Orangutan Population in Indonesia Being Extinguished

Here's a sickening article below on the plight of the orangutan in Indonesia.

The world's densest population of orangutans is set to be "extinguished" by a massive new wave of fires that is clearing large tracts of a peat swamp forest in the Indonesian island of Sumatra, conservationists have warned.

Environmentalists claim that satellite images show a huge surge in forest blazes across the Tripa peat swamp in order to create palm oil plantations, including areas that have not been permitted for clearing.

Tripa is home to a tight-knit enclave of around 200 critically endangered orangutans. However, this number has plummeted from an estimated population of 3,000.

Just 7,000 orangutans remain in Sumatra, with rampant forest clearing for palm oil cultivation blamed for their decline.

Ian Singleton, head of the Sumatran Orangutan Conservation Programme (SOCP), said that the Tripa orangutans are being "extinguished."

"The situation is indeed extremely dire," he said. "Every time I have visited Tripa in the last 12 months I have found several orangutans hanging on for their very survival, right at the forest edge."
"When you see the scale and speed of the current wave of destruction and the condition of the remaining forests, there can be no doubt whatsoever that many have already died in Tripa due to the fires themselves, or due to starvation as a result of the loss of their habitat and food resources."

Felling trees from Tripa's carbon-rich peat also triggers the release of large amounts of CO2 into the atmosphere. Indonesia has been named as the third highest emitter of CO2 emissions in the world when deforestation is a factor, although the country disputes this.

Environmentalists have lodged a lawsuit against PT Kallista Alam, one of the five palm oil firms operating in Tripa, and Irwandi Yusuf, the former governor of Aceh, over the approval of a permit for the 1,600-hectare (3,950-acre) palm oil plantation.

Irawardi, previously styled as a "green" governor, says he granted the permit due to delays in the UN's Redd+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) programme, which has seen Norway pledge $US1bn to Indonesia to reduce deforestation.

"The international community think our forest is a free toilet for their carbon," Irawardi said in April. "Every day they are saying they want clean air and to protect forests … but they want to inhale our clean air without paying anything." (1)

SOCP and lawyers representing Tripa's local communities have called upon the Indonesian president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, to bypass an ongoing government investigation into the forest clearing and immediately halt the razing of the area.

"This whole thing makes absolutely no sense at all, not environmentally, nor even economically," said Singleton

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(1)  So, because someone wont or has not paid you a "ransom" or you have not been able to "extort" money out of someone or some group; then you feel it is your duty and obligation to "rape" the environment and sell out to anyone who will pay you, such as the palm oil company who probably put huge amounts of money in your pocket to issue them the permit to strip the land for their own profits??!!  And now, in a cavalier show of bravado, you feel justified or vindicated for "selling out" because a United Nations (UN) programme did not "pay you off" quick enough??!!  

Indonesia - Water, Sanitation & Hygiene ("WASH")

This is exactly why I will not eat fresh water fish from Indonesia.  Fresh water in Indonesia is an oxymoron by the way!  Also, if you're eating street food or even from more established restaurants, God only knows what kind of water they're using to "clean" your dishes, drinking cups and glasses, and utensils with; let alone the health and hygiene of the local staff people handling your food in the kitchen or preparing food from their home, kampung or ruko.  Also it is common in Indonesia for people to prepare food in batches early in the day and let it sit out all day at room or outdoor temperature (very hot & humid) and leave it out uncovered, or even serve it again the next day.  Make sure your meals are served piping hot and freshly cooked.

Indonesia does not have anything like Health Department food safety permits, certifications and compliance inspections of restaurants or eating establishments as we know it in the States which are designed to protect the public (the same goes for vehicle safety and emissions inspections).  Consequently, God only knows what you may be ingesting which, if it does not immediately make you sick or ill; may have some long term detrimental health effects...

You're going to have to eat and drink something while you're in Indonesia; just be extra vigilant and cautious what and where you eat.

See my previous article on Basic Health Care in Indonesia. 

       

Article below from Jakarta Post:

Indonesia is the third-lowest ranking ASEAN country in terms of sanitation quality, according to Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto.

"We're obviously not in the worst position, but that’s where we are. Just look at UNICEF's data from 2011, which reported that 26 percent of Indonesian citizens are still defecating in open spaces," Djoko said on Monday at a sanitation conference in Jakarta, as quoted by Antara news agency.

