Indonesia

By AFP | 20 Feb 2013

An Afghan man who helped organize an Australia-bound boat trip on which 90 asylum seekers drowned was sentenced Wednesday to six years’ jail in Indonesia for people-smuggling.

Prosecutors had earlier this month sought a seven-year term for 20-year-old Dawood Amiri, alias Irfan, who was described by the judge as a middle man in the smuggling operation.

“Dawood Amiri was found legally and convincingly guilty of committing people smuggling crimes,” chief judge Mariana, who goes by one name, told the court.

By Lauren McCauley | Agencies | 16 Jan 2013

Indonesian factory workers claimed a small victory on Tuesday after news spread that suppliers for international sportswear behemouth Nike paid local military personnel to intimidate them into agreeing to below minimum wage pay.

Workers at the Nike shoe factory in the west Java city of Sukabumi will now be paid a higher minimum wage after reporting that they were bullied into signing a petition saying that they supported the factory's claim to be exempt from the recent wage increase.

By Fourzia Khan | Arab News | Jeddah | 03 May 2012

The Indonesian Consulate in Jeddah in coordination with the country's Ministry of Culture and Tourism organized a two-day tourism exhibition at Aziz Mall last weekend.

“It is a good chance for Saudi families and children to discover more about the world’s largest Muslim country in terms of population, tourism opportunities, civilization and cultural heritage, and meet a number of Indonesian travel and tourism agencies,” said A. Fauzy Chusny, information officer from Indonesia Information and Cultural Affairs.

Source : Harakah | Jakarta | 11 Apr 2012

Members of the Indonesian parliament in Jakarta, or the People's Representative Council (DPR), observed a moment in prayer after reports emerged that a 8.7 magnitude earthquake has struck off the coast of Sumatera.

Tremors from the quake were also felt as far as Thailand and India, as well as several parts of peninsula Malaysia.

The DPR (right) was debating electoral laws when the news was announced by speaker Marzuki Alie, shocking lawmakers.

By : Erwida Maulia | The Jakarta Post | Jakarta | 15 Feb 2012

Russia has again urged the Indonesian government to conclude a much-delayed agreement on a milestone satellite station project, offering the idea of Indonesia becoming a “prestigious space nation”.

Russian Ambassador to Indonesia Alexander A. Ivanov reiterated on Tuesday his country’s keen interest in the project to develop a satellite launch station on the Indonesian island of Biak, which is situated off the northern coast of Papua and 3,200 kilometers northeast of Jakarta.

Source : Arientha Primanita & Antara | Jakarta Globe | 22 Dec 2011

Muslims students and clerics in staunchly Islamic Aceh on Wednesday came to the defense of the local authorities, saying that punks were trying to undermine Islamic law in the province, as officials claim.

Source : Associated Press | Seulawah | 20 Dec 2011

Mohawks shaved and noses free of piercings, dozens of youths march in military style for hours beneath Indonesia's tropical sun – part of efforts by the authorities to restore moral values and bring the "deviants" back into the mainstream.

But the young men and women have shown no signs of bending. When commanders turn their backs, the shouts ring out: "Punk will never die!" Fists are thrown in the air and peace signs flashed. A few have managed briefly to escape, heads held high as they are dragged back.

By Nurdin Hasan | AFP | 14 Dec 2011

Indonesian sharia police are "morally rehabilitating" more than 60 young punk rock fans in Aceh province on Sumatra island, saying the youths are tarnishing the province's image.

Since being arrested at a punk rock concert in the provincial capital Banda Aceh on Saturday night, 59 male and five female punk rock fans have been forced to have their hair cut, bathe in a lake, change clothes and pray.

By P.K Abdul Ghafour | Arab News | Jakarta / 14 Dec 2011

Indonesian Vice President Boediono opened a three-day international Islamic media conference in Jakarta this week and emphasized the importance of a strong and free media to boost social, educational, economic and political development of Muslim countries.

Source : The Jakarta Post | Jakarta | 28 Nov 2011

The Russia Muftis Council has awarded Indonesian Ambassador to Russia Hamid Awaluddin with an “Al-Fahr” honorary medal for his role in initiating partnership between Indonesian and Russian Muslims.

The medal was handed over by council chairman Ravil Gaynutdin, who along with other prominent Russian muftis escorted it to Hamid’s official residence in Moscow on Saturday evening.