A HIDDEN AGENDA?

A HIDDEN AGENDA?

The Indonesian government plan to increase the price of premium  oil, has received various reaction from number of political parties, students/activists and quite a number of people all over Indonesia. As usual, there is always pros and cons in every policy. As an independent writer (note: I dare not call myself as an analyst) my opinion towards this policy is clear that I do not favor the policy, though the price of oil in international market is sky rocketing due to the political situation  in oil-producing country in Africa such as in Nigeria and most particularly in countries in the Middle East such as Libia, Iraq and Iran as the largest oil-producing countries in the world!

The rapid increase of international oil price is inseparable with the interest of developed countries like the United States of America and its allies towards continues supply of oil which fortunately parallel to their interest to fight the terrorist, “Weapon of Mass Destruction” and to help the “Enaction of Democracy”, part of which I think just a bull shit!

Being an oil-producing country, and a country with Muslim majority that is strategically located between two continents (Asia and Australia) and two oceans (Indian Ocean and the Pacific), have put Indonesia under the microscope of the developed nations, especially after so many terrorist attack occurred in this archipelago country! However, Indonesia actually can play an important role in international forum by using its geopolitical advantages.

I clearly understand that the increase of international oil price has a great effect to the government budget, because Indonesia also an oil importing country due to its inability to produce refined oils and giving the subsidy to the price of oil and gas for the people as tasked by the Indonesian Constitution 1945!

Regretfully however, if the domestic oil price is too low that would reduce the ability of the government to finance the development programs, and in turn would also increase the opportunity for speculation and smuggling.

However, to my point of view, there are many ways that the government can take to revive the government budget despite of increasing the price of premium oil such as by reducing government spending, postponing some unnecessary spending for the parliament and government facilities, introducing the use of non oil energy vehicles and electricity etc, etc. Nevertheless, everyone knows that the easiest way to revive the government budget yes by implementing the policy in increasing the price of oil; with hopes that it would also help recovered the popularity of the ruling party (Democratic Party/Partai Demokrat) which is now under test because of the corruption cases that involved many of their members.

They hoped by allowing direct financial assistance in the amount of IDR 25 trillion for 18 million Indonesian poor house holds, or help the poor a financial assistance of IDR 150,000/ household/month or equal to USD 18 per month (25 litter of premium oil) until 9 months, the party could get back a full support from the people or at least from their constituents.

The problem actually, the issue of the policy itself has already triggered the hikes of food prices that would even become worse if the policy is taken and contribute a multiplier effect to the price of electricity and transportation! Many people agreed with the government policy because they are afraid of the punishment if disagreeing. Some will organize demonstration to stop the government of taking the unpopular policy that as I too  believed will affect the cost of living of ordinary citizens! The demonstrations are unstoppable and tension getting heat between the government who made involved all of the arm forces to control the demonstrates and the people.

As always, students stand in the very front line to protect the people interest with all consequences even with their own life! That reminds me of the accident in 1998, where the most polite and most popular president of Indonesia (Suharto) with full backed-up of the arm forces and the parliament was unable to stand and was crippled by the people’s power!

I wish, history will not repeat and there will be mutual understanding between the policy makers and the people.

People are tired living in poverty, but that does not allowed any policy makers to make use of people economic condition in jeopardy by pretending of helping them temporarily only to gain benefit to win the 2014 general election!

BSD City, 27 March 2012. By: Neneng Tarigan.

POLITICS: Why the National Democratic Party Developed Rapidly

POLITICS: Why the National Democratic Party Developed Rapidly

The existence and rapid development of the National Democratic Party (Partai Nasional Demokrat/Partai Nasdem) that is established in the end of 2011 is inseparable with the involvement of two media moguls: Surya Paloh from Media Group and Hary Tanoesoedibjo from MNC (PT Media Nusantara Citra Tbk) group; The two groups that respectively run: Metro TV and RCTI (Rajawali Citra Televisi Indonesia)

These private sector TV stations are broadly known in Indonesia as the largest TV media, and also as a clean media that forbid their journalists to accept envelopes (bribe) from any individuals or institutions. By this policy, the two TV stations appeared as the most trust-able,  factual and balance information resources that public can rely on

Surya Paloh with his Media Group is always in the very front line in helping the poor either in endemics or during natural disasters. It was him and his group who among others that firstly arrived when the Tsunami occurred in Aceh, Sumatra in December 2004, or when the social unrest that killed many people occurred in Moluccas, or in many other parts of Indonesia that suffered by natural calamities.

The MNC group with RCTI is also always in the front line in organizing helps for people who affected by various diseases besides of many other programs they hold for helping the poor.  The two tycoons (Surya Paloh and Hary) are men with the golden heart who love and dedicate their wealth for their nation and the people.

I do not know them in person, but as a writer I watch them both very closely, their movement, their passions for the advancement of their nation  as well as their rhetoric idealism for the restoration of the nation which they think is nowadays lack of nationalism and full with corruption.