Furthermore, Djoko said that 76.3 percent of 53 rivers surveyed in Java, Sumatra, Bali and Sulawesi were contaminated with organic materials. He also said that there were 11 rivers that were contaminated with ammonium.

This was why Djoko said that the country was still far behind when it came to sanitation. To catch up to other countries, he said, the government was taking a variety of measures to provide better sanitation and waste management throughout Indonesia.

"In the past few years, the government has made sanitation a higher priority. Investment in sanitation is also relatively big, at no less than Rp 3 trillion (US$315,498) per year," he said.

However, Djoko said that none of these efforts would be useful without public support in the form of better sanitary behavior.

"Dirty habits have to be thrown away. From now on, the public should understand that it should not litter. Nor should members of the public defecate wherever they please, like in rivers," he said. (png)

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Country Profile Summary from UNICEF:

Water and sanitation conditions remain very poor in most areas of Indonesia, resulting in high rates of susceptibility to water-related diseases, especially among children. In 2004, only 53.4% of Indonesia’s population obtained its water from sources further than 10 metres from excreta disposal sites – a universal standard for water safety. In Jakarta, for instance, 84% of samples from shallow wells were contaminated by fecal coliform. 

Since communities are not always aware of the importance of good hygiene, hygiene practices are often not conducive to good health, and latrines are not maintained or used appropriately. High occurrences of diarrhea, skin disease, intestinal and other waterborne disease in low-income communities therefore remain a frequent obstacle to improving child health more generally.

Besides poor access to safe water, a failure to aggressively promote behavioural change - particularly among low-income families and slum dwellers – has further worsened Indonesia’s water and sanitation situation. The provision of clean drinking water has unfortunately not yet been taken up as a serious development priority in Indonesia, particularly at the provincial government level.

Religious (in) Tolerance in Indonesia

Excerpts from an article appearing in the Jakarta Post:

It is interesting to study the results of a Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) survey regarding Indonesia’s inter-religious relations (The Jakarta Post, June 6). Regardless of its validity and reliability due to the lack of respondent representation, one thing needs deep consideration.

The survey points out that the government is not the only cause of religious intolerance in Indonesia, but that society is also to blame. As seen by the respondents’ answers, religious intolerance is evident among communities.

The Indonesian government may fail to enforce the law and uphold the principle of “Unity in Diversity” through many ways. This is not to mention the unwillingness of the government to act firmly against perpetrators of religious intolerance.

Yet, the problem itself, according to the survey, lies in society. Reluctance among communities to acknowledge other’s [sic] rights, particularly freedom of religion, has led to such intolerance.

Despite the fact that the government guarantees freedom of religion, society in the survey shows that this is not true, particularly when it comes to building places of worship of different faiths.

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See also my previous articles on this topic:

http://brianindonesiaexpat.blogspot.com/2010/11/us-president-obama-praises-inclusive.html

http://brianindonesiaexpat.blogspot.com/2011/02/blasphemy-law-in-indonesia.html

http://brianindonesiaexpat.blogspot.com/2012/02/religious-freedom-or-pluralism-in.html

http://brianindonesiaexpat.blogspot.com/2012/05/indonesia-most-intollerant-country-in.html

Indonesia - National Anthem

(English Translation)

Indonesia, my native land
The land where I shed my blood
There, I stand
To be the guard of my motherland

Indonesia, my nationality
My nation and my homeland
Let us exclaim
"Indonesia unites!"

Long live my land, long live my state
My nation, my people, entirely
Build its soul, build its body
For the Great Indonesia

CHORUS:
Great Indonesia, independent & sovereign!
My land, my country which I love
Great Indonesia, independent & sovereign!
Long live Great Indonesia!

Great Indonesia, independent & sovereign!
My land, my country which I love
Great Indonesia, independent & sovereign!
Long live Great Indonesia!

Listen to an MP3 of the Anthem (music only)

Much More than Just Bali and Islamic Extremeists

Indeed - there is much more to explore and discover throughout the archipelago of Indonesia than just Bali.  I just got back from a weekend trip to Belitung which was very nice, relaxing and refreshing.  As you can see on the map below, there a hell of a lot more to Indonesia than just Bali !

Regrettably, the subjects that seem to pervade the headlines about Indonesian seem to focus on; earthquakes & tsunamis, Muslim/Islamic terrorists, religious intolerance (particularly towards Christians); government & bureaucratic inefficiencies, graft & corruption, human rights violations.  These are all real and valid issues that need to be addressed and I am glad to see that Indonesia is being put into the international spotlight or center stage which will hopefully bring about not only increased awareness and exposure of these issues; but change as well.

