Indonesia Morning News For December 12

Jakarta rejects separatist rebels’ demands
Indonesia has rejected a demand by Papuan rebels to hold negotiations on their territory’s self-determination.
— The Australian

Exclusive – Red tape, funding problems hamper Lion Air black box search
Bureaucratic wrangling and funding problems have hampered the search for the cockpit voice recorder of a crashed Lion Air jet, prompting investigators to turn to the airline to foot the bill in a rare test of global norms on the probe’s independence.
— Reuters

Businesses Reject Ban on Plastic Bags
The Indonesian Plastic Industry Association (Inaplas) deputy chairman Suhat Miyarso rejected the ban on plastic bags regulated by several regional heads.
— Tempo.co

21 tons of trash flows into Jakarta Bay daily: Researcher
Seven rivers in Jakarta and two rivers in its satellite cities of Tangerang, Banten, and Bekasi, West Java, are polluted by trash, dumping 21 tons of waste daily into Jakarta Bay, a researcher has calculated.
— The Jakarta Post

Indonesia expects total 2018 fishing exports to reach $5bn
Indonesia’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) has reported the country’s total seafood export value at the end of October 2018 was $4 billion, leading to predictions that the country would hit $5bn before the end of the year, reports Kontan.co.id.
— Undercurrent News

BI: Indonesia`s Halal Industry Far behind Non-Muslim Countries`
Bank Indonesia (BI) governor Perry Warjiyo said that Indonesia as a Muslim majority country needs to catch up with the sharia economy faster than other countries.
— Tempo.co

Indonesia unveils more detailed land map in bid to resolve development planning disputes
Indonesia’s government on Tuesday (Dec 11) launched a more detailed map of land use aimed at resolving overlapping claims in the vast archipelago, including in forest areas, three years later than was initially planned.
— The Straits Times

Indonesia can boost exports using China digital platforms: Ambassador
Indonesia could use China`s digital commerce platforms to boost its exports not only to China but also to other countries, Indonesian ambassador to China Djauhari Oratmangun said here on Monday.
— Antara News

Great Eastern to buy Indonesia insurance firm for US$28m
GREAT Eastern Holdings is acquiring Indonesia-registered PT QBE General Insurance Indonesia for US$28 million, it announced on Tuesday morning.
— The Business Times

Human rights index of Jokowi government decreases
Based on the legal state index data collected by the Indonesian Legal Roundtable (ILR) in 2012-2017, the value of human rights principles during President Joko Widodo`s (Jokowi`s) government decreased than that of the previous …
— Antara News

Indonesia pursuing deregulation to raise investments
Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) chairman Thomas Lembong said the continuous efforts of the Indonesian government to improve the investment climate have paid off, as has been indicated by the increase of its economic output during the last three years.
— The Jakarta Post

MRT still undecided on women-only passenger cars
The management of PT MRT Jakarta transportation company is still mulling whether to offer women-only passenger cars in the mass rapid transit (MRT) transportation service, which is to soon start operating on its first line from South Jakarta’s Lebak Bulus station to Central Jakarta’s Hotel Indonesia (HI) traffic circle.
— The Jakarta Post

Hotels in Bali to Use 30 Percent of Local Products
Bali will set a governor`s regulation that requires the consumption of local products in the hotels and modern retails.
— Tempo.co

Indonesia Reforms Seek to Solve Decades of Land Conflict
Ujang Uskandiyana wanted to change his life when he decided to move to South Konawe Regency in Southeast Sulawesi from Yogyakarta in 2011.
— Voice of America

Former Jakarta governor Ahok to be freed on Jan 24 after serving jail term for blasphemy
Former Jakarta governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, who is serving a two-year jail term for blasphemy, will be a free man on Jan 24, said a Law and Human Rights Ministry official on Monday (Dec 10).
— The Straits Times

Nomadic Tourism to be Developed along Trans Java Toll Road
Tourism Ministry plans to develop a concept of nomadic tourism along Trans Java toll road in a bid to promote potential destinations in every region.
— Tempo.co

Indonesia’s Alpha JWC makes maiden Vietnam investment in Base.vn
Indonesian venture capital firm Alpha JWC Ventures has co-led a $1.3-million pre-Series A round for Vietnamese enterprise SaaS platform Base.vn, marking its first investment in the country.
— Deal Street Asia

Oligarchy of political parties threatens democracy in Indonesia: LIPI
Head of the Political Research Center of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) Firman Noor said that the oligarchic system seen in political parties in Indonesia has a negative impact on its democracy.
— Antara News

Indonesia’s Aceh whips men for sharia-banned gambling
A group of men caught gambling were publicly whipped in Indonesia’s conservative Muslim province of Aceh on Tuesday (Dec 11) as a crowd of onlookers cheered.
— Channel NewsAsia

Govt preparing subsidized mortgage scheme for millennials
Owning a house is a dream for everyone, including millennials, but the majority of them find it hard to put aside their income for a down payment and monthly mortgage installments because of increasing property prices.
— The Jakarta Post

Thousands of Women March Against Sexual Violence in Indonesia
More than 2,000 protesters, mostly women, marched through the Indonesian capital of Jakarta on Saturday, December 8, demanding parliament to pass new legislation in the fight against sexual violence.
— The Advertiser (video)

Garuda Indonesia to operate from Halim Airport in January
National carrier Garuda Indonesia will be flying from Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport, starting from Jan 15, 2019.
— Antara News