I am not a partisan, but with the lack of trust from people towards political parties today, no wonder if National Democratic Party was able to take over the popularity of the already existing political parties, which based on the survey made by LSI (Lembaga Survey Indonesia) they even able to sit at number 4 most popular party in Indonesia after Golkar (Golongan Karya) number 1, PDIP (Partai Demokrasi Indonesia Perjuangan) number 2 and Partai Demokrat (The ruling party) at number 3.

The National Democratic Party obtained their current achievements by hard works and continues dedication to the nation and the people. Many people especially the poor are benefiting from their works and their efforts to create clean environment in the law and justice in the country. They are against racism and they firmly committed to maintain equal right among religions, genders and tribe-ism and support the pluralism of Indonesia.

It is not easy for Indonesian people to trust any political parties anymore. It depends on the National Democratic Party itself. If they want to get trust, they should be like what they wanted to be as what they are now.

BSD City, 20 March 2012, Neneng Tarigan

HAPPY VALENTINE 2012

HAPPY VALENTINE 2012:

Valentine is still about two weeks to come, yet the feeling is already around the corner, maybe that is simply because I always miss my late parents, the two persons that I love the most.

In order to remembering their loves and affections toward their children and grand kids, I made a simple commemoration of their presence in a Smile Box crypt, so that readers who wanted to make and send the same message to their love ones, would be able to copy it from this Smile Box slides for free at least for 7 (seven) days.

I also quoted a poem, to make my smile box slides to be more meaningful. Here is the slide and the poem, as I dedicate it to my whole family.

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An Entrapment

My love, I have tried with all my being
to grasp a form comparable to thine own,
but nothing seems worthy;

I know now why Shakespeare could not
compare his love to a summer’s day.
It would be a crime to denounce the beauty
of such a creature as thee,
to simply cast away the precision
God had placed in forging you.

Each facet of your being
whether it physical or spiritual
is an ensnarement
from which there is no release.
But I do not wish release.
I wish to stay entrapped forever.
With you for all eternity.
Our hearts, always as one.

- Anthony Kolos -

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A HEAVENLY GARDEN ON EARTH: South Island New Zealand.

A HEAVENLY GARDEN ON EARTH: South Island New Zealand.

When the snowy mountains touches the sparkling beach

New Zealand is the 45^th country that I had been to. The first time when I was about landed in the International airport of Christ Church New Zealand, a parade of beautiful snowy mountains under a shiny blue sky and a dazzling white cotton cloud welcomed all passengers on-board the air plane who for the first time or many times would still be amazed by the beauty of the heavenly scenery.

Kaikoura , New Zealand.

Observing down from the air plane, the mountains seemed stand so solid and quiet; the tranquility that brings peace to all hearts especially those who for the first time landed in this heavenly garden country.

From the airport to the center of Christ Church, I can see still the effects of the earthquakes. Major parts of the city have been badly affected; many roads, bridges, churches, houses, sky scrapers were cracked, twisted, leaned and even collapsed. The re-construction and repairing of the public facilities have been put in place including the rebuild of the city’s wastewater networks, roads, public building etc. According to my local tour guides, about 900 buildings included sky scrapers, hotels, churches and some public buildings such as sport stadium in the center of the city alone will be demolished. The long-term plan is, only 5 stories building can be enacted in the center of the city and 4 stories in the out skirt.

Buildings that are totally collapsed or leaned

An old church in the city center that totally damaged by the February Earthquake

A twisted bridge

The affected houses that had been surveyed by the insurance company are marked with red, orange, and green placard; the red meant the houses are no longer safe to live in and the people should be moved to the temporary houses built by the government, until their houses have been fully repaired or totally re-built. Orange meant there should be a greater repair taken place than the green one, but in both kind of houses people are still safe to live in.

Another scary view is when looking at the houses in the hillside, most specifically those that are located nearby the coastline. Many of them are in critical condition and some already fallen down from the hill. In order to secure the underneath roads from the landslide, the hillsides along the coast line were fenced by hundreds of containers, so that the stones and the houses on top of the hills would not fall on the passers cars or any vehicles that pass on the roads beneath the hill-side.

The damage houses in the hill side of Christ Church

A house that has marked with orange placard.

A house that has marked with red placard.

Workers from local as well as international contractors in their efforts to repair the waste water drainage, water pipe and the cracking road.

During the February earth quake, hundreds of big volcanic stones with weight up to more than 100 kg rolled down the hill and hit the houses and the cattle below. Luckily, because the earthquake occurred at 1 o clock in the afternoon, most of the people were able to run for their life, except unfortunately the Christ Church TV building in the center of the city that had vertically collapsed like a pan cake and taken more than 100 of its staff dead.