It's about time, however, to start putting Indonesia in the international spotlight about positive life experiences here and positive things that Indonesia has to offer the world.  

Here is a good article below that really underscores the need for better outreach in the International community to highlight and create a better "PR" image of Indonesia in the world.  I've also just recently discovered the USINDO Society whose mission is to do just that; create better awareness, understanding and appreciation for Indonesia. 

Before I met and married my Indonesian wife (in Indonesia), I actually had to look at the globe to see where Indonesia was even though I am somewhat of a WWII historian and was familiar with the battles and campaigns in the Pacific Theater.  When I moved here a couple of years ago, my family members (who are not "kampung" BTW, but are all college educated) also had to also look at the globe and see where I was going saying, "Where?!"

Americans generally have heard of Bali, but may not necessarily associate Bali with the larger archipelago of the Republic of Indonesia.  Geographically, Indonesia is roughly the lateral size of the United States; each having three time zones (although Indonesia is now considering adopting one time zone - which makes no logical or pragmatic sense).  In terms of largest countries by population size, Indonesia ranks #4 (population @ 237,641,326) just behind the United States which is ranked #3 (population @ 313,723,000).  In terms of largest cities by population, Jakarta ranks #13 which is larger than Mexico City (#15), New York City (#20) and Los Angeles (#53).

You would think that these statistics and demographics alone would put Indonesia on the map and international radar screen.     

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Article from the JakartaGlobe:

A poor global perception of Indonesia coupled with a lack of infrastructure and connectivity are hampering foreign tourism growth, the nation’s tourism and creative economy minister said on Thursday.

“If you Google image [search] Indonesia, you will see the national flag, the Garuda [national symbol], and only one picture related to tourism: the Borobudur Temple,” Minister Mari Elka Pangestu said in a visit to the BeritaSatu Media Holdings office in Jakarta.

“But if you Google image Cambodia, you will see a lot of Angkor Wat images,” she added, referring to that country’s renowned Hindu temple complex.

Mari said international perceptions of Indonesia were tainted by terrorism and tsunamis. Meanwhile, Bali remains the main tourism point of reference for most.

“We need to change these perspectives by pushing more positive news about Indonesia and promoting tourism,” she said.

The ministry is targeting the number of foreign tourists to reach 10 million in 2014, but a lack of infrastructure and connectivity is hampering tourism growth.

Mari said the ministry is aiming for average annual growth in foreign tourism of 1 million people per year. Last year, there were 7.6 million foreign tourists and this year the ministry is targeting about 8 million.

“Hopefully in 2014, the number of foreign tourists can reach 10 million. This is still half of Malaysia’s foreign tourists though,” she said.

“What’s more important than numbers is the quality of the tourists. We want tourists to stay longer, spend more and return to Indonesia,” the former trade minister added.

The tourism sector generated a foreign exchange income of $8.6 billion in 2011, a 13 percent increase from the previous year.

Mari said foreign exchange income from the tourism sector was expected to reach $9.5 billion this year and $11 billion by 2014.

She added that domestic tourism is still fueling growth in the sector, with 125 million domestic tourists generating revenues of Rp 15 trillion ($1.6 billion) for the sector last year.

“We will continue to promote tourism destinations. There are approximately 200 points of tourism in 80 destinations in Indonesia. Indonesia is more than just Bali,” she said.

Lake Toba in North Sumatra, Bunaken Island in North Sulawesi and Komodo Island in East Nusa Tenggara are among the tourism gems, Mari said.

The ministry has a budget of Rp 400 billion for promotional purposes, relatively small compared to the foreign exchange income it has generated.

“Our branding, ‘Wonderful Indonesia,’ is not quite working. But I think the problem is not the message. It is the lack of infrastructure and connectivity,” she said.

She said that the number of direct flights to tourism destinations was still lacking and airports and seaports were overcapacity.

“To solve this, we need cooperation with the Public Works Ministry, State Enterprises Ministry and the Transportation Ministry. I can see that improvements have been done,” she said.

The ministry has divided the tourism destinations into seven categories: Sports tourism (diving, golf); eco tourism; cruise ship tourism; spa and medical tourism; culture and heritage tourism; culinary and shopping tourism; and MICE (meeting, incentives, conferences and events) tourism.

