Indonesia Prepares for Australia $100m Cattle Investment

1) Indonesia Prepares Four Regions for Australia’s $100 Million Cattle Investment
2) Freeport Ready to Discuss Share Divestment
3) US top envoy expresses concerns over rights abuse

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http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/indonesia-prepares-four-regions-for-australias-100-million-cattle-investment/529541
1) Indonesia Prepares Four Regions for Australia’s $100 Million Cattle Investment
July 09, 2012The government said on Monday it was preparing four regions to host Australian cattle farms following Australia's pledge to invest $100 million in Indonesia’s cattle industry.

Coordinating Minister for the Economy Hatta Rajasa said the regions included Sumba in West Nusa Tenggara, Wingapu in East Nusa Tenggara, West Papua and Papua.

“Those regions are already familiar with animal farming, especially cattle and horse farming,” Hatta told tempo.co in Jakarta.

Hatta said 100,000 hectares had been allotted for the new ranches; the first 10,000 hectares are expected to be opened this year in Wingapu and Papua.

The minister said the funds from Australia would be used primarily to develop related infrastructure for the farms.

Hatta added that Brazil had also expressed an interest to invest in Indonesia’s cattle industry, although they had yet to pledge a specific amount. The minister said the government was eager to direct Brazilian investors to develop cattle farming in Indonesia's eastern regions so as to support economic developments in those areas.

Hatta’s announcement came just a week after a meeting between President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard in the Australian city of Darwin. The two leaders agreed — among other ambitious pledges — to join hands in boosting investment in Indonesia’s budding cattle industry.

Yudhoyono said earlier that Indonesia hopes to develop its food independence by reducing cattle exports from Australia. The president said Indonesia absorbed 43 percent of Australia’s live cattle exports.

JG
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http://www.tempointeractive.com/hg/nasional/2012/07/09/brk,20120709-415904,uk.html
2) Freeport Ready to Discuss Share Divestment
Monday, 09 July, 2012 | 22:14 WIB
TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:PT Freeport Indonesia says the copper and gold giant is ready to discuss the request to divest 51 percent of the company’s shares to the Indonesian government and the Papua provincial government. “We’re ready to talk about it,” Freeport Indonesia spokesman Ramdhani Siarit told Tempo on Sunday.

The Indonesian government currently only owns 9.36 percent of the company’s shares. Freeport recently offered an additional 9.36 percent of shares previously owned by Indocopper Investama to the government. “We’re waiting for the follow up of the divestment request made by the government,” said Ramdhani.

Ramdhani said that Freeport is always ready to renegotiate their concession contract, including the company’s operations, future planning and other policies. “We must come up with the best solution that can balance national aspirations and interests with the interests of long-term investors such as Freeport Indonesia,” said the spokesman.

GUSTIDHA BUDIARTIE
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http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2012/07/09/us-top-envoy-expresses-concerns-over-rights-abuse.html

3) US top envoy expresses concerns over rights abuse
Bagus BT Saragih, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | National | Mon, July 09 2012, 6:35 AM
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Paper Edition | Page: 4
The United States Ambassador to Indonesia Scot A. Marciel said lax law enforcement was responsible for cases of violence against minority groups in the country.

Commenting on fatal shootings in Papua and continuing abuses against minority groups, which included church closures and attacks on Ahmadiyah followers, Marciel said that rule of law was key to address human rights abuse and cases of religious intolerance and strict implementation could prevent reoccurrence of these violations in the future.

“Overall, Indonesia, as well as the US, are very tolerant countries where the people respect others’ views. But I hear from Indonesian friends growing concerns about intolerant groups,” Marciel said during a discussion with Indonesian journalists over the weekend.

Marciel said that he was aware of the alleged involvement of security officials in the fatal shootings in Papua.

According to him, the Indonesian government must be able to apply rule of law to address both intolerant acts and alleged violence committed by members of the security forces.

“In the case of human rights violation that appear to have been carried out by government forces or security forces, we consistently talk of the importance of full and credible investigations with appropriate discipline or punishment if necessary,” Marciel said.

“It is almost impossible to avoid some incidents [in cases like those in Papua] but it is really important and essential to democracy to have accountability for those violations,” he added.

Meanwhile, Donald Steinberg, the deputy administrator of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) said his organization supported many programs to address the issue.

“Our goal is not to substitute the US as a judge or jury of human rights practices but to enhance capacity of government institutions and civil society elements in promoting human rights principles,” he said.

The USAID has spent US$157.35 million between Oct. 1, 2011 and Sept. 30, 2012 to finance numerous projects throughout the country. Good governance and democracy were among the agency’s top issue areas of focus.

ENDS

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