Widodo calls for simplification of SPJ reports
President Joko Widodo has called for a simplification of the accountability report (SPJ) in ministries / agencies and regional governments.
— Antara News

Minister denies military uses bombs to chase armed criminal group
Coordinating Minister for Legal, Political and Security Affairs Wiranto denied that the Indonesian Military (TNI) used bombs to chase an armed criminal group that killed construction workers in Nduga District, Papua Province, on.
— Antara News

KAI Provides Extra Trains for 2019 Year-End Holidays
The state-owned railway company PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) provides extra trains for the 2019 Christmas and New Year holidays.
— Tempo.co

Garuda to operate from Kertajati Airport
National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia will operate its inaugural flight from the West Java International Airport (BIJB), Kertajati, Majalengka District, West Java Province, on December 18, 2018.
— Antara News

River naturalization can help mitigate flooding in Jakarta: Anies
Anies mentioned Singapore, Tokyo and Sydney as cities that had inspired him to apply the naturalization concept for rivers, reservoirs, lakes and artificial lakes, as a way to manage bodies of water through the development of green open spaces (RTH).
— The Jakarta Post

Indrawati reminds local governments to avoid using brokers to disburse funds
Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati reminded the regional governments to refrain from using brokers for the process of disbursing transfer funds to the regions, as it was not in accordance with the prevailing …
— Antara News

LIPI presents report on two decades of COREMAP implementation
The Oceanography Research Center (P2O) of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI) here on Monday presented a report on two decades of implementation of the Coral Reef Management and Rehabilitation Program (COREMAP)
— Antara News

In eastern Indonesia, a bird-trafficking hotspot flies under the radar
Indonesia, one of the most biodiverse countries on Earth, is a major hub of the illegal bird trade. Demand comes from both inside and outside its borders.
— Mongabay

OJK Supports Certification for Debt Collector of Fintech Lending
The Financial Services Authority (OJK) encouraged debt collectors from fintech lending to obtain a special certificate.
— Tempo.co

Multination Effort in Building the Jakarta Giant Sea Wall
The Jakarta giant sea wall project will see its groundbreaking in the year 2020.
— Tempo.co

Indonesian author Eka Kurniawan receives Prince Claus Award for achievements in literature
Eka was given the award on Thursday at Amsterdam’s Royal Palace by Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands.
— Coconuts Jakarta (paywall)

Defense ministry receives award from ombudsman
The Ombudsman has awarded the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Indonesia the 2018 High Compliance Predicate Award for Public Service Standards, with a value of 101.
— Antara News

Darmin: Hopefully Papua Tragedy Not Beset Development Project
Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Darmin Nasution pinned hope the tragic incident in Papua did not beset the development acceleration project
— Tempo.co

Police, TNI on Manhunt for Armed Group in Papua
The Papua Regional Police and the XVII/Cenderawasih Regional Military Command are still chasing down the armed group in Nduga District, Papua.
— Tempo.co

Indonesia’s diversity through food photography
Food is key to bringing people of different backgrounds and cultures together, as the Indonesian Culinary Photography Exhibition shows at the GoetheHaus in Central Jakarta.
— The Jakarta Post

COREMAP establishes coral monitoring professional certification
The Coral Reef Rehabilitation and Management Program (COREMAP) has, over the past two decades, established four Professional Certification Institutions for those tasked with monitoring coral reefs.
— Antara News

Year ender – New era for W Papua in rail transportation
The year 2019 is expected to be a new era for the Indonesian province of West Papua in terms of railway project, after years of experiencing difficult transportation problems.
— Antara News

Indonesia Using Religious Exorcisms To Try And ‘Cure’ LGBTIQ People
LGBTIQ people in Indonesia are undergoing religious “exorcisms” as a form of “gay conversion” therapy in a bid to cure their “demonic” homosexuality.
— QNews Magazine

Pure CPO can be used for power plants: analyst
Diesel power plants (PLTDs) of the national power utility company PLN could use pure crude palm oil (CPO) without mixture for fuel, the Executive Director of the Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR) Fabby Tumiwa has said.
— Antara News

Can the Great Garuda stop Jakarta floods?
Indonesian capital banks on mega land reclamation to control water levels
— Straits Times

Kertajati Airport wins Smart Airport Awards
The West Java International Airport (BIJB), or so-called Kertajati Airport, has won the Smart Airport Award at the 2018 Airport Award held by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, in collaboration with Bandara …
— Antara News

Gov’t Unveils More Detailed Land-Use Map to Resolve Development Planning Disputes
The government launched a more detailed land-use map on Tuesday to resolve overlapping claims in the archipelago, including in forest areas, three years later than initially planned.
— Jakarta Globe

Viral: Traditional motorcycle taxi driver attacks online ojek over territorial dispute at Manggarai Station
Police say the fight broke out because the online ojek picked up a passenger in an area unofficially reserved for traditional ojeks.
— Coconuts Jakarta (paywall)

Feature photo SWI Group

This week’s Indonesia morning news feature photo acknowledges International Mountain Day, December 11.

Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

Indonesia morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Indonesia news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities and is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.

Indonesia morning news for December 12 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on December 12, 2018
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Stella-maris Ewudolu

Journalist at AEC News Today

Stella-maris graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, Education from Ebonyi State University, Nigeria in 2005.

Between November 2010 and February 2012 she was a staff writer at Daylight Online, Nigeria writing on health, fashion, and relationships. From 2010 – 2017 she worked as a freelance screen writer for ‘Nollywood’, Nigeria.

She joined AEC News Today in December 2016.