Real Property (Real Estate) Financing in Indonesia

Here's an interesting news article below appearing in Bloomberg's Business Week concerning real estate mortgage financing in Indonesia.  

Unlike in the USA, Indonesia does not have any type of government insured "FHA" or "first time home buyer" mortgage loans which require minimum down payments of  between 3 - 5 %; or Loan to Value (LTV) ratios of 95 - 97% of the appraised value of the home.  Additionally, the prevailing real estate mortgage financing interest rate in Indonesia is somewhere between 10-13% (unlike ~ 3.5% in the USA right now for a 30 year fixed rate mortgage).  Furthermore, the maximum mortgage financing term in Indonesia is 15 years, sometimes 20 years.

Now to exacerbate the situation or make matters worse, a new Indonesia's Central Bank rule which is set to go into effect on June 15, 2012 will increase the minimum down payment requirement from 20 to 30% ! 

What does this all mean?  In short, for a prospective home buyer in Indonesia there is good news, and bad news (mostly bad however):

• the bad news:  they will have to come up with an even larger down payment now, pay relatively higher interest rates than in the USA, and finance it for a shorter term.  This all equates to a higher monthly (or yearly) payment which effectively prices many (or most) Indonesians out of the market. Also with such a substantial down payment "parked" into only one [under performing] asset; a home owner, prospector or investor in Indonesia cannot diversify their investment portfolio by freeing up some of their capital reserves or savings to invest in other lucrative business or financial markets.

• the good news:  those who are able to make the 30% down payment and buy will have the property paid off quicker than their USA mortgagor counterparts.

Global Property Guide sums it up pretty well:

The relatively poor price performance of residential real estate in Indonesia has been something of a puzzle.  There is tremendous pent-up housing demand. Indonesia has the world’s fourth largest population of 245 million people. Despite strong economic growth and high levels of investment, some of the major factors that have hampered the growth of Indonesia’s housing market are:

• High mortgage interest rates
• Foreign ownership restrictions
• High costs of building materials
• High tax rates
• Red tape in government

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http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-06-07/indonesia-to-push-through-down-payment-rules-amid-protest

Indonesia’s Central Bank will push aside calls to delay rules requiring down payments for new home and vehicle loans, seeking to avoid a property bubble and minimize credit risks.

The new rules will be effective June 15 as planned, Bank Indonesia Deputy Governor Muliaman Hadad said yesterday. The minimum down payment will be 30 percent for mortgages and four- wheeled vehicle loans, 25 percent for motorcycles and 20 percent for commercial vehicles, Bank Indonesia said in March. Businesses had asked for a delay to avoid a decline in sales.

“So far we have no plan to postpone the implementation of the rule,” Hadad said via mobile-phone text message in response to questions. “The rule won’t affect purchasing power, it will just make people postpone vehicle or house purchases. We see demand for vehicles and houses remaining strong this year.” 

Bank Indonesia has sought to sustain economic growth and contain inflation without raising its benchmark interest rate, which has been steady since a cut in February. Indonesia took steps to reduce excess funds in the economy last month, raising the rates on central bank bills and term deposits to absorb liquidity. 

“Bank Indonesia’s new tighter lending regulations will help protect the financial system and safeguard growth against any potential negative shocks,” said Fred Gibson, an associate economist at Moody’s Analytics in Sydney. “Policy makers have become increasingly wary of frivolous lending leading to overleveraged households and property bubbles that could trigger a domestic banking crisis.”

Business Concern

The bank expects the economy to expand 6.3 percent to 6.7 percent this year. Inflation in Southeast Asia’s biggest economy was 4.45 percent in May, slowing for the first time in three months.

Businesses from finance companies to property developers and vehicle retailers say the rules will hurt sales this year. 

“National mortgage sales may miss a target of 300,000 units this year after Bank Indonesia implements the rule,” Setyo Maharso, chairman of the Indonesian Real Estate Association, said in a phone interview on June 6. The group sent a letter to the central bank seeking a delay, he said.

Indonesian mortgage sales rose 15 percent in 2011 and the association had forecast growth of 15 percent to 18 percent this year before the new rules were unveiled, Maharso said. 

Wiwie Kurnia, chairman of the Indonesian association of financial services companies, said last month that the rule meant financing could fall 30 percent to 50 percent this year. “To minimize this impact it’s better if the government implements this rule gradually,” he said.