TANSIL ESCAPES
Convicted high-flier Eddy Tansil escaped from Cipinang jail on 4 May, and is thought by many to have fled to southern China. Prior to his escape, press reports highlighted luxurious modifications he had made to his cell - carpet, air-conditioning, personal service by guards, and mobile phones to run his business. His escape was not reported for two days because guards often let him out for a small fee over the weekend, and on previous occasions he had kept his promise to return. The jail governor was sacked and several officers face prosecution. Following a public outcry along 'what's wrong with Indonesia?' lines, the Justice Minister raised the salaries of most prison officers.
indonesia-p April-June 1996

HIGH COURT DISAPPOINTS
Newspapers expressed dismay about the nation's justice system after a High Court judge who exposed corruption within the Court was threatened with dismissal. Adi Andojo Soetjipto became a popular hero after a whistle-blowing memo he wrote last December was leaked. Under intense public pressure, High Court Chief Soerjono announced an internal investigation. When the investigation concluded in June there had been no wrong-doing, Adi Andojo spoke indignantly to the press. Soerjono then recommended the President to sack him. Several student groups went on hunger strike in support of Adi Andojo. By August no announcement had yet been made on his future. Noted human rights lawyer Trimoelja D. Soerjadi estimates over 90% of judges are corrupt.
Digest 14 June 1996, indonesia-p July 1996

RITUAL SEX
The grave of Mangkunegoro-VI, pre-war Sultan of Solo, has been closed after it became a sex bazaar frequented by thousands each week. According to popular belief, one's prayers at the grave are answered if accompanied by ritual sex. But prostitutes from other cities flocked to the opportunity, and every night food stalls lit up the site till dawn. Fearing an angry backlash, the grave's royal proprietors gave 'renovations' as the reason for the closure.
Suara Pembaruan 16 June 1996

RELIGIOUS CLASH
Ten churches in Surabaya were severely damaged by large crowds of young men on the same day, 9 June. The churches belonged to both Pentecostal and mainline Protestant denominations. Tensions arose from neighbourhood incidents over dogs. Nahdatul Ulama chairperson Abdurrahman Wahid expressed concerns about religious intolerance and social inequality at a meeting with Christians. No arrests have been made so far, and no organisation has been named publicly in connection with the coordinated attack.
Suara Pembaruan 18 June 1996, Fica-Net

TOURISM THE BIGGEST
President Suharto expects tourism to become the nation's biggest earner by the year 2005. No less than 11 million foreign visitors are expected to bring in US$15 billion a year. The development would make the position of Minister for Tourism, currently held by Joop Ave, much more powerful.
Kompas 19 June 1996, Eksekutif July 1996

GIVE THE MAN MEAT
Couples in North Sulawesi enjoy sex more often than any others in Indonesia - 5.6 times a month, according to a survey by University of Indonesia academic Prof. Aris Ananta. North Sulawesi health official Sugiri Syarif attributed the high energy levels there to a greater protein intake. By contrast, their counterparts in East Java manage 3.7 times a month, and in Lampung a meager 3.42 times.
Kompas 21 June 1996

WW-II BOMBS
The Navy exploded 47 mines, left over from World War II and now buried between two and four meters below the muddy seafloor. The operation in June involved 250 personnel off the town of Tarakan in Kalimantan, the scene of heavy fighting between Australian and Japanese troops in 1945.
Suara Pembaruan 25 June 1996

NATIONAL JET
President Suharto is asking every man, woman and child to contribute US$10 over 5 years towards the development of a new 130 seat passenger jet. For an average family, that amounts to at least a month's wages. The contributions, to total US$2 billion, will flow into a private company he heads. The Indonesian aircraft industry faces intense international competition but lacks capital for aircraft development. Critics have debated the propriety or legality of presidential involvement in the business, while others complain the scheme amounts to a share offer that contravenes stock market regulations.
Digest 27 June 1996

DEBTS WIPED
State owned banks have written off Rp 4.2 trillion (US$2 billion) worth of bad debts. BRI alone wrote off Rp 1 trillion. The cost of wiping debts off the books must be met from reserves, and tax is stil payable on them so long as the process excludes the courts. The identity of the 166 debt defaulters has been kept secret, and no prosecutions are pending, even though many are thought to be corrupt. The five state owned banks are rapidly losing market share to some private banks such as BCA.
Kompas 1 July 1996, SWA 10 July 1996

FOREIGN INVASION
Deregulation is extending to health services. Foreign investors will soon be permitted to open private hospitals in any Indonesian province, according to Health Minister Prof. Sujudi. He urged existing hospitals to be ready for the competition.

Meanwhile deregulation of the shipping industry has been a disaster for ship owners. Though Indonesia is an archipelagic nation with an export-oriented economy, national ships carried less than 7 million tons of export/ import cargo in 1993, down 65% on 1983. Foreign ships carried over 230 million tons in 1993. The Indonesian National Ship Owners Association blames the collapse mainly on high official charges for local shippers.
Republika 5 July 1996; Suara Pembaruan 20 June 1996

DEER HUNTERS
Villagers shoot dead about 50 native deer each day in the province of Maluku. The town market in Dobo alone, in the Tanimbar Islands, sells the meat of about 30 deer - rusa and kijang - each day. The locals regard them as a pest that eat the corn crops.
Kompas 5 July 1996

NABIRE RIOTS
Thousands of rioters burned down the local representative assembly building and the jail in Nabire, Irian Jaya. They were angered when the local government told them 95% of the 127 civil service positions for which many had applied were already filled, presumably by non-locals. Most of the 41 who escaped from jail were quickly recaptured. Afterwards there were calls from the Papuan youth organisation FK-GMIJ in Jakarta for more locals to be employed in the civil service.
Republika 5 July, Kompas 6 July, Media Indonesia 11 July 1996

ARIEF BUDIMAN HONOURED
US-based Human Rights Watch has awarded academic Arief Budiman the Hellman-Hammets prize for his writing about Indonesian politics and human rights. He shares the US$150 000 prize with 43 other writers and journalists from 23 countries, among them China, Nigeria and Iraq.
Suara Pembaruan 26 July 1996

ISLANDS LOST
Nine islands among the scenic Thousand Islands group off Jakarta (actually 120 islands) have completely disappeared. Uncontrolled sand mining, erosion following the destruction of mangroves and coral, the use of explosives for fishing, and oil dumping by ships caused the death of the islands. Biggest of the nine was three hectares in size. Jakarta Governor Surjadi has banned sand mining and is attempting to restore the tourist potential of the group.
Kompas 31 July 1996