CHAMPIONS

Asmujiono and Misirim became the first Indonesians, and the first Southeast Asians, to set foot on the peak of Mt Everest on 26 April. They were members of a team made up mostly of Kopassus soldiers, and had taken the southern route from Nepal.

Chandra Wijaya and Sigit Budiarto won the doubles in the world badminton championships held in Glasgow, Scotland, beating the Malaysian pair Cheah Soon Keat and Yap Kim Hock 2-1.

Indonesian national wind surfing champion Oka Sulaksana won third place in an international competition held in the North Sea off Eastbourne in Britain.
Kompas 14 May 1997; Suara Merdeka 2 June 1997; Antara 18 June 1997.

BIODIVERSITY

Police and members of Indonesia's Conservation Service (KSDA) arrested two Japanese citizens about to board a flight while smuggling rare birds. Police suspect the pair bought the birds including eagles and hawks at the Pramuka bird market in East Jakarta. Although the maximum sentence is five years gaol, offenders are rarely brought to justice.

Two kinds of fresh water crocodiles found in the Roffaer River in Irian Jaya had been hunted to the brink of extinction, according to American researcher Ronald Petocz. He recommended turning that area of the river into a national park.

The population of the Sumatran rhino has decreased in the past ten years due to rampant poaching, according to rhino specialist Haerudin Sadjudin. He estimated the remaining population at between 100 and 250.
Media Indonesia 20 May 1997; Antara 29 May 1997; Antara 6 June 1997.

HOW COMPETITIVE?

The Global Competitiveness Report 1997 (World Economic Forum, Geneva) gave a paradoxical picture for Indonesia. In terms of competitiveness, Indonesia ranked 15th out of 53 analysed, up from 30th last year. In a shorter list of 'hot spots for investment', Indonesia ranked 4th, after China, the US, and India, and ahead of Brazil. However, Indonesia was also listed as the most corrupt. In a table headed 'irregular additional payments common' Indonesia stood at the top, ahead of countries like the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, and Russia.
Bisnis Indonesia 23 May & 3 June 1997.

TIMOR CRONYISM

After three years of uncertainty, the National Planning Board (Bappenas) announced it had given permission to PT TORR, controlled by Budi Prakoso, to build a large cement factory in East Timor. The delay was caused by competition between TORR and a company owned by President Suharto's daughter Tutut. TORR won the job because it was 'economically and politically' the more capable, a Bappenas spokesperson said. Apparently this means TORR was the more generous to its East Timorese cronies. A 49% share in the US$480 million venture was 'given' to four East Timorese figures: former Fretilin leader Abilio Araujo (who lives in Portugal), governor Abilio Soares, ambassador-at-large Lopes da Cruz, and human rights commissioner Clementino Amaral (the latter two live in Jakarta).
Bisnis Indonesia 28 June 1997.

ZOMBIE MANIA

A wave of hysteria spread through southern Central Java throughout June in which villagers beat up people at night they suspected of being zombies (hantu pocong, the walking dead). Four victims died of their beating in different incidents, while others were taken to hospital. Most were vagrants, travellers or mentally disturbed individuals. Nurses were afraid to go out in their white uniforms after dark for fear of being mistaken for zombies. Psychologist Diane Rusmawati said rural people were nervous after the pre-election rioting, and no longer trusted the security apparatus.
Suara Merdeka 5 July 1997.

MYSTERY VIRUS

A mystery virus that swept Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, in June took the lives of 26 children. Hundreds were hospitalised and primary schools were sent on holiday for over two weeks. As panic spread into neighbouring West Kalimantan, doctors began to suspect the cause was a strain of the Coxsackie virus that can cause meningitis and heart attacks. Coxsackie is related to the polio virus and mutates easily.
Kompas 6 July 1997.

FRIED WHALE

For two days, it was like an Idul Fitri celebration. When a five-ton whale got itself stranded on the beach south of Yogyakarta, nearly all the villagers from round about came to get free meat. Some walked away with 50 kg slabs. 'Perhaps I was the only one who didn't', said one woman. 'I thought it was a shark that might have eaten humans'. Some made whale soup, others served it fried with spices. Those who ate the latter felt queasy afterwards. 'It was like drinking oil', said one. Food stalls served whale meat for days.
Suara Merdeka 9 July 1997.

CONSTITUTIONAL COWBOY

For the first time in Indonesian constitutional history, a bill already ratified by parliament was rejected by the president. Secretary of State Moerdiono said President Suharto objected to a clause that limited private television broadcasters' audiences to 50% of the population. Jakarta sources suspected Suharto's objections were driven by two of his children, who control two of the nation's five private stations, TPI and RCTI. The family also owns shares in two other stations.
SiaR 16 July 1997; Suara Merdeka 11 July 1997.

PRISONERS NEW & OLD

Jesuit priest Sandyawan Sumardi was expected to be charged early August with harbouring criminals, punishable with nine months gaol. After the July 27 riot in Jakarta last year he sheltered several members of the political group PRD, whom the government had blamed for the riot.

Parliamentarian Aberson Marle Sihaloho became the first sitting legislator to be sentenced to gaol since Indonesia won its independence in 1945. Aberson, a Megawati supporter, was gaoled for nine months for insulting the president, the military, and the parliament. The prosecution alleges he told a rally: 'Throughout the 30 years of Suharto's leadership, our freedom has been stolen and we are being colonised once again.'

Independent labour union leader Muchtar Pakpahan, already gaoled for four years and currently charged with subversion, was refused permission to go abroad for medical treatment, despite protests by US under-secretary of state Stuart Eisenstat, who had offered to pay for it. Medical diagnoses have varied from cancer to tuberculosis.
Republika 8 July 1997; American Reporter 21 July 1997; Reuter 21 July 1997.

FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE

For the first time since the early 1960s, former Soviet Union nations are set to become major technological suppliers to Indonesia.

Indonesia plans to buy at least 12 Sukhoi-30K jet fighters and 8 MI-17 troop transport helicopters from Russia through a barter deal. Habibie returned from Moscow with glowing reports of the jet's capabilities following refusal by the USA on human rights grounds to sell F-16 fighters to Indonesia. Malaysia and Vietnam already have Russian planes. The Philippines and Thailand may buy them too.

Russian Atomic Energy Minister Viktor Mikhailov said an understanding had been reached during a visit by Indonesian Science and Technology Minister Habibie to draft an agreement on nuclear energy before the end of 1997. The agreement will cover the construction in Indonesia of power plants from 100 to 300 megawatts, Mikhailov said, apparently contradicting Habibie's recent announcement that nuclear power had been 'postponed'.

Ukraine signed a space agreement with Indonesia that includes plans to construct a satellite launching facility.
The Australian 6 August 1997; Interfax 10 July 1997; Antara 22 July 1997.