencies", and further open the nation's financial market.

"In general, we should do our homework, and let the market decide which currency should be used," he said.

But "what we can say is this, the renminbi has the potential to become a more globally accepted currency", he added.

Echoing Zhou's comments, a statement from the State Council said last week that the country will speed up the opening of its financial market, including allowing qualified foreign institutions to invest in China with the yuan, and expanding the use of the yuan in overseas markets, such as cross-border settlement, and as an international reserve currency.

Meanwhile, the country will encourage domestic banks to develop overseas businesses, to support the internationalization of Chinese enterprises, and allow high-quality foreign financial institutions to participate in the reform of their Chinese counterparts, the statement said.

"The acceptance of the renminbi as an international currency has been proven by the fast expansion of the currency globally in recent years," said Ding Zhijie, dean of the School of Banking and Finance with the University of International Business and Economics.

"Acceptance of a currency in the global market is related to convenience, and its ability to hold its value," said Li Jing, a researcher with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

"However, the majority of trade settlement in the renminbi was still made in imports, while most exporters continue to receive US dollars, resulting in a continuous increase in the foreign exchange reserve," said Li.

To further the internationalization of the currency, China should consider opening its capital account, Ding said.

"Talking about opening the capital account, the first thought that comes to mind is capital outflow," Ding said.

"In fact, a better environment will enhance the market's confidence in the Chinese economy, and encourage investors to return," he said.

"Opening the capital account may also increase pressure for the renminbi's appreciation, but it may not be serious at the moment," he added.

While China promotes financial reforms and the internationalization of its currency, pressure on the country's fast-growing foreign exchange reserve will be eased.

China's international balance sheet will continue to report a surplus in both the current and capital accounts, but the volume will decline sharply, says a statement from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange.

Hunger for luxury brands grows ravenously

I call it my gangsta watch. When I strut down the street, even a legally blind man can make out the big, bold numbers on the crystal face, surrounded by rings of 24-karat gold. It's bling-on-a-stick and status with a capital R.

Does it bother me that this Swiss timepiece needs to be wound up every day? Is it highway robbery when something breaks and the repair bill costs a week's salary? Isn't my battery powered Timex with the glow-in-the-dark hands more functional?

Yes to all the above. And, sure, I'd switch watches if I lived in Okeefanokie, Nebraska –population 537.

But in China, even villagers in the most remote places in Gansu province pay attention to luxury goods like Louis Vuitton with its flower and quatrefoil monogram.

So with the increasing disposable income of the middle class and the rising aspirations of blue-collar workers, luxury goods are no longer the exclusive realm of the uber-wealthy. Burberry, Prada, Chanel – whether real or fake – they're as common everywhere as ants at a picnic.

Luxury goods sales have now reached US$12.6 billion in China. Since the opening of the economic reforms in the '80s, there's been a mad race to leave the generic blue and green cotton uniforms that marked those years behind. Even though import taxes on luxury goods mean prices are 30-70 percent higher than other countries, the market in China, already surpassing that of the US, is forecast to take over Japan's number one rank in global luxury consumption within the next five years.

When I was young, marketing types had yet to come up with the idea of the human billboard and labels were sewn on the inside, out of view. Yes, there was that little crocodile tennis players often wore, but until Ralph Lauren's polo pony came galloping onto the scene, wearing clothes that blared out the brand was unheard of.

Sure, status symbols still existed: the size of your home, whether your membership was at a private club or the public pool, the make of your car – domestic I might add – but signs of rank took years to achieve. Now, it's as easy and fast as putting on a shirt or carrying a handbag.

Has the advent of jet travel, television, and the Internet allowed us to grasp more precisely our relative significance in the world? Or should I rightfully say insignificance? In these globetrotting times, it's even more important to differentiate ourselves from the masses. And outwardly labeling ourselves with things is an efficient and quick way to tell others "I am important. I have money. I have taste."

Luxury brands almost always come with a back-story, a heritage, a convincing campaign to distinguish themselves from their competitors. So, the real value of the item lies less in the actual product than the emotional reward it offers the buyer. Many will own a fake bag, watch or scarf, but none will brag about it unless it's the genuine thing.

It's only been in the past 40 years that the significance of the brand has entwined itself into our culture. Why do we allow Gucci, Cartier, Hermes and Rolex to become a barometer of our identity? The blame for the growth of this superficial mentality would cast a wide net, from celebrities to advertisers, media, CEOs and, finally, the shareholders, people just like us. Whether it's aspirations or acquisitions, the hunger for luxury goods here only seems to grow.

On March 5 every year, Lei Feng, a legendary selfless and modest soldier who was devoted to the Communist Party is celebrated with the hope that present-day citizens will emulate his Good Samaritan deeds. Success in this program has not been overwhelming.

