RI foreign office: There is polarization in Asean toward Myanmar

Jakarta - Foreign ministry spokesman Teuku Faizasyah said he noted a polarization among 10 Asean member countries regarding discussions on the Asean joint call on Myanmar about the court`s verdict on pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

"There is a polarization within Asean of the outspoken to those still in need of further inputs from their respective countries," Faiza said at his office in Jakarta Friday when commenting on the results of the Asean senior officials meeting (SOM), August 19-21.

However Faiza said the polarization of the 10 Asean member countries in looking at the case of the court`s verdict on pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was still something natural.

After all, he added, the SOM this time made a recommendation as an input for the Asean foreign ministers.

"The foreign ministers would then decide on a mechanism and a way to express it" he said.

According to Faiza, actually this time the SOM was more enclined to discuss an Asean internal change regarding the Asean Charter, and preparations for the 15th Asean summit in Thailand.

However, he added, the developments in Myanmar and the note of the Thai foreign minister as Asean rotating chairman asking the Asean SOM to discuss the Myanmar case, caused the issue to be discussed at the SOM.

Asean groups Brunei, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Singapore and Vietnam.

Earlier, the Indonesian government has expressed disappointment with the ruling of the Myanmarese criminal court sentencing Suu Kyi to 18 months house arrest.

On Tuesday (Aug 11), the Insein jail in Yangon held the Nobel laureate for three years and hard labor, for violating her house arrest regulations allowing an American who went swimming in a lakeside pool at her home in May.

But Than Shwe, the reigning top authority, signed a desicion reducing her sentence to house arrest one and a half years after she was proven guilty.

The American, John Yettaw (54), who came to her home, was tried and sentenced to seven years of hard labor.

Aung San Suu Kyi had been in house arrest for 14 years of the 20 years of detainment since the Myanmarese junta refused to accept the victory of the National League for Democracy (NLD), whose leader won the 1990 general elections.

The opposition accused the junta of using the accusation as an excuse to prevent her from joining the 2010 general elections, especially because the verdict was pronounced only several days before the end of her house arrest. The poor country had been controlled by the military since 1962.

The case received strong criticisims from many countries against the military junta in Myanmar, which had already been severly punished by the United States and the European Union.(*)/Ant

Pertamina to become public non-listed company

Jakarta - The government will soon issue a regulation changing state oil and gas company Pertamina into a public non-listed company, an official said.

"A draft of the government regulation has been submitted to the State Secretariat for further discussion with the Law and Human Rights Ministry," Secretary of the State Enterprises Ministry Said Didu said here on Friday.

Once the government regulation took effect, the management of Pertamina`s finance would become more transparent, he said.

"Pertamina does need to sell (shares) to the public, but the public will know each corporate action of the company," he said.

But he declined to reveal when exactly the regulation would be issued.

The government had initially set itself a target of changing Pertamina into a public non-listed company early this year. But the plan dragged on for a few months as the company still had to complete the audit of its financial statement.

Pertamina Corporate Secretary Toharso said recently the company had appointed PT Mandiri Sekuritas and Melidarsa as its financial advisers.

"We hope the audit can be completed shortly before the government regulation is issued," he said.

He said a beginning financial statement which was a prerequisite for the company to change itself into a public non-listed firm was no longer a stumbling block.

"The re-audit of the financial statements for the 2003-2005 period by Ernst & Young has been completed," he said.

Said Didu said a number of state-owned companies had the chance to change into public non-listed companies. One of them was state electricity company PLN.

"In principle, public non-listed companies are based among others on the criteria of assets, sensitiveness to the market and the ability to serve the public," he said.(*)/Ant

No restrictions on Golkar cadres to self: Laksono

Jakarta - Vice-Chairman of the Golkar Party Agung Laksono said his party had no restrictions on the directors to appoint themselves Golkar `s presidency.

"But a successful candidate will be determined by the extent of the support he or she will be removed from the Golkar regional branches (DPD), he said Friday.

Laksono said that in addition to supporting the regional, the candidate countries will also see how his activities in the party.

"The increased intensity of its activities in the greatest possibility of a candidate is elected president," he said commenting on the intention of Hutomo Mandala Putra, or Tommy Suharto to run in the general direction Golkar race.

Therefore, he said, the appointment of Tommy would be better if not now, but in times to come.

"Many people have suggested that Tommy may not nominate themselves for the moment, but first a member of the Board. Indeed, he is still young and have a long journey to come," Agung Laksono, who is also chairman of the House said.

However, Agung Laksono said that the presence of Tommy proved that Golkar had sufficient numbers or frameworks that can run on the national stage.

In the middle of the company to prepare Golkar names of candidates will be selected at a meeting of Golkar Riau in October, Tommy ', the name came to the surface between BAKRIE Aburizal, Surya Paloh, Yuddy Chris Nandi and Ferry Mursyidan Baldan.

Tommy said after being away for 10 years in politics, he feels called to return to Golkar.

"Until now, I am still a member of Golkar Party, and I still have membership card," he said. Tommy was born on July 15, 1962, said that members of the party elites have long approached to return to help develop the game. (*/Ant)