Welcome to My Homeland

President of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, finished his visiting abroad with happy ending. US$ 3 billion contracts has been signed to be invested in Indonesia. He has presented new era of Indonesia in front of 45 top bussinesmen in Dubai, United Arab Emirates: democracy establishment, big infrastructure projects, interesting investment opportunities etc.

What made me happy was $ 600 million investement that has been signed to build 1200 ha of tourism area in my homeland: south Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara. There will big projects of development there including: international airport, hotels, roads, communication installations etc. The area will be extremely changed in next several years.

We in Lombok often say --in notion of tourism promotion--: "you can find Bali in Lombok but you will not find Lombok in Bali".

Welcome to my homeland.

5th Year of War in Iraq

After 5 years of American war on Iraq, almost 5 million Iraqis have been displaced. 4.987 American troops were killed. 655.000 Iraqis died. 83 % of inhabitants have no access to clean water. 84 % of school bulding have been demaged. 2 millions children continue to face threats including poor nutrition, disease and interrupted education. Trillions of dollar have been spent to cost the war.

Inspite of this facts, Mr. Bush claimed victory. He will --before end of this year-- leave the administration, but it seems that American troops will not leave Iraq. The sufferances of Iraqi people will continue in longer time.

When uncle Sam falls ill

When uncle Sam falls ill, most people at home are infected. When USA faces economic problems, most countries in the planet also pay the costs.

Property sector crisis in US seems to affect whole economy not only in America but also entire the world.

"Financial crisis in USA not only causes poverty to millions people in America but also negatively affects economy of the world. More than that, it may be getting worse to military occupation to other countries", wrote an analyst.

Borderless Nationalism

President of Indonesia, Mr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, talked about nastionalism after visiting hundreds of Indonesian workers in Musica excursion ship within his attendance to the 11th OIC (Organization of The Islamic Conference) summit in Dakar, Senegal, March 14.

"Nasionalisme orang yang bekerja di luar negeri juga tidak kalah dengan yang bekerja di dalam negeri (nationalism of Indonesian people who work overseas is not less than that one's in homeland)", said Mr. President.

Without any command, hundreds of workers in the ship sang Indonesia Raya, anthem of Indonesia, welcoming their President. They also showed their enthusiasm to be in touch with Mr. President. It's really true that globalization didn't wipe nationalism.

OIC Summit: So Many Complicated Problem!

11th OIC (Organization of The Islamic Conference) summit in Dakar, Senegal, March 13-14, deals with so many complicated problems.

It seems that the problems are bigger than organization capacity to deal with.

There are latent conflicts between some member countries: Saudi Arabia vs Siria, Sudan vs Chad ; security chaos in Iraq, Lebanon and Palestine; turbulence relation between Muslim countries and West especially after re-printing assulting cartoon in Denmark; economic problems of some member countries especially in Africa etc.

We'll wait what the summit will do with these complicated problems.

Indonesia and Iran's Nuclear Program

Indonesia's President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, is visiting Iran today, 3/11, strengthening billateral cooperation between the two countries.

At the beginning of this month, Indonesia was the only country in the UN Security Council not support UN new sactions against Iran on its nuclear program. Indonesia was 'abstain' in the voting.

According to Indonesia, international community's treatment against Iran nuclear progam has been approached political rather than technical. So, the only fair bases of treatment is IAEA report on wether Iran nuclear program for peace or weapon purposes. As far as IAEA report, Iran nuclear program has not been proven for military purposes .

Three Trillion Dollar War

Joseph Stiglitz, the winner of Nobel Prize in economics, 2001, and Linda Bilmes, lecturer in public policy at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, counted 3 trillion dollar as cost of US war on Afganistan and Iraq.

They wrote :

"From the unhealthy brew of emergency funding, multiple sets of books, and chronic underestimates of the resources required to prosecute the war, we have attempted to identify how much we have been spending - and how much we will, in the end, likely have to spend. The figure we arrive at is more than $3 trillion. Our calculations are based on conservative assumptions. They are conceptually simple, even if occasionally technically complicated. A $3 trillion figure for the total cost strikes us as judicious, and probably errs on the low side.".

I think that the root of terrorism that the wars have been fought for will be extremely eliminated, if this huge amount of money spent worldwide in building education infra-structures, combating hunger, helping poor people, reconstructing disaster areas, spreading borderless human friendship etc.

Wind of Change in Malaysia

Wind of change blows in Malaysia. Opposition parties won poll in 4 states. The ruling party, National Front (BN), lose its two-third majority in the parliament. Datuk Anwar Ibrahim, one of opposition headfigure said, "Tomorrow we will start building a brighter future...This is a new dawn for Malaysia".

