Latest on Fri, 09:25 am
Newsflash: Muchdi Purwoprandjono cleared
Human rights activist Munir Said Thalib was murdered. Pollycarpus Budihari Priyanto, former Garuda pilot, has been convicted for the murder. But, as the JP reported today, the man who allegedly instructed the murderer, was cleared by the court’s president, Judge Suharto (sic). But then, what else could have been expected since this was Muchdi Purwoprandjono, a retired army general and former second in command of BIN?
Munir’s widow Suciwati will appeal.
Not a really happy start to the New Year neither for human rights nor for her. I wish her all the luck she needs to get justice done in ’09.
Newsflash: Europeana has been launched today!
For everyone who may be interested in European paintings, books, films and archives: you may find it here. It is major project based in the Royal Library in The Hague.
From the announcement on the site I quote:
direct access to some 2 million digital objects, including film material, photos, paintings, sounds, maps, manuscripts, books, newspapers and archival papers.
The interface will be multilingual. Initially, this may mean that it is available in French, English and German, but the intention is to develop the number of languages available following the launch.
Special Edition: The end
Soms shocking news today: the war in Iraq is over. Bush turns out to be a traitor and ms Rice says she’s sorry. You can read all about it here in this free special edition www.nytimes-se.com
Newsflash: Arwin van Buuren is the best there is!
News especially for the young and the young at heart.
Sheer bad luck trance DJ’s don’t compete in an Olympic sport. If that would have been the case, the Netherlands would have had an extra gold and silver medal.Read this:
De Nederlandse Armin van Buuren werd vannacht opnieuw uitgeroepen tot beste dj ter wereld, door de lezers van het Britse tijdschrift DJ Magazine. De trance-dj stond vorig jaar ook al op één. Tiësto, die de prijs in 2002, 2003 en 2004 in de wacht sleepte, werd tweede.
So compatriot Armin van Buuren is declared the best trance DJ of the year. The second year in a row. And the winner of 2002 till 2004,Tiësto, ranks number 2 in this list.
I’m sorry that this flash probably isn’t in time for this invitation: The top 100 DJs afterparty is set to rock London’s Lightbox through the early hours of Thursday Morning! .. Doors open at 3am and won’t close until the last man leaves! And admission is FREE!
“I read the news today oh boy”
For John Lennon ( “A Day in the Life” ) the news was about a lucky man who made the grade, a guy who blew his mind out in a car and four thousand holes in Blackburn, Lancashire. But guess what was in the papers today? What were the headlines shouting? What do they think is the most urgent problem the world should know?
Yes indeed, you’re right:
The Guardian:”Republican convention thrown into chaos by hurricane Gustav”
The New York Times:”Republicans drop most Monday Convention action”
The Los Angelos Times: “Hurricane Gustav bears down on empty New Orleans”
Frankfurter Algemeine: “McCain: Wir müssen wie Amerikaner handeln’ (Mc Cain’s comment on Gustav: ‘We must act like Americans’)
Le Monde: “John McCain: investiture par temps d’ouragan” (John McCain: In Office by Hurricane)
You see? Everything is political. Even a tropical storm. In as long it is an American storm.
But to me it seems to be plain injustice if because of Gustav THIS political news of today would go relatively unnoticed by the world: “Indonesia seizes funds from Suharto family firm“. And on top of that: “Indonesia to examine more of Suharto’s son assets“
Because this is food for optimism.
A court in Guernsey did rule in favor of the Indonesian state to freeze some € 35 million on an account of the notorious Tommy Suharto. The government filed a new request on further disclosure of the assets of “Garnet Investment” , in it’s ongoing attempt to reclaim more embezzlement money from the Suharto family. This action came after last Friday the Bank Mandiri had been ordered to transfer approximately € 90 million from Timor Putra Nasional ( the not so very solid car company which has been sold to Vista Bella Pratama by Tommy Suharto) to a government account, minister Sri Mulyani Imdrawati said.
Scepsis always comes in handy, but the fact remains that corruption obviously is high on the Indonesian political agenda. Even if it turns out there is an opportunistic connection with next year’s elections – according to the polls SBY has to do his utmost to gain more popular support to have a chance to beat Megawati- I think this news is important ánd good news. A rare combination.
Update: Another successful example of anti graft policies: “The Corruption Court sentenced disgraced prosecutor Urip Tri Gunawan to 20 years in jail Thursday for taking a US$660,000 bribe to drop a major embezzlement case against fugitive tycoon Sjamsul Nursalim” (quoted from the Jakarta Post, 09/05/2008)