Maybe Lei Feng just needs a makeover – banish the army greens and faux fur cap and slip into some Giorgio Armani couture. Then, he would be the kind of guy people today can aspire to.

Boy's case isolated, bird flu outbreak unlikely in China

Kahon Chan and Li Wenfang, Asia News Network ( China Daily ), Hong Kong/Guangzhou, China | Tue, 06/05/2012 9:56 AM

All of the contacts of a 2-year-old boy who tested positive for the H5N1 strain of avian influenza in Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland were either asymptomatic or tested negative for birdflu, authorities of the special administrative region and Guangdong province said, suggesting that the chance of an outbreak was slim.

The boy was still in serious condition after a week of treatment in Hong Kong.

He is being kept isolated in the pediatric intensive care unit at Princess Margaret Hospital.

It was the city's first human case of bird flu in 18 months. The boy is thought to have been infected with the deadly virus during his visit to a wet market in Guangzhou last month.

Hong Kong kept the bird flu alert level at "serious" after raising it on Friday, and stricter visiting restrictions were imposed in the city's public hospitals.

Imports and sales of poultry have continued as usual – unlike in December, when an infected live chicken was found. Samples collected from 30 local chicken farms on Sunday all tested negative for bird flu, a spokesperson from the city's agriculture, fisheries and conservation department said.

York Chow Yat-ngok, secretary for food and health, assured the public that it was an "isolated" case and the city is well guarded against all types of infectious diseases.

"We feel that there is no need for panic among Hong Kong residents," he said. "All in all, I would only advise the public to maintain a good level of personal and environmental hygiene."

Though summer is not considered a peak season for flu, Chow said human flu cases are not seasonal in nature, as observed in tropical countries, like Vietnam and Indonesia.

The boy's illness was first reported before midnight on Friday. His condition was said to be stable, but it worsened to serious on Saturday.

The boy, who lives with his parents and maternal grandmother in the Haizhu district of Guangzhou, had visited a wet market on Nanyuan Street in mid May where his mother had bought a live duck.

Returning home from a three-day tour to Anhui province, the boy developed a fever and runny nose on May 23. He was taken to a private medical clinic in Hong Kong three days later.

He was taken to a hospital emergency room on May 28 and was thought to have encephalitis. However, he tested positive for the H5N1 strain of avian influenza on Friday.

All of the boy's 80 contacts in Hong Kong were either asymptomatic or tested negative for bird flu leading the center for health protection to suggest that the chance of human-to-human transmission was slim.

As a precaution, however, the center alerted doctors on Saturday that special attention should be paid to patients who had contact with poultry in Guangzhou.

No one in Guangzhou who had close contact with the boy showed any sign of infection on Monday and the source of the virus had yet to be determined, local authorities said.

Among those tested were poultry venders at the wet market in Haizhu district, said He Jianfeng, director of the Epidemic Studies Institute of the Guangdong Disease Control and Prevention Center.

The source of the infection may not be determined because the duck had been eaten and too much time has passed since the boy was infected, He said.

"Vigilance has been maintained against a human avian flu epidemic in Guangdong. No sample has tested positive so far this year. The boy infected with avian flu is apparently an isolated case," He said.

He advised that people stay away from live poultry, cook poultry thoroughly and wash their hands after handling poultry.

Kopaja to add more air-conditioned buses

JAKARTA: Bus operator PT Koperasi Angkutan Jakarta (Kopaja) has said that new fleets of air-conditioned Kopaja buses will hit the capital’s streets by the end of this month.

Kopaja chairman Nanang Basuki said that his company would deploy 10 of the new air-conditioned Kopaja buses on two routes.

“They will be on the P-19 and P-20 routes,” Nanang said on Monday, referring to Kopaja buses serving the Tanah Abang-Ragunan route (P-19) and the Pasar Senen-Lebak Bulus route (P-20).

According to Nanang, Kopaja currently operates 20 air-conditioned buses, which were introduced in August last year. The buses all serve the Ragunan-Slipi-Grogol route (S-13). The air-conditioned Kopaja buses have been hailed by many as the role model for the revitalization of the capital’s old and creaking public transportation, as the buses stop only at designated stops and are driven by drivers on a fixed monthly salary.

Nanang claimed that the air-conditioned buses, which charge Rp 5,000 (US 53 cents) per passenger, were safer than other modes of public transportation.

Iskandar Abubakar from the Jakarta Transportation Council (DTKJ) welcomed the plan, saying that the deployment of new fleets of air-conditioned buses was imperative for the capital to escape massive gridlock.

The increasing number of air-conditioned Kopaja buses, he argued, would attract commuters from driving private cars to using public transportation.