This photo collage made with Smilebox

Christ Church was hardly hit by the earthquake in September 2010, since then, hundreds more earthquakes occurred, the biggest as recorded was in February and the June 2011. The February earth quake was the worst and had ruined major part of the city center and many buildings in the hills side. Since I arrived in the beginning of Spring in Christ Church New Zealand on 20^th September 2011 till I left on the 1 October 2011, I experienced several light tremors might be around 1 to 3 scale Richter magnitude earth quakes, however, coming from the islands country, Indonesia with the condition almost the same as New Zealand, that both countries are sitting on the Pacific Ring of Fire, it makes me a bit used to this kind of situation, so I just continue doing my activities, sleeping or traveling around the South Island even when the tremors occurred.

In spite of the earthquake, Christchurch is still the gateway to the South Island. As the second largest city in New Zealand after Auckland, this city still keeps its natural beauty as one of the most outstanding garden city in the world. The Citizen of Christ Church called their city as the “Munted “ city, which is correct, but it is not dangerous at all to live in Christ Church except in some parts of the city center.

I stayed in small accommodation nearby the North New Brighton beach; in a studio room that is fully equipped with a private kitchen and its utensils, shower, big flat TV, iron, hair dryer, freezer, heater, microwave which cost me about NZ$ 70.- per night. Foods (except fish) and clothes are expensive in South Island, these are reasonable because most of the consumer goods is imported, so do the vehicles and gasoline, and the lattest makes touring is quite expensive in this country. Another element that contributed to the higher price of consumer goods is the distance between places that is really huge. With  population only 4.5million of which around 450.000 lived in the second largest city, Christ Church; that makes this country seems inhibited.  However, public transportation such as bus and train are comfortably available in reasonably cheap fares and that makes my short stay in Christ Church was wonderful!

The only inconvenient I faced while in Christ Church was the fact that some tours that I had already booked and paid were unilaterally canceled by the local travel agent due to the lack of attendants. The earthquake had shrunk the tourism sector of Christ Church up to 90%. Nevertheless, I still had fun and enjoy my trips around; city touring, flying with a chopper looking for the whales in KaiKoura though we could not find one due to the breeding time of the whales, enjoying the panoramic view of Edoras where the Lord of the Ring was taken place for filming. 4X4 wheel driving off roading and jet boating in the Alpine and enjoying also traveled by the trans Alpine train. Overall, the tours were fantastic and the foods in Christ Church restaurants were all tasty.

In Christ Church I met with some tourists from USA, UK, Indonesia and Japan and we felt nothing but safe, peace and happy not only because New Zealand has no dangerous animals such as snakes, kangaroo, tigers or alike in its woods and the mountain, but also because of the breathtaking scenery of this heavenly garden country on earth!

Except for Air Asia bad service that the worst I had ever experience with international airlines, the rest of my trips around Christ Church was splendid! As a note I will never fly internationally with Air Asia again. Once is more than enough with this air line!

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OPEN LOVE LETTER TO MY DEAREST BELOVED

Love letter to my dearest beloved Komodos:
My dear ancient creature Komodos, I will not shy to promote u to the whole world…. to show them how dearest I love u all. I wish they will all vote for you as one of The World New 7 Wonders, so that your islands will be preserved only for you, so that you can grow your upbringing to be witnessed by many generations to come. So that people would believe that you ever exist in this beautiful world. I will put your link here for them all to easily vote for you. Together we pray for yr continued existence in the islands. I love you more and more every single day. I love you so much Komodos….. I wish you can remain live in this beautiful world. never leave this world Komodos. Never be like dinosaurs or the dragons that left the world remain be the legend of world history. Live with us Komodos forever, because I believe all human being love you back……..

With all my love,

Neneng Tarigan .

http://www.new7wonders.com/archives/wonder/komodo

Please vote for Komodo Island as one of the world New 7 Wonders so that we can protect the species or the komodo dragon, the largest ancient giant reptile from becoming extinct. There quite a lot of number of different kind of endanger specious living in the island such as various kind of snakes, turtles, fishes….So, we all have to preserve the place and let the island empty. Only limited number of people living there and a big no to build an airport in order to maintain the ecosystem for the komodos to be able to still living in this beautiful world. Tourists are allowed to come and stay and enjoyed the atmosphere and the adventure in the island

THE KOMODO ISLAND: Home for the Komodos.

Note: All of the pictures in this post are not belong to the author, but quoted from various sources in the internet, for non commercial purpose.

THE BENANE FASHION SHOP

THE BENANE FASHION SHOP

Upper Ground, Block C8/5, ITC, BSD City, Serpong, Tanggerang Indonesia. You can buy high quality fashion designed lady dresses, bags and accessories, from International as well as local well-known designers. Visit our shop or buy online at the following link:

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For the time being, we only serve Indonesian local market. Order now, we enjoyed to serve you to the best service we can offer to our fashion alert customers like you.

Here is some price information. Please check it out. We give 20% discount for all items on every Saturday and Sunday for the three first customer buying on line. Order now!!!

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