Is this the beginning of his political comeback after being jailed for his strong opposition to the former Malaysian Prime Minister? The family becomes inner circle of People Justice Party (PKR). His party reached 31 seats in the parliament. His wife and daughter won in the poll.

Near future of Malaysian political sphere will be more colourfull. Democracy in the region will be more acceptable.

Artistic President

Indonesian people are known as high humor and artistic senses. Mochtar Lubis (1922-2004), one of prominent authors in contemporary Indonesia, stated in his book: Manusia Indonesia (1977), this artistic character of Indonesian people as reflected in batik, wayang kulit, traditional dance, song, architect etc.

Gatra Magazine wrote that President of Indonesia, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, will release his new song album soon. His first album, Rinduku Padamu, has been sole up to 44.638 CDs and cassettes. Is this an other proof of artistic senses as character of Indonesian people?

Food Crisis

Many countries have to pay more serious attention to their food policies. In two years, food prices rise at average 37 %.

Climate changes, wars, sky-rocekting fuel prices, increasing population and big projects of bio-fuel whose material are corn, palm, coconut, wheat etc are the factors of simultan increasing food comodities prices.

While 854 million people in the world suffer from hunger, there will more poor people be in difficulties in supplying their foods. What will future world look like in such this terrible situation?

Oil Money

In this sky-rocketing oil prices, where does oil money go?

Russia comebacks to the playing-table between the top countries based on oil money. Some countries --like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and United Arab Emirated-- are flooded by it. It had made ADIA (Abu Dhabi Investment Authority) the wealthest SWF (Sovereign Wealth Fund) in the world.

Same story happens to Norway, Alaska, Iran, Venezuela. They've reach tons of oil money emerging as new influencing economic players.

What about Indonesia? Oil prices at average $ 100 in the market have required revision of country's budget and very strict treatment to maintain economic stability.

Oil money has made some countries happy but the others little bit panic.

Lesson from Russia

Mr. Dmitry Medvedev becomes new Russian President, but Mr. Vladimir Putin is still there serving as Prime Minister.

TIME Magazine chosed him as Person of Year 2007. He has been succeed in bringing Russia after falling of USSR and economic collaps of the country to become great player among the most influencing countries to the world affairs.

This is Russia that Mr. Putin serves for --TIME wrote: "It is the largest country on earth; it shares a 2,600-mile (4,200 km) border with China; it has a significant and restive Islamic population; it has the world's largest stockpile of weapons of mass destruction and a lethal nuclear arsenal; it is the world's second largest oil producer after Saudi Arabia; and it is an indispensable player in whatever happens in the Middle East. For all these reasons, if Russia fails, all bets are off for the 21st century.".

But Russia doesn't fail. It is in its way to gain more and more successfull, especially in economic field based on revenues of big oil and gaz production.

Mr. Medvedev who was 17 years linked in cooperation with Mr. Putin --of course- will continue these achievements. Exellent economic achievement remains the shortest way to win votes in the election.

Protect Gaza Strip!

In 5 days, more than 100 die and hundreds of civilians injured by Israel military attack against Gaza Strip. Yesterday, March 1, was most bloody day. 61 die in one day.

UN Security Council just condemns rocket strike from Hamas and inproportional reaction from Israel. But Israel will not stop the operation. More Gaza inhabitans will pay the cost by their blood.

Mahmud Abbas, President of Palestine Authority, calls for international protection. But no one answer, neither Arab forces nor International ones.

Without international protection, there will no peace in the region. Palestine has no enough forces to protect himself. Before more and more civilians die, UN should stop the military clash there and protect civilians: children, women and old people.

Long Road to Heaven

Long Road To Heaven is title of film whose content is story of Bali bombing, 2002. The film describes how JI (Jamaah Islamiyah) prepare the bombing. Mukhlas, Amrozi, Ali Imron and Imam Samudra --all of them have been jailed-- are the actors of the tragedy.

Yesterday, IHT wrote that Nasir Abas, one has linked to JI and Mukhlas brother in-law has been changed to become anti-terror evangelist.

"My mission is to stop the crimes, stop the violence, stop the deviants. Bombing is an evil deed, and my obligation is to stop evil deeds", IHT qouted Nasir statement.

We hope that more JI members back to the right path. There is no short road to heaven by bombing civilians, there is long road to heaven by spreading 'amal saleh' (good and valued works